Is fear of overhead geese normal?

[Beccazon]

The chicks and ducks are newly in their new coop. While tending the flock yesterday, after their first 2 nights in the new coop/run, several Canada Geese flew over. We have a lot of them in the area. The ducks ran into the coop like a jet was flying over at 100'! One stood at the door staring like she was the lookout and looked ready for battle lol. I assume that is partly due to the coop life being new to them and their vigilance for impending predators but...geese? I guess I was shocked because I figure they would be more interested than scared. Not like a hawk or eagle or buzzard was circling. They were less phased by the riding mower and the mud trucks!

 

[bobbi-j]

Chickens and ducks are prey animals. They can’t distinguish geese from large birds of prey. All they knew was something big was flying overhead and they followed their instincts to take cover.

 

[Beccazon]

Chickens and ducks are prey animals. They can’t distinguish geese from large birds of prey. All they knew was something big was flying overhead and they followed their instincts to take cover.

I pretty much assumed that but I guess it just seemed odd. At least I know they are not stupid lol. I have not netted the run since they are directly next to the house and closed in the coop at night. Not a lot of predator birds as a threat here with ample large farms and an incredible amount of roadkill in our area. I intend to before long as I don't want to be proven wrong by a random chicken snatcher!

 

[The Dapper Duck]

My old flock used to turn an eye to the sky every time a fruit bat flew over. There aren't even birds of prey on this island, but that instinct to keep an eye on the sky runs deep.

 

[Mamaporter]

Mine do this too! My little rooster will make a low gargly noise and they all start running.

 

[The Dapper Duck]

Mine do this too! My little rooster will make a low gargly noise and they all start running.

I used to mimic that gargly noise and get everyone to pick up their heads and look around. I'm a jerk to my chickens sometimes, haha.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Mine can distinguish between geese and birds of prey—I think it may have something to do with the noise level.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Chickens are driven by instinct to avoid overhead threats. They don't actually know in their little birdy brains that they're trying to avoid hawks. Maybe they learn later on, but as babies, they just have the programming to hide from things that fit specific criteria.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The geese are new and noisy and scary to them. If geese continue to fly overhead your flock will gradually get used to them and be less likely to react. I regularly have wild ducks flying by from the pond to the creek, sometimes only feet from the run, but as the chickens have seen and heard them so often that they no longer react to them.