What does this noise mean?

[emilynieuwerkerk]

Hi everyone!
My hen/pullet (not sure when she becomes a hen hehe) is around 6 months old. She was standing on my arm when all of a sudden she burst out making “buck-buck-buck-buckerk” type sound quite loudly and repeatedly. It happened around 4:30 in Australian winter (so close to bedtime ish). What does this sound mean?

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

Maybe she is just announcing/telling eveyone its nearly bed time? It isn't bad or anything. You don't really need to worry about it (unless she is warning the flock of a predator?).

 

[Ribh]

Without actually hearing it, it could mean anything. If she wasn't stretched upright & super alert, it wasn't an alarm call. Her body language would tell you a lot, not just her vocalisations. If she was still relaxed she was probably just calling to the flock knowing everyone would be heading to bed & not wanting to be left behind because being alone is always dangerous for a prey bird, so she may have been looking for an escort.
BTW, she becomes a hen when she begins laying...

 

[aart]

My hen/pullet (not sure when she becomes a hen hehe) is around 6 months old.

Is she laying yet?

BTW, she becomes a hen when she begins laying...

Nope, at one year...why they call them pullet eggs

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[emilynieuwerkerk]

Is she laying yet?

Nope, at one year...why they call them pullet eggs

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Thank you so so much!!!!!

 

[emilynieuwerkerk]

Without actually hearing it, it could mean anything. If she wasn't stretched upright & super alert, it wasn't an alarm call. Her body language would tell you a lot, not just her vocalisations. If she was still relaxed she was probably just calling to the flock knowing everyone would be heading to bed & not wanting to be left behind because being alone is always dangerous for a prey bird, so she may have been looking for an escort.
BTW, she becomes a hen when she begins laying...

Okay, perfect. She was pretty relaxed so should be all good! Thank you!!!

 

[Ribh]

Is she laying yet?

Nope, at one year...why they call them pullet eggs

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Ok Never heard the term *pullet eggs* before. New one on me.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I've got one pullet who screams her version of the egg song for hours before she lays, and started weeks before her first egg... I've been saying it marks her labour pains since the poor thing lays a double yoker a day. Is your girls call similar to any call the others make?

 

[aart]

Ok Never heard the term *pullet eggs* before. New one on me.

They are usually smaller than hen eggs...and can be that way for months.

 

[Ribh]

They are usually smaller than hen eggs...and can be that way for months.

Yes, I figured, I've just never heard them called that before. Learn something new every day!