My DH was helping me build inside the barn over the weekend. The comotion had the chickens in a tizzy. We took down the tarp wall and built a sturdy 2x6 plank wall. So all the hens decided they needed to lay an egg at the same time, but they sure as heck didn't feel comfortable in the nest boxes. My big brahma roo was so funny running around the barn, barking orders at his girls. He was looking for spots for each of them to lay! He'd find a spot and make the funniest gurgling noises and spin around in the new spot until the hen would settle in and then he'd go on to the next hen and find a spot. He'd get her settled and run back to hen #1 and gurgle at her, then onto the next. My DH (who pretends not to like chickens) said "what the hell is he doing?" I explained that he's showing them where to lay their eggs. DH watched in amazement. It is pretty neat when you start understanding their language. Every time they'd make a weird noise DH would look at me for interpretation. "That means..he's showing them food...he's announcing danger...he's taking roll call...etc..." DH was impressed.
Smart roo, but the DH . . . . . LOL I know what you mean. I have begun to understand their utterings as well. People say they are dumb but that is just because they have not spent enough time around them.
I find the roos as entertaining as the chicks. Some boys love to sling their heads so the wattles swing a lot. I always wondered if it is like a beach dude flipping back his hair. Sometimes that impresses me.......
My (his) hens don't do anything without permission. It's funny to watch. If one finds a spot to lay, she calls to him first to come check it out. He can either do his spin and gurgle...which means he aproves, or he can flap his wings and nudge with his head to move her along.
