Loud Defensive Squawking

[TheFluffyButt]

Hey Forum,

For a few mornings, at around 0400, my chickens have been squawking extremely loudly for no apparent reason.
I'm hypothesizing that there is a predator in the trees that could be causing them to get on the defense.

All 6 chickens huddle together and squawk.

It seems as soon as I step outside, the chickens seem to calm down and stop.

I'm concerned for noise disturbance in the neighborhood, as no one really needs a 0400 alarm clock.

Has anyone else had a case of manic chickens and did you ever find out what was causing this behavior.

They are fine during the day and in the afternoon, I've only really caught them acting this way in the early hours of the morning.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us Is it safe to assume that it's still dark at 0400 where you are? If so, likely you have a ground predator trying to get into the coop. Chickens are basically catatonic while roosting unless something makes noise to scare them. Look for signs of scratching, droppings foot prints etc. A trail cam might be helpful as well. Just for reference, my roosters start crowing about an hour before sunrise and the girls don't make any noise until the sun is up. Unless there's a disturbance.

 

[aart]

Wonders if you have mice or rats in the coop?

Knowing your location could be of great assistance.
Easy to put in your profile, then it's always there!
Pics of coop could help too.

 

[centrarchid]

If nights a moonlit like here, then chickens may be able to see a bad guy. Alarm calls usually differ as a function of what predator is detected. Alarm for owl is very different from that for for fox / raccoon.

 

[centrarchid]

I have not heard alarm calls produced for rats / mice so do not know how they would figure into what is going on.

 

[aart]

I have not heard alarm calls produced for rats / mice so do not know how they would figure into what is going on.

Rodents can nibble on feet and legs. Not probable, but possible.

 

[Zoomie]

Welcome to BYC!

Are your chickens locked in the coop at night? I'm wondering how they can see you the minute you step out your door... or do they hear you where they are inside the coop? And also wondering how you know they are huddling together. I can't tell on mine, because they are inside the coop. I'd have to open the door and shine a light to know if they are huddled together, but maybe you have some way to tell - a big window in your coop?

I can't tell if you have a coop or not... but if not, get them a coop and put them in there at night with the door locked. That way they are (relatively) safe from predators and also, they can't see predators and are less likely to strike up an alarm.

I can recommend trying to find signs of the nighttime visitor: it might well be a predator with Chicken Dinner on it's mind and the chickens are smart enough to know it. Try and take steps to find out what it is, and to keep them safe from it. Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed, initial post is confusing. More details re: location, coop/run set up, roosting locations, and night time security needed. Sounds like a predator, and need for pre-emptive action.

 

[chickens really]

Yep...If not locked in the Coop at night even a Cat skulking around will get them yelling..Chickens can not see well in the dark..That is why they roost at night...

 

[TheFluffyButt]

Welcome to BYC!

Are your chickens locked in the coop at night? I'm wondering how they can see you the minute you step out your door... or do they hear you where they are inside the coop? And also wondering how you know they are huddling together. I can't tell on mine, because they are inside the coop. I'd have to open the door and shine a light to know if they are huddled together, but maybe you have some way to tell - a big window in your coop?

I can't tell if you have a coop or not... but if not, get them a coop and put them in there at night with the door locked. That way they are (relatively) safe from predators and also, they can't see predators and are less likely to strike up an alarm.

I can recommend trying to find signs of the nighttime visitor: it might well be a predator with Chicken Dinner on it's mind and the chickens are smart enough to know it. Try and take steps to find out what it is, and to keep them safe from it. Good luck!

Thank you for all the responses!

My coop is not locked, the door is always open, it is also made of chicken wire, which means I can see in at all times.

As for seeing my chickens before they see me, I just look out the window and I can see them outside of the coop standing all together.

The reason they stop crowing when I go outside is usually because I'm yelling at them as I open the door
Or I bang on the window in the hopes that I won't have to go outside, so they know I'm coming.

I can't see any signs of an attack and there are definitely no traces of predator's that I've seen!
But by the time I get outside when the sun is up, the chickens have usually dug up their enclosed area, so any signs of a threat would have disappeared.

I'll keep an eye out and report anything.