Screaming Hen

[RedOkra]

I have a wyandotte hen who has started this new thing just over the last couple of days - Its only when shes in the coop (and not ever on the nest), and if I go into the coop she lets out this awful, very long, high-pitched screeeeam. She looks like a dinosaur. I'm guessing this is just a little warning for me, but its new behavior so I'm just wondering if I should be worried?

P.s. For everyone who helped me identify my disgruntled BR as broody: She's now on day 13 sitting on her first nest of 5 eggs. I've candled three times and all five eggs are fertile with healthy embryos! Thanks guys!

 

[Judy]

My guess would be she's demanding a treat. My Wyandottes were pushy girls.

 

[mdbokc]

Sounds like a treat demand as well. I have a RIR that runs up to me with a long, totally obnoxious, scream. Sounds nothing like I would expect a chicken to sound.

She gets no treats for it either.

 

[NanaLantana]

Sounds to me like she's in the beginning 'broody' stages. Next stage is she'll bok, bok, bok, to herself for about a week, then she'll start plunking her fluffy butt down, and won't get up. Just my thought! One of my hens screamed before becoming broody.

 

[RedOkra]

Hah! That would not surprise me actually. I have a big garden and they've been given treats all summer long but as the season winds down, I dont have as many to give them. And given that shes one of the only hens that has a name (because initially, many of them were going to be for eating, though of course.... that never happened!), she's probably on the spoiled side

 

[Imp]

I had a head hen GLW that screamed when I introduced new pullets.

Imp