I always assumed it was something akin to human labor pain calls. But this instantly convinced me that an escort call is the only thing that makes sense. I vote this article of the year 2019!
Interesting look at the how and why a hen makes her "egg call," seems she's actually calling her rooster back because she's done laying and wants to be escorted back to the rest of the flock. Great post!
Thank you for sharing your observations and thoughts with us. I've seen my own roo escorting the girls back to the herd after they call. I found it sweet and romantic I honestly thought it was for protection and not about keeping other roosters away though. I never thought about it from that perspective.
I love that you experimented to prove your theory too. Great article Shad!
Hey IM. It would be lovely if it was romance but I think the truth is somewhat more basic ;)
They do do romance though imo but that's another article. Thanks for reading the article.
Thanks for reading the article. There are of course variations depending on the keeping arrangements but as 'natural' behavior it's representative of jungle fowl.
I found this article to make very clear step by step observations that led the author to their assumptions. The article is well written and raises awareness about natural chicken behavior.
The roosters behavior is partially documented in studies of jungle fowl. All I have done is associate the call with the behavior that is a pattern already established. Much as I would like to take credit for more.....
I'm pleased you found the article interesting.
This is such an interesting theory! Some, but not all of my hens sing the egg song, but I don’t have a rooster.
Almost all (nine) of my hens hesitate before they cross our road (an unpaved easement, really). Bridgey will call at the edge of the road (a different song from the egg song) until I arrive and will accept me as an escort across the driveway/easement. Several of them will
silently (without a call) accept me as an escort. I would love to have a rooster some day to see how this behavior would shift. But I must admit, I love being their rooster. Thanks for Shari g your observations and theory!
I thought you might like this if you came across it.
I have three hens here now that will accept me as an escort and I would expect that many people who keep just hens have experienced a version of this call and have hens that will respond to their presence.
I've got a list of articles that I would like to write, most are based on observations and then some experiments to test out a theory.
Unfortunately many aren't really applicable to the backyard chicken keeper with regard to how they keep their chickens. The nest box article may be, but others are fairly specific to free range flocks.
Thanks for reading the article.
This could be because he’s a cockerel and isn’t mating any of the hens.
Also, with chickens contained in a run for example, the need to respond to the escort call isn’t there.