The presence of the egg in the body of the hen causes the bird some discomfort. When this is relieved, she is naturally pleased and announces her pleasure to the world by a species of laughter of joy which we have termed "cackling."
The first hypothesis is that the hen is just SO doggone proud of herself for laying that egg and SO relieved to have it plop out that she feels the need to broadcast that fact to the world. She is literally crowing with pride about her accomplishment.
Noisy Hens
Hens make a lot of sounds, but most of them are quiet and gentle. The only time they get really loud are when they have laid an egg. It's not known why many hens 'shout about it' after laying - but this is the 'classic' chicken sound someone makes when they want to impersonate a chicken!
THE CACKLE
This is the soft alarm sound when a danger is perceived. It can become more strident when the danger recedes, as if they're saying “phew, we escaped that one, stand down.” You'll also often hear it when a hen has finished laying and is leaving the nest.
Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops
While it may seem like a bunch of squawking and cackling to us, these sounds are used to communicate some very important messages between a flock, such as 'beware, there's danger! ' or 'look what I've found! '
Remember, chickens squawk, scream, and carry on because they are trying to alert each other – or you – to something that might be not quite right. While some noises are nothing to be concerned about, you need to be careful about “noise-training” your chickens in most cases.
Distress: This is a higher pitched peeping – it is continuous and sounds unhappy. Being cold and hungry are the usual reasons. Panic: Sounds similar to a distress peep but is more emphatic. Mama hen will usually come and find the wayward chick.
Chickens tend to make a purring or trilling sound when they are content. They will also make soft sounds as they go about their daily activities. A sick or depressed chicken will make no noise. Alternatively, a chicken in distress will scream and make significant noise.
One particularly common vocalization that you may have heard from your hens is the egg song. Don't let the term “song” fool you. This vocalization is a loud, staccato series of squawks that hens let loose after laying an egg. Some hens will even join in on the egg song after one of their flock mates lays an egg.
Put down bedding they can forage in. Add some perches, tunnels, shelters, or objects for them to move around and explore. Talk to neighbors before you get chickens to make sure they're okay with some extra noise. Consider giving all your neighbors free eggs as a surprise gift as soon as your hens start laying.
Stress Can Cause a Decrease in Egg Laying
Changes in your flock's daily routine can cause egg-stopping stress. For example, moving your chickens to a new coop, introducing new birds, or the presence of predators are reasons your chickens could be too stressed to lay eggs. Sometimes illness and stress go hand-in-hand.
The pre-laying behavior of domestic chickens is similar for most hens. Before laying, a hen shows restlessness and begins to look for a nest, poking her head into the nest boxes provided. Between nest examinations, she typically resumes other behavior she had been performing—eating, preening, sleeping, and so on.
Chickens can recognise up to 100 faces
These faces included those of humans! Chickens even remember positive or negative experiences with the faces they recognise and pass that information on to members of their flocks.
As a mother or broody hen walks, she rhythmically clucks with soft, brief, repetitive notes: cluck-cluck-cluck. This call appears to rally the chicks safely at her side. As the mother hen settles, she purrs to attract the chicks to settle with her.
It takes a hen about 24 to 26 hours to produce and lay an egg. Fifteen to 30 minutes after she lays her egg, the process starts over again.
Make sure you pick out a feed designed for laying hens. Hens lay eggs more frequently when they are happy and healthy. If your hens are stressed for any reason, they may stop egg production.
Crowing and the pecking order
Many studies on roosters confirm that one main reason a rooster crows is to assert dominance and territory. When a hen crows, the most common reason is because they are on a power trip. This crowing behaviour may also be accompanied by bullying behaviour in the chicken coop.
A chicken will exhibit affection by scratching at your skin or rubbing its beak against your leg. Some chickens will also rub against your legs, try to get closer to you, and even lie right next to you. When a chicken gets close to its owner, it will start grooming. A chicken can even start grooming you.
Spend Quality Time
One of the best ways to get your flock to trust you is to spend time with them. If they're chicks, pick them up and spend some one-on-one time with them every day. Let them see your face and talk to them. They will get comfortable with you and even nap in your hands or on your lap.
A rooster often has his favorite girl, with whom he spends most of his time. She is not necessarily at the top of the pecking order, but he will treat her like a queen. It's possible that other hens might be envious of her role, because when the rooster is removed, his favorite hen is sometimes picked on by the others.
Recognising the signs of stress
Abnormal feathering. Constant preening of feathers even in the absence of external parasites. Increased aggression like feather pecking. Cannibalism.
2. It is important to quickly recognise signs of stress, like abnormal feathering, constant preening of feathers even in the absence of external parasites, increased aggression like feather pecking or cannibalism and even aimless and restless pacing of birds that are housed on the floor.
Purring (or Trilling)
These are expressions of utter contentment. Chickens purr when they are feeling calm and relaxed, and you may notice it most when you pet them!
Inside farms, the most noticeable signs are that the birds may be slumped with their legs splayed, which indicates they are suffering joint pain or fractured bones. Other birds may be lying down, their eyes tightly shut, their breathing heavy and labored, or they may be quivering. Their pain looks a lot like our pain.