Chicken predator alert;

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Ok, I am new to this. I was outside giving the chicks fresh water...and they all froze. didn't move...didn't peep...didn't blink. Stood like statues for 5 minutes. I know they either heard something, or saw something..but I don't know what. I stood out there with them till they made their "all clear". I didn't see anything, or hear anything.
Anybody have ideas ?
Oh, the chicks are all about 4 months old.....pullets and cockeral.

 

[airmechreed]

Where do you live and what preditors do you have around your house?

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Oh, I am Midlands SC...west of Columbia. I have seen hawks ...alot of hawks fly overhead. Just never saw the chicks react that way. We also have snakes...caught a few ....but have seen nothing else. Dogs just get them agitated.

 

[Ole rooster]

My 22 week old pullets did the same thing. But my rooster made some kinda funny noise and they froze. Not even so much as a head wiggle. I had a hawk come by the other day and you would have thought the woods was on fire. They can flying and runnin to me and the dog. I mean they were all over us. Kinda funny thinking about it.

 

[MANOZ]

That My Friends Is What I Call "the Hawk Call" U Will See Them Act That Way Every Time A Hawk Is Over Head.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I thought maybe it was hawks..maybe they actually saw the one flying around that time. I am outside every day...and usually see 4 or 5 flying overhead in circles....I am sure there is plenty of good eats out this way. Also, next door lets hers free range....

 

[moetrout]

Could have been a plane too! I don't think they always know the difference.

 

[NewToFarming]

I have seen mine do that also with a low flying plane. They heard it before I could even see it.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I was curious, so I stood there for the time it took them to relax and go off alert. Never did see or hear a thing. I even wondered if the neighbor chickens had sounded an alert of some sort, and they heard it.

 

[rungirl]

Hawks will make mine freeze... or anything big flying in the sky.