Froze in place and trilling sounds?

[yakitori]

Today while foraging, all the chickens suddenly froze in place and made small trilling sounds to each other. They were still for about two minutes, after which they slowly hid behind some bins, stayed still and didnt come out for a while.

Can anyone tell me what they were doing? predators?

They’re almost 7 weeks old

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm curious about this too. The other day I had one of them making a trilling sound -- a sort of musical purr.

If I heard that sound from my in-town flock I don't remember it or remember what it was for.

 

[nchls school]

Today while foraging, all the chickens suddenly froze in place and made small trilling sounds to each other. They were still for about two minutes, after which they slowly hid behind some bins, stayed still and didnt come out for a while.

Can anyone tell me what they were doing? predators?

They’re almost 7 weeks old

The trilling is a warning call of danger. With chicks it could have been a hawk, cat, or, just as likely, a falling leaf, chickadee.

 

[3KillerBs]

The trilling is a warning call of danger. With chicks it could have been a hawk, cat, or, just as likely, a falling leaf, chickadee.

Is there a similar-sounding food call? Mine was doing it intermittently while pecking at the ground.

 

[nchls school]

Is there a similar-sounding food call? Mine was doing it intermittently while pecking at the ground.

It's a different sound. Roosters and hens with chicks will often hold a goodie and make a buk-buk sound to call the hens or chicks to come get a treat.

Or when pecking at the ground/food.