Crooning and Clicking? What do these noises mean?

[GottaHatchAPlan]

We've had our hens for a few months and have gotten pretty used to their noises by now. But there are 2 noises that still have us puzzled.

1. Sometimes our chickens will make a crrrrrrrn noise while staring intently into space. At first we thought it was a predator warning, but when we check there's nothing there. Once I caught one of the girls making this noise while staring at the empty grass a foot in front of her.

2. Typically when I hold and pet them, I've noticed they sometimes softly click their beak. It's a relatively quiet sound, made by moving their lower jaw from side to side (like a gentle grinding?). One did it again this morning while perched on our kitchen windowsill. She was just standing there pondering the patio when she glanced back through the window and made that clicking sound at me. Is this a chicken's equivalent to a purr or an unhappy noise?

What do you guys think they mean? Have you heard your chicken make these noises too?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

We've had our hens for a few months and have gotten pretty used to their noises by now. But there are 2 noises that still have us puzzled.

1. Sometimes our chickens will make a crrrrrrrn noise while staring intently into space. At first we thought it was a predator warning, but when we check there's nothing there. Once I caught one of the girls making this noise while staring at the empty grass a foot in front of her.

2. Typically when I hold and pet them, I've noticed they sometimes softly click their beak. It's a relatively quiet sound, made by moving their lower jaw from side to side (like a gentle grinding?). One did it again this morning while perched on our kitchen windowsill. She was just standing there pondering the patio when she glanced back through the window and made that clicking sound at me. Is this a chicken's equivalent to a purr or an unhappy noise?

What do you guys think they mean? Have you heard your chicken make these noises too?

This sounds normal to me. I have heard my chickens do this many times.

 

[sylviethecochin]

@centrarchid is the chicken behaviour expert. EDT: Student?

 

[centrarchid]

First sound I heard something very similar in response a known cause. In the distance, roughly 300 yards away a Great-horned Owl (young of year) landed up on its perch at time of vocalization. I would not have seen it if not looking for it as the owl arrives at about the same time every evening.

 

[snow5164]

We really don’t know what they’re thinking or seeing, my birds have a variety of sounds that seem to range in intensity from peaceful peeping to down right screaming ... just like us they’re just expressing themselves , enjoy your birds