Why Chickens Sing Egg Songs and Other Quirky Bird Behaviors

Why Chickens Sing Egg Songs and Other Quirky Bird Behaviors

The post Why Chickens Sing Egg Songs and Other Quirky Bird Behaviors appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Chickens are captivating creatures with a variety of quirky behaviors. Check out their world, and you’ll find that these common birds are anything but ordinary. They enjoy dust baths as if they’re indulging in a spa day, sing joyfully after laying eggs, and even perform little dances to attract each other. Chickens exhibit complex social structures, have distinct personalities, and communicate in ways that extend far beyond the typical cluck. Whether you have a small flock in your backyard or appreciate them from a distance, observing their habits—from roosting and molting to broody moods and submissive squats—reveals just how intriguing and surprising chickens can be.

Egg Songs

The egg song is a proud announcement.

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You may hear a loud squawking sound coming from the chicken coop and wonder if something is seriously wrong. When a hen lays an egg, she often celebrates with what’s known as the “egg song.” This is far from a quiet cluck; it is a distinctive, loud vocalization that can last several minutes. While it may sound like a chorus of bragging, some believe the egg song serves multiple purposes. It might signal to the flock that she has completed her egg-laying (which can help keep nests organized), warn predators to stay away, or even draw attention away from the freshly laid egg to protect it. To keepers, it’s a charming reminder that hens have personalities and want to be heard.

Dust Baths

Dust baths are basically a chicken’s spa day.

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One of the most delightful sights in any coop is a group of hens fluffing, scratching, and rolling in the dirt. Dust baths aren’t just for fun; they are a vital hygiene practice. By coating their feathers with dust, chickens smother parasites such as mites and lice, keep their skin healthy, and regulate excess oil. After a long dust bath, chickens will shake themselves vigorously, sending clouds of dirt flying. It looks messy, but for them, it’s essential self-care. Plus, a good dirt bath on a hot day helps chickens cool down. The Chicken Chick, an Instagram influencer with a companion website, highlights why dust baths are essential for chickens.

Roosting

Bedtime hierarchies are clear on the roosting bars.

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At night, chickens instinctively perch on roosts, long, elevated bars inside the coop. Roosting keeps them safe from ground predators and allows them to feel secure while sleeping. Interestingly, the “pecking order” of the flock is on full display at bedtime. Higher-ranking birds often claim the best spots, usually the middle of the roost, where they’re safest from drafts. Lower-ranking chickens end up on the edges. Watching them settle in for the night is like witnessing a well-rehearsed ritual.

When it comes to providing roosts, you have several options. Wooden roosts are a classic choice; these can be made from cut lumber, natural branches, or even sturdy dowels. Wood tends to be gentle on chickens’ feet and gives them a good grip. Metal roosting bars are another option, though they can get cold in winter and may be less comfortable for the birds unless wrapped or coated. Plastic roosts are lightweight and easy to clean, though they may not have the same natural feel as wood. The important thing is to ensure that the roosts are wide enough—about 2 to 4 inches—for chickens to comfortably perch and cover their toes with their feathers on cold nights. Placing roosts higher than nesting boxes discourages hens from sleeping in the boxes, which keeps the bedding cleaner. By providing secure, well-designed roosts, you’re not only keeping your flock safe but also supporting their instinctive behaviors and social structure.

Molting

Molting is nature’s makeover.

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You might see a chicken that looks like a zombie—losing feathers and appearing quite bedraggled—and wonder what in the world is wrong. Once a year, usually in the fall, chickens go through molting, a process where they shed old feathers and grow new ones. It can be dramatic; sometimes a hen looks half-naked as feathers fall out in handfuls. Molting requires a lot of energy, so egg production often slows or stops during this time. While it might look rough, molting is a natural reset that allows chickens to maintain healthy plumage for warmth, protection, and flight (even if it’s just short bursts across the yard). There are a few actions you can take to support your chickens as they go through the molting process. One of the best things you can do for your molting chickens is to up their protein. You can provide high-protein chicken feed or offer treats like mealworms or sunflower seeds to increase the protein in their diet.

Tidbitting

Tidbitting shows a rooster’s love language.

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If you’ve ever seen a rooster make a series of quick clucks while picking up and dropping food, you’ve witnessed tidbitting. This fascinating behavior is part of rooster courtship. By performing tidbitting, the rooster demonstrates to hens that he’s a good provider. It’s both a food-sharing gesture and a way to show off his attentiveness. Hens often respond favorably, choosing to mate with roosters who tidbit more often, proof that in the chicken world, good manners matter.

Julia (last name withheld for privacy purposes) works with Perennial Hill, LLC, a market farm and small-scale chick hatchery practicing regenerative agriculture in the rising foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range. She says her favorite chicken behavior is called “tidbitting.”

“Usually, our roosters will loudly call over their hens when they find an especially good treat, whether it’s an insect or a treat from me or some undiscovered fresh weeds,” Julia says. “The rooster will peck at the treat, pick it up, and drop it repeatedly to show it to the hens, bobbing his head and making excited noises.”

According to Julia, the rooster will leave the treat for the hens to eat rather than enjoying it himself. “In our bachelor group, a few of the roosters will tidbit when I enter their fence, but with imaginary treats like sticks, pieces of bark, whatever is on the ground in front of them,” she says. “There are also hens who will find a treat like a cherry tomato, an insect, an unlucky field mouse, and run around squealing in excitement. But not wanting to stop for fear of someone else snagging the treat away from them.”

Broody

Broodiness is all about the desire to be a mother.

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When a hen “goes broody,” she becomes fixated on sitting on her nest with the goal of hatching eggs. Some breeds of chickens are much broodier than others. During this broody time, she may puff up her feathers, growl, and even peck at anyone who disturbs her. A broody hen will stay on the nest nearly nonstop, only getting up occasionally to eat, drink, and dust bathe. Broodiness is an evolutionary instinct to ensure the survival of the next generation. For keepers, a broody hen can be a blessing if you want chicks, or a challenge if you’re just collecting eggs.

If you want to “break” the broodiness, there are several things you can try. To manage a broody hen, it helps to take a few simple steps. First, collect eggs frequently throughout the day. A broody hen will try to gather a clutch, sometimes even pulling in eggs from other hens, so removing them often discourages her from settling. If she does sit, gently move her out of the nesting box, keeping in mind that hens can get stiff from sitting too long. You can also make the nesting spot less comfortable by cooling it, placing a frozen water bottle in the box, or blocking the space with an object that can keep her from returning. If she remains determined, try encouraging movement by locking her out of the coop during the day, as long as the weather is safe. This combination of strategies can help break her broodiness while keeping her healthy.

Usually, our roosters will loudly call over their hens when they find an especially good treat, whether it’s an insect or a treat from me or some undiscovered fresh weeds.

Julia, who works with Perennial Hill, LLC, a market farm and small-scale chick hatchery in Oregon

Submissive Squat

The submissive squat is a sign of trust.

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One of the more surprising chicken behaviors is the submissive squat. When a hen crouches low to the ground, wings slightly outstretched, she is signaling submission, usually to a rooster, as part of mating behavior. The movement can look almost like a funny little stomping dance, with the hen lowering herself quickly and bracing as if waiting for something. The Chicken Chick has the submissive squat documented. Many keepers find it both fascinating and amusing to observe.

What makes the submissive squat even more interesting is that hens don’t only display it for roosters. They may also squat when a human approaches, especially if they’ve learned to trust that person. In this context, the behavior isn’t about mating; it’s more of an acknowledgment of authority, a signal that the chicken recognizes you as the leader of the flock. For many backyard keepers, it feels like a small badge of honor when their hens squat for them, showing that the birds feel safe, secure, and willing to interact.

It can be quite a sight to walk through the yard and see chickens dropping into this posture one by one as you pass, almost as if they’re bowing in unison. Some hens will do it every time you walk by, while others may only squat when they’re expecting food or when they’re in a particularly trusting mood. It’s both endearing and practical, as the squatting often makes it easier to pick up and handle the bird without a struggle. Chasing a chicken is no fun for anyone! This simple behavior gives keepers a unique window into the bond between humans and their flock, as well as into the complex body language chickens use to communicate safety, trust, and hierarchy with both roosters and humans.

Conclusion

Chickens have complex social hierarchies, distinct personalities, and unique ways of communicating.

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Chickens are deeply social, expressive creatures with complex communication and behaviors. From dust bathing and roosting to molting and egg songs, each aspect of their lives reflects instincts honed over thousands of years. Watching chickens and observing their little idiosyncrasies provides endless entertainment. The more time you spend watching and learning from chickens, the more you realize they are lively, intelligent, and full of personality. Whether you’re raising them in your backyard or simply observing them at a farm, chickens have a way of surprising us with just how much depth lies behind their clucks and feathers.

The post Why Chickens Sing Egg Songs and Other Quirky Bird Behaviors appeared first on A-Z Animals.

September 09, 2025 at 06:02PMJohanna Kennelly Ullman