Squawking HenSquawking HenI have a hen who is 6 years old and has started squawking and who has become really noisy in the morning for no apparent reason, she also doesn't want to go into the hen house at night.
Any suggestions as to what might be the cause of this please?
Re: Squawking HenAre the others laying? Sometimes my hens do this when others are actually in the nest box laying - almost like a guard chicken! If she is senior hen , she may again like to be the last in the coop - like putting the kids to bed! Unless she looks poorly, I wouldn't worry.
Helen xx
3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog. http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Re: Squawking HenMy girls have also taken to shouting when another girl is laying and are being more vocal in the mornings when they first come out. I think it's all to do with getting back into egg laying.
My chicken blog: http://www.carolschickens.com/
Re: Squawking HenCould be just the song of her people
Check the coop though just in case there are mites ...she might have picked them up first. ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)✰
(¸.✰´¨(¸.✰ Manda Living our version of the Good Life with 1 dog (who feels like we're living with 4!), 1 cats, a few sheep and 11 chooks. Don't get your knickers in a knot..it solves nothing ~ just makes you walk funny Re: Squawking Hen
@p.penn Thanks for your help. This does seem to happen when the other hen is in the nest box so maybe this is it. We did have three hens and one died recently so maybe she has become more protective as a result. June Re: Squawking Hen
This sounds right too. We are down to just two hens now but they have started laying again recently following the winter so we will see if this stops as we come in to the longer days. Re: Squawking Hen
Thanks, will just have to get used to her singing! Haven't noticed any red mites, will have a closer look. June. Re: Squawking HenI thought they usually cackled after they'd laid.
Seems odd - to advertise to predators (and human nest-robbers!) that there is food to be had. Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Re: Squawking HenMine do it, and have done ever since they first started laying. I've always thought it weird too, to advertise the fact that some of your group are ripe for easy pickings!, chicken logic, who knows.
We have the pleasure of 2 hour long screech sessions sometimes. Headphones essential, I've thought about buying in some earplugs for the neighbours! :)
Re: Squawking HenPeople always refer to it as the egg song. I have always called it the egg shout. Mine shout, very loudly, before they go in the nest box, if another girl is in the nest box and again when they have laid. Once laying commences I realise how quiet the girls in winter compared to spring.
My chicken blog: http://www.carolschickens.com/
Re: Squawking HenIf you've recently lost a hen there could be a shift in power going on, that always causes a bit of noise. Another suggestion is - could she be going broody?
"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
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