My attention was called to Peggy's private moment when I heard some angry clucking coming from the open coop. For some reason, Tina was annoyed that Peggy was using the nesting box and was trying to get her out. Tina's kind of a bully sometimes. Seeing that Peggy needed to lay, I picked up Tina and locked her in the run.
Here's Tina feeling left out.
With Tina out of the way, Peggy settled into the pine shavings and got comfy. Because the lid was up on the coop, I could see straight into the nesting box where Peggy sat, waiting for the magic to happen. But, if I got too close, Peggy would make a little cluck/hiss noise, as if to say, "Get out!" (If you've never heard a cluck/hiss before, it's a weird sound, but the intent is crystal clear. Peggy also cluck/purrs sometimes. Really!) So, I went away to let her do her thing.
About 10 minutes later, I heard Peg stand up and start moving around. I returned to the coop and caught her in this position.
Don't you love that expression? And the way she's standing cracks me up. It's so awkward.
Peggy hung out in the nesting box for a few more minutes, perhaps admiring her freshly-laid egg. Then, she hopped out into the yard, and the real show began.
Peggy's Post-Egg Cluck from Audrey on Vimeo.
This is how both of my hens announce that they've just laid an egg. It is loud and long and they do it every time. I guess it's good that Peggy and Tina take pride in their work, but still. Think of the neighbors!
My chickens do that too... it's hilarious to watch them strut around and call out like that! They are just letting us know that they are doing good work! Great video.
How did you keep from laughing out loud during the video? Talk about funny. Can't wait for our chicks to sound like that. They are now two weeks old. We took them outside for the first time yesterday (we've had unusually chilly weather lately) and it's fun watching them scratch around in the grass.
Hi-
Do you know what breed Tina is?
Thanks! I love your blog.
Hey Sorrel
Tina is a black sex-link. That means she's a mix: half Rhode Island Red, half Barred Rock. She's mostly black, with a splash of reddish-gold feathers on her breast. As a chick, she was all black.
Thanks for the compliment.
My three girls sing "the egg song" too, but it's not for very long. Maybe for 5 minutes each time. I love the sound, but I have a feeling my neighbors don't. But you know what? It's definitely no worse than the weed-wackers, lawn-mowers, and leaf-blowers that start up at 7am some mornings from the neigbhors! We don't use any of those noisemakers, so I guess we're entitled to our little bit of egg song.
I would have 10 hens in the backyard if we lived out in the country where noise wasn't an issue. I love them!