Do hens "sing" the egg song without laying?

[barred2rock]

Mine do egg song when they are nervous or see a predator around.

Yeah, when they did it yesterday, I went to check on them and found our cat snooping around the outside of the run.

Anyway, when I was petting the most mature girl she presented her vent which I could see was still dry. Checked the other two most mature with the same results. So, I guess they're just messin with me.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I went to the brooder to check my biddies and turn out the light for bedtime for them. Played that YouTube audio of the egg song for my 4-5 week old pullets. Most ran instantly to hide. A couple cocked their heads to listen, then hid. One stayed laying in her spot listening intently. All went completely silent. It's taken them a minute to come back out. I told them "I'll be expecting to hear that from each of you on a regular basis come fall!" Hopefully they'll take that to heart.

 

[Kiki]

I used to have a hen that would sing the egg song whenever one of the other hens laid. I think she just saw herself as the "town crier" and liked to announce coop happenings.

I have a Welsummer that sings for everyone too.

 

[aart]

The 'egg song' is very similar to an 'alarm call'.
I think you have to be pretty darn fluent in chickenese to tell the difference.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I'm thinking it highly likely that was the first grown chicken my biddies have ever heard, seeing as they are hatchery chicks.