Can a hen give out a warning call?

[Hen Hilton of Georgia]

Try adding some scrambled eggs to her diet, she will love it!

They love the unseasoned scrambled eggs ( only because i have 8 rescue chicks in my bathtub that are ready to be put outside next week & i always make double)...I give Georgette the most scrambled eggs

 

[Hen Hilton of Georgia]

I only have hens. As I’m learning their “vocals” have different meanings. I’m familiar with the “I’ve laid an egg” squawk and the “your ignoring us” and “let us out” squawks. There has also been the coo’ing noise as all hens face the same direction as though it’s an alert of some-sort out in the woods that surround us. They’re not freaking out, just “alerting” as best as I can tell.

However, the other day while the hens were “free-ranging” inside the acre chainlink fenced area (I have issues with coyotes, raccoons, fox, possums, etc), they alerted in a way I’d never heard before. When I dashed out to see what was happening, they were all in a line as a gray rat snake was coming into their yard.

What good girls! While on the surface I don’t mind rat snakes as they are focused on eating the eggs (hens are big enough now they don’t “appear” to be on the snake’s menu). I was pleased that the girls alerted on the threat until I got there!

So back on topic, I do believe the hens will send out a particular call when it’s a perceived threat … and the more I respond to a particular call the more I hope they will continue to do it. I think this is more the hens training me as we develop our symbiotic relationship.

As a side note, I find listening to my girls is a life saver … they are speaking to me as best they know how (and best as I am willing to listen). I have 12 pullets that are 13-15 weeks old. They have been free ranging for a couple weeks now under close supervision. I’ve noticed that when an owl hoots (oddly during the day) … the baby girls will head for cover. The primal instincts they have amaze me every day. I just need to listen and be aware to keep them safe!!

I have known my 8 chickens in the Hen Hilton for 6 months now, and also know their voices (except the egg laying sounds)...since I have moved the coop to a different part of the property recently ( red dirt was not good, so i put the coop in grass), I want them to get used to where the "safe base" is before i free range them ( going to give it a few more weeks, to see how my rooster is recuperating from a leg bang)...we are surrounded by Georgia woods, and I want to make sure they are safe, under supervisioin...we do have an outside cat, who hates other stray cats, and she never bothers my hens, but giving her a week too as well as my chihuahua, to know they are there, with no issues.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Hens are capable of all the sounds roosters can produce, with the exception being crowing. Still, hens can crow, but it is very poor and squeaky-sounding, so I personally wouldn't call it much of a crow. A hen doing a warning call is completely normal, and I can't keep track of how many times I have heard my hens doing it when they see something they believe is threat－note I do have a rooster.

The conclusion is that hens and roosters, both being chickens, have the same vocal cords, and therefore are capable of producing the same noises.

 

[KyCoop]

I have a hen only flock and have also learned what is normal for them and what I need to run out the door with the broom is. Just recently I discovered they have a different alarm for ground predators v/s areal ones.
We had an injured racoon that had hunkered down in their chicken yard. They were still locked in their run but making an alarm call that was at least an octave lower then their areal alarm. They could see it but I did not at first.
Sometimes if its something like a cat they will group up and look at it and make a low, slow cluck cluck cluck cluck sound.

 

[Sussex19]

Yep, all chickens make warning calls.
For something like a fox, it sounds rather like the egg song, whereas for a bird of prey it is like a quite whining/sighing sound.
Interestingly, all birds seem to make a very similar sound for aerial predators, from wrens to our currawongs (a bird not that different for a crow, but nicer) and chickens seem to be able to understand it.

 

[Pecker incubator]

I have 7 hens and 1 rooster....the rooster knocked up his leg somehow (sprained, he does wobble to the feeders), so he is semi lame & not feeling well...my crossbeak female Georgette, who is the top hen, just today, made a warning call when a buzzard flew over Georgette has never made that noise before, and i was shocked...so is it possible, that a hen can give out warning signs when a predator is lurking, and knows the male is not capable?

Yes! Hens will even crow if there's no rooster...