My chicken screamed at me?

[Nectarine]

I don’t know how to describe it other than screaming: when I go to put my chickens away I always count them by giving them a pat but today when I went to go and pat one she puffed up (most notably raising the feathers on her neck) letting out a scream just a little more high pitched than a cockatoo. It wasn’t a crow like our rooster or the normal loud clucking of our chickens it was just a straight up scream and if I have to be honest I’m kinda scared.
Does anyone know why she might be acting like this?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Was she sitting on the nest? Was she flat like a pancake?

 

[Nectarine]

Was she sitting on the nest? Was she flat like a pancake?

No she was roosting with some of the other hens. We currently have a broody chicken sitting on some eggs if that makes a difference.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

No she was roosting with some of the other hens. We currently have a broody chicken sitting on some eggs if that makes a difference.

Maybe she just got scared and thought you were a predator

 

[Nectarine]

Maybe she just got scared and thought you were a predator

Hmmm strange thought she’d be used to it by now…thank you tho!!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

If it's dark and u use a torch it might have gotten in her eye

 

[Nectarine]

If it's dark and u use a torch it might have gotten in her eye

My rooster is hella fussy when it comes to his hens and their coop so they usually go in at around 5-5:30 or he gets upset so I didn’t have a flash light :/

 

[Callender Girl]

Hey, chicken screams are scary! I've had two broodies lately that shriek at the top of their lungs when I get close, and it's always a bit upsetting, even though I'm expecting it.

One of the two is always a chatterbox -- although not at that level or intensity -- and the second -- a little Bantam frizzle -- never raises her voice except when she's trying to hatch one of the fake eggs she finds in a neighboring coop.

I don't recall that any of the hens has ever screamed when she wasn't broody, although I frequently get told off for not feeding them early enough or fast enough.

 

[Nectarine]

Hey, chicken screams are scary! I've had two broodies lately that shriek at the top of their lungs when I get close, and it's always a bit upsetting, even though I'm expecting it.

One of the two is always a chatterbox -- although not at that level or intensity -- and the second -- a little Bantam frizzle -- never raises her voice except when she's trying to hatch one of the fake eggs she finds in a neighboring coop.

I don't recall that any of the hens has ever screamed when she wasn't broody, although I frequently get told off for not feeding them early enough or fast enough.

So they usually get all fussy when broody? My silkie who’s currently broody just kind of looks at me disappointed but I’m also the person refilling her food and water so she can’t really get upset )

 

[Callender Girl]

Without exception all of mine get fussy -- to say the least -- when they're broody. And, they pancake like crazy -- resembling road kill when I'm trying to lift them off a nest. Twice this summer my frizzle has sneaked into the Easter Eggers' coop and tried to hatch one of the fake eggs. As soon as I step into the coop, she begins her hysterics.

I'm smiling, just imagining the look of utter disappointment on your hen's face. Good thing food cheers up all chickens!