Why does one chicken sing an egg song when the other one lays an egg?

[Ballerina Bird]

I could be wrong about what's happening here, as it's hard to tell sometimes who is laying, but I am pretty sure this occurs and am puzzled and curious.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Mine do the same!! Which makes it very difficult to decide who has started laying. Even the roo sings the egg song any body would think he had just laid egg with how he carries on
They all flock to the nest box so everyone can take a look!!!

 

[jacilee]

Mine do this as well. At first it would be so noisy I would think there was something in the pen, then I realized when one hen lays and starts singing the others would start singing, ok not singing, screaming and weirdly warbling squawks, louder and louder like the one who is the loudest gets an award or something. LOL. I go out to find one hen in the box, the others crowded around the door like it is a competition. LOL. Goofy birds.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I just don't get it! And I have confirmed that I was right, as the hen who was singing earlier is just up in the coop now trying to lay her egg, so the egg that inspired the song this morning was clearly laid by the other girl. What evolutionary benefit would this behavior have?

 

[lazy gardener]

I think it's inborn behaviors gone amuck. I've noticed that when my flock is out free ranging, that even not having laid an egg, if one of the girls gets lost from the rest of the crowd, she'll start singing "the egg song." The rooster will then break away from the rest of his harem and come find the lost soul, and escort her back to the party. In the original Jungle Fowl, the egg song may have been sung for that very purpose: for the hen who's just laid an egg to find the rest of the flock. It wouldn't be difficult to assume that the rest of the flock would answer back when she calls.

"Hey guys, where are you?"

"We're over here! Where've you been? Hurry, the grubs are delicious!"

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I think it's inborn behaviors gone amuck. I've noticed that when my flock is out free ranging, that even not having laid an egg, if one of the girls gets lost from the rest of the crowd, she'll start singing "the egg song." The rooster will then break away from the rest of his harem and come find the lost soul, and escort her back to the party. In the original Jungle Fowl, the egg song may have been sung for that very purpose: for the hen who's just laid an egg to find the rest of the flock. It wouldn't be difficult to assume that the rest of the flock would answer back when she calls.

"Hey guys, where are you?"

"We're over here! Where've you been? Hurry, the grubs are delicious!"

Fascinating! I like that theory.

 

[Soot the silkie]

I think it's inborn behaviors gone amuck. I've noticed that when my flock is out free ranging, that even not having laid an egg, if one of the girls gets lost from the rest of the crowd, she'll start singing "the egg song." The rooster will then break away from the rest of his harem and come find the lost soul, and escort her back to the party. In the original Jungle Fowl, the egg song may have been sung for that very purpose: for the hen who's just laid an egg to find the rest of the flock. It wouldn't be difficult to assume that the rest of the flock would answer back when she calls.

"Hey guys, where are you?"

"We're over here! Where've you been? Hurry, the grubs are delicious!"

Yes I've heard that thing about the jungle fowl too. I also think chickens just know what when the other's laying and maybe do the egg cluck for them. Maybe like, "Good, your finally done, I'm over here, so you don't even have to ask." My chickens also egg cluck before going into the coop, probably saying, "I'm going in for a mighty egg pooping, so don't worry about where I am."

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Yes I've heard that thing about the jungle fowl too. I also think chickens just know what when the other's laying and maybe do the egg cluck for them. Maybe like, "Good, your finally done, I'm over here, so you don't even have to ask." My chickens also egg cluck before going into the coop, probably saying, "I'm going in for a mighty egg pooping, so don't worry about where I am."

Mighty egg pooping, LOL!

 

[Soot the silkie]

Mighty egg pooping, LOL!

That's what I call laying because laying just sounds boring. And the egg does come out the chicken's vent...

 

[Katz5617]

I was going to ask this question today. I have one - Molly - she lays without any fanfare. She never announces her egg or acts like it is any big deal. Precious on the other hand announces it to the world and when she lays, Henny Penny is louder than Precious is and it is not Henny Penny's egg. Henny has only laid one egg and she did that by accident. She was coming toward me when I had treats in my hand and out plops her egg and she just kept on walking as if she didn't even know it had come out of her. She never cackled or acknowledged her one and only egg - yet when Precious lays, Henny Penny can go on for several minutes. She will go into the coop and intently watch Precious on the nest and once Precious has laid, Henny will begin the song and then Precious chimes in. Henny will go in and watch Molly lay and when Molly does her job and leaves Henny Penny jut follows her out - but neither of them announce Molly's egg. Sometimes they just do strange things that amaze me. I wonder what goes through their minds. What is it about Precious eggs that excite them and doesn't excite them about Molly's.