The egg laying song

[Bteeg]

Well, shame on me for not knowing what the egg laying song sounded like. Apparently some of my hens have been going around singing it! Problem is, they free range during the day and I live out in the country, so if they are laying, it could be anywhere. My hens won't be 20 weeks until August 5th and the two that are anywhere near old enough to start laying are 1 barred rock and 1 Columbian rock. My question is.....will young hens sing the egg laying song before they're ready to start laying?

 

[dfalco]

Yes, often. I've noted with my Glock that this same "song" may start up in the flock when they are alarmed. I call it an AFA. (All Flock Alert)

As opposed to the ELE. (Egg Laying Event)

They sound very much the same, with the AFA often prompting all the chickens to come running from all quadrants of the yard to gather together and sing even more loudly.

 

[TominWa]

My girls don't hold back either. They belt it out like a torch singer who's man done her wrong.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, they will sing it without laying. Yes, they have other songs they sing that are very similar, like that alarm. I had one singing it yesterday as she was waiting to get on the nest to lay. All nests were full and she was a pullet afraid to join the others. And no, they do not always sing it when they lay. Many of mine don't sing it when they lay.

 

[Bteeg]

Thanks everyone for the info. I wasn't sure if I should be going on an egg hunt in the brush or not.