Strange, dying chicken noises and flapping?

[centrarchid]

Some hens isolated from roosters for long periods will crow, or at least make an attempt at it. Broody hens with chicks do as a normal part of broody cycle.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Do you have any roosters?Hens will crow if there is no domiannat roll in the flock,but there is still a chance its a cockerel.

 

[Soot the silkie]

Do you have any roosters?Hens will crow if there is no domiannat roll in the flock,but there is still a chance  its a cockerel.

They are three year old barred rock hens and have been laying me eggs for a few years. They are the dominant hens and they both just molted, we have no roosters and this morning they were making more crow-like sounds, so I suppose they are trying to crow because there are no roosters about?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Yes,that's what it sound slike to me,could you post pics of the one scrowing?

 

[Soot the silkie]

Yes,that's what it sound slike to me,could you post pics of the one scrowing?

They don't do it very often but I could try.

 

[shortgrass]

Huh, well lol, I guess you know they're not cockerels then

That is so...weird! I've never witnessed that, but I might soon I guess; I culled all my roos 5 months ago and don't plan on any more in the near future....

@centrarchid, what causes that? A hormone imbalance or instinctual hierarchy thing? Just feel like something is missing in their lives? Ha-ha

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I think it is an Hierarchy problem. If there isn't a dominate roll, then someone has to do the job of the roosters

. Usually the lead hen will take hs place.

Hormone imbalance can happen regardless of whether there is a roo in the flock or not.

 

[junebuggena]

It's not because there is no rooster around. It's simply that the hens are older and very dominant. Crowing hens can happen in flocks with roosters, too.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I've heard of that happening.

 

[centrarchid]

Huh, well lol, I guess you know they're not cockerels then

That is so...weird! I've never witnessed that, but I might soon I guess; I culled all my roos 5 months ago and don't plan on any more in the near future....

@centrarchid, what causes that? A hormone imbalance or instinctual hierarchy thing? Just feel like something is missing in their lives? Ha-ha

With broody hens I think it is a dispersal mechanism keeping them apart. May also keep hens in contact with harem master.

Within roosterless flocks, I do not know. Not all hens do it and those that do are at top of pecking order. Nature likely does not have much experience with hens without hens around so that may contribute to the odd behavior.