Chickens sound like they are growling. Whats up

[speckled bean]

I have a RIR that has been doing this all afternoon. She looks fine but is just walking around and 2 other hens started to fight her but the rooster stepped in and danced around the two non growling hens, protecting the RIR. I definitely think she does not like something as someone already said.

 

[jarmanschicks]

I've noticed my chickens do this when I put a treat down for them...it's as if they're saying "Mmmm, good grub!" I have never heard it and then seen any of them behave in an aggressive manner.

 

[Searsmom]

I wonder if it's like all other things, one chicken does it, so others pick up on it and it becomes "flock talk." Some wild birds - the same kind of bird but in a different area - sing their "song" slightly different. Some chickens "growl" when they're happy, some do it when there's something exciting, like treats?

Interesting if anyone ever did a study on it. Maybe only interesting to us, but I'd read it.

 

[BugGuy]

In my neck of the woods, the "Growl" is a warning and when I hear it, I start looking around. In just about every instance there is a large bird, animal, or something out of the ordinary moving about. The girls run for cover and the roosters stand tall and prepare for "Battle". They even growl at me when I come around a corner or something. I pay attention when I hear that sound.

 

[Searsmom]

In my neck of the woods, the "Growl" is a warning and when I hear it, I start looking around. In just about every instance there is a large bird, animal, or something out of the ordinary moving about. The girls run for cover and the roosters stand tall and prepare for "Battle". They even growl at me when I come around a corner or something. I pay attention when I hear that sound.

Yes, but then there's my crazy hen who growls at me, whenever she sees me. I must have hurt her feelings when she was little. I've a rooster who calls his warning so most of the hens don't get a chance to growl at all.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

poor little gal.

 

[BugGuy]

Quote:
Crazy would be a subjective term for my flock. Some of my girls and one rooster, just don't like anything but other chickens. The girls still give us eggs and the rooster isn't aggressive towards us so I really have no issues with any of them. Though that particular rooster is the first in the fight when a predator shows up. He's a 10 or so lb black sex link so I'm sure he packs a punch.

 

[Searsmom]

Quote: That is so cool! I have a rather wimpy rooster, he'll give the call but he's right behind his ladies in the running dept. I shouldn't fault him I suppose, if I was his size, I'd run from a chihuahua too. He knows I'll defend him.

 

[lovlyrita]

I am so glad I saw this thread. I have two hens that I let hang out with me (they come in the house while they are out roaming) and they were both just sitting... all mellowed out... and they started that growling noise. I know that they are happy & content so I just I am not sure what the growling sound means now.

But then again, my Light Brahma pullet sounds like a goose instead of a chicken... she honks.... kinda funny

 

[chainedspider]

I was in my chicken run the other day working on building my brood a bigger, better coop when I heard a low growling sound. When I went to investigate I found two of my dominant hens (we own a rooster but he is still an adolescent and hasn't worked his way up to the top of the pecking order yet) stop still, stare off into the trees, and start a low growling sound. All the other chickens were milling around them scratching at feed but these two seemed to look very alert and continued their low rumbling sound. I made it a point of putting bands on all my adults so I could tell them apart and know that these two are always in the lead. When I had a raccoon come by at night, all the chickens were in their coop except for these two and the rooster. On this afternoon, they continued to growl for atleast 15 minutes and rarely moved, even when I walked near them. I'm guessing that they heard something in the trees and were warning the brood there might be danger. It was really eerie watching them.