Rooster making strange "sad" call

[jrharte]

Hi, we have an 8 year old bantam rooster who has just started to make a strange call whenever anyone comes into the hen shed to do food / water etc

I've recorded his call here has the forum doesn't seem to allow audio uploads:

http://www.sndup.net/8sz4

He doesn't seem do it when no one is there as we come across the yard and he doesn't see you and if you listen there's no calling.

We checked him over physically and there's nothing to see except the start of scaly leg mites so we have started to treat that.

He only has 1 hen, so it's just the 2 of then in the shed / yard.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I always refer to that sound as "complaining." Chickens often make that sound when they're unhappy about something (eg. Them waiting for you to let them out of coop when late, bored in their run wishing they could free range, etc.). Hens do that sound the most, though roosters can do it too. As far as his reasoning for doing it, I'm not exactly sure. Have you changed anything recently? Has he lost any flock members recently? (Some chickens make this sound more when they're sad or upset.) Has the temperatures or weather been changing? Because this is apparently new with him, I'm questioning anything new around him.

 

[azygous]

Have you spent a lot of time with this rooster over his long life? Do you talk to him a lot?

If so, chances are very good that he has bonded with you, and is communicating with you. I've spent some time studying this with my flock. Those of my chickens that have developed a close bond with me will respond vocally each time I address them by name. Other chickens keepers report the same thing.

There is a bird hormone and a similar human hormone that enable this kind of bonding and vocalizing between the bird and the human strengthens the bond. My article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/