Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValerieJ]

That's one of the reasons I wanted to post it. If you can learn the meanings of what the sound indicates you can better mange situations. I am hopeful that @Shadrach and others will weigh in with their observations of their flocks when they make the same sound.

I know when mine are unhappy because I haven't let them out to range in the morning. They have a specific cacophony of BAWK-bawk-BAAWK Bawk, and repeat.

 

[BY Bob]

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.

So when we look at this video.

First Hattie makes a low squeak like sound twice. When she does this, Aurora, the only other hen in frame stops and extends her neck. Sydney, not in frame did the same. I could not see anyone else.

Then Aurora gives the siren-like call loudly. Everyone stands tall and still. Aurora does not seem to be looking for anything. Her head does not move or scan anything that I can see but Hattie's head is twitching and seems to be agling upwards at times.

Aurora continues to make a low growl. Like Hattie, Sydney's head is twitching and she seems to be looking about.

At the minute mark, Aroura's head moves 45° to her left and she continues the low rumble. Could it be that she is tracking something while the others were looking for it?

At 1:23 Aurora's head moves back almost to her original position and she has given her last growl. Then she starts twitching her head, also looking around. All three of them are looking around until 2:30 when Sydney gives up watching and starts walking.

At 2:46 Sansa starts moving, then Aurora and Hattie start moving and the alarm is over.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Thank you! That’s Maxine Wanda. She’s a lap chicken first, but also a Dominique. So far though she has blue eyes. She’s about two months old.

Are you sure that’s a Dominique? She doesn’t look like one and does she have feathered legs?

 

[BY Bob]

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.

Any cat would indeed find humor in stirring them up. I'm certain that's why he does it. It tickles his kitty funny bone.

 

[featherhead007]

So when we look at this video.

First Hattie makes a low squeak like sound twice. When she does this, Aurora, the only other hen in frame stops and extends her neck. Sydney, not in frame did the same. I could not see anyone else.

Then Aurora gives the siren-like call loudly. Everyone stands tall and still. Aurora does not seem to be looking for anything. Her head does not move or scan anything that I can see but Hattie's head is twitching and seems to be agling upwards at times.

Aurora continues to make a low growl. Like Hattie, Sydney's head is twitching and she seems to be looking about.

At the minute mark, Aroura's head moves 45° to her left and she continues the low rumble. Could it be that she is tracking something while the others were looking for it?

At 1:23 Aurora's head moves back almost to her original position and she has given her last growl. Then she starts twitching her head, also looking around. All three of them are looking around until 2:30 when Sydney gives up watching and starts walking.

At 2:46 Sansa starts moving, then Aurora and Hattie start moving and the alarm is over.

Sansa being the alpha hen? I'm guessing

 

[featherhead007]

My "Beetov-Hen" is our alpha! (Even the roosters follow her commands)

 

[BY Bob]

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.

Lilly would knock them all off just to teach them s lesson. Don't be flying up and landing on the Lord Protector!

 

[featherhead007]

My "Beetov-Hen" is our alpha! (Even the roosters follow her commands)

Actually, I follow her commands as well

 

[FransGran]

Are you sure that’s a Dominique? She doesn’t look like one and does she have feathered legs?

No, clean dusky/yellow legs.

 

[BY Bob]

Sansa being the alpha hen? I'm guessing

Lilly is Lord Protector and alpha hen. Her and Phyllis were in the big run when this occurred. Of those involved the pecking order would be.

1. Hattie
2. Aurora
3. Sansa
4. Sydney