When they are about to lay an egg but they are not clucking frantically. Sometimes if there is one sitting in her nest and I go in there she will puff out her feathers and then sort of scream at me. Its almost kinda funny. Its like she's saying "Get out! I'm in here!"
Yep, she needs to do it in case you WILL intrude. Think of it, how many hens may want to shove her off the nest, steal her eggs, etc. And it's a good defensive instinct to protect her eggs from possible predators, however most may just sadly eat her despite her ruffles and screams.
Quote: I have a couple of girls that do this too! Makes me laugh everytime. I "walked in" on my girl Lucy today (I didn't see her and stuck my hand in the nest.) I got a nice warning scream. It makes me giggle though so I sometimes make them "I'm in the nest" scream on purpose.
