Flock freezes in position for minutes-what does this mean?

[RRKPL]

Our whole flock froze in whatever stance they had at the moment and remained for five minutes, not moving at all.
They looked like a diorama. And like playing "Statute".

 

[Eggcessive]

Mine do that if they here an alarm call by a hen or the rooster or if they see a hawk in the air above. They also will do it if they see one of our cats come close by. They are usually positioned under the evergreen trees hiding when they do this.

 

[gander007]

Yes a predator is near by as I have seen mine do this many a times even if they are locked up in the run as most predators see things that are moving .....