Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[micstrachan]

You may recall I've split the calls up for predators into two main calls, one for aerial and one for ground. Then there is the warning call, this is quiet and meant to be heard by the tribe. After the warning call has been given you get what I call the general alarm call; it's this that everyone hears but it isn't the warning call.
It gets more complicated. Each chicken has a different voice. The warning call from say Cillin is not quite the same as the same call from Punch. This gets interesting when there are cockerels around, some of which give the warning call for anything that moves it seems at times. The adult hens know who is giving the call and adjust their reaction to it. If Mag from Tribe 2 gives a warning call all the tribe hens pay attention and head for cover. If the new unnamed cockerel gives the warning call the hens will make a judgement, the less experienced ones usually heading for cover while the more senior may decide that the threat isn't imminent, or may not exist at all.
This why it is often more informative to look at the rest of the flock than it is to look at the most obvious which is the bird that gave the call. It's the reaction of the rest of the flock that often lets one know what a call means.

Fascinating, Shad. To my ears, the general alarm call sounds much like the egg song. I have a video of what I think you are calling the warning call. When the warning call is sounded, they all (mostly?) go perfectly still. You could hear a pin drop! I’ll try to find an upload and you can say whether you agree. The aerial call is super obvious and if I attempt it, they run for cover. I’m not sure of the ground predator call, unless it’s continuous deep clucking?

 

[Ribh]

What's wrong with sandals?

That'a a Brit thing.

 

[Ribh]

You may recall I've split the calls up for predators into two main calls, one for aerial and one for ground. Then there is the warning call, this is quiet and meant to be heard by the tribe. After the warning call has been given you get what I call the general alarm call; it's this that everyone hears but it isn't the warning call.
It gets more complicated. Each chicken has a different voice. The warning call from say Cillin is not quite the same as the same call from Punch. This gets interesting when there are cockerels around, some of which give the warning call for anything that moves it seems at times. The adult hens know who is giving the call and adjust their reaction to it. If Mag from Tribe 2 gives a warning call all the tribe hens pay attention and head for cover. If the new unnamed cockerel gives the warning call the hens will make a judgement, the less experienced ones usually heading for cover while the more senior may decide that the threat isn't imminent, or may not exist at all.
This why it is often more informative to look at the rest of the flock than it is to look at the most obvious which is the bird that gave the call. It's the reaction of the rest of the flock that often lets one know what a call means.

That's helpful Shad. Sometimes I've seen 1/2 my flock shoot for cover while the other 1/2 barely lift their heads ~ but now I think about it it's always the younger birds running for cover. I was thinking my non runners didn't have good survival instincts but if they have made a judgement call on who's given the alarm, that is different.

 

[Ribh]

Also, the call varies with the proximity of the threat and the tribes reaction varies accordingly. When Cillin for example hasn't seen a hawk until the hawk is close to strike distance, that warning call is different again to the call for a hawk spotted a couple of hundred meters away in the sky.
Mother hens are similar. There is a 'heads' up call for chicks and run like f*** call. There is also a difference between the warning call that calls chicks to her in times of danger and the call that sends them to cover. The send to cover call is the most commonly heard one. As soon as the chicks are mobile enough the hen sends them away in order to take on the threat unhampered by chicks under her.

I'm finding this conversation fascinating as we have few predators & I rarely hear a warning call. I get the * watch & monitor* call whenever Kirby is about but they don't even bother to note Marlow. Mind you Kirby likes to climb the wire & watch the chicken antics from the roof. The girls don't like it but they are wary rather than alarmed by him. I think he finds it funny to stir them up.

 

[RoyalChick]

Also, the call varies with the proximity of the threat and the tribes reaction varies accordingly. When Cillin for example hasn't seen a hawk until the hawk is close to strike distance, that warning call is different again to the call for a hawk spotted a couple of hundred meters away in the sky.
Mother hens are similar. There is a 'heads' up call for chicks and run like f*** call. There is also a difference between the warning call that calls chicks to her in times of danger and the call that sends them to cover. The send to cover call is the most commonly heard one. As soon as the chicks are mobile enough the hen sends them away in order to take on the threat unhampered by chicks under her.

Oh this is all so wonderful. Are you able to record any of these?

 

[RoyalChick]

Fascinating, Shad. To my ears, the general alarm call sounds much like the egg song. I have a video of what I think you are calling the warning call. When the warning call is sounded, they all (mostly?) go perfectly still. You could hear a pin drop! I’ll try to find an upload and you can say whether you agree. The aerial call is super obvious and if I attempt it, they run for cover. I’m not sure of the ground predator call, unless it’s continuous deep clucking?

I would really like to see (hear) all that so I can recognize it. Super excited to learn this.

 

[BY Bob]

I never know when I talk to Americans. Some people seem to think I am refering to underwear.

We do also use it for that. They have the same principal the underware and footware. Something goes between something.

 

[RoyalChick]

Is it any surprise that Maggie is irritable with the Little Princesses when they play games like this just as she is settling down for a night's sleep huddled up with her two sisters.

In spite of all the shenanigans, everyone is now settled down for the night.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Alarm!

While I was filming the girls snacking the other day, Hattie sounding warning and Aurora picked it up. This video is 3 minutes long. They stood stock still for almost the entire 3 minutes. Hattie had 1 foot only 1/2 way on the ground and she never finished her step. You will see Hattie and Aurora on my right with Sansa frozen behind the pool heater. Sydney was to my left.

The initial alarm sound (a short squeak repeated once), which is not loud, came from Hattie and then Aurora takes charge, makes the loud warning and maintains what I call the "rumble".

I've been suspecting for some time that Aurora has been picking up more Sentinel duty from Hattie. This may be an example of them working together while on duty.

They were certainly poised and ready for anything. It looked like they were playing "Statues".

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Happy Friday

Sadly it has to be Hattie this Friday. Her butt feathers are always the last to come in. It has to be chilly. Zoom in at your own peril.
View attachment 2366108

Poor darling. I'm glad she will be getting her new feathers before the cold weather sets in.