Mystery nighttime attack?

[chuckachucka]

I have an Asil hen with some chicks in a separate coop right outside my house under the window. At 4am, in the pitch black, I was awoken by the most bloodcurdling growling/screaming sounds from my hen that I have ever heard. I was sure they were under attack by a fox as we do get them occasionally in the areas surrounding my garden.


So I rushed out there without even putting something on my feet and found...nothing.

The hen continued to make this shrieking noise on repeat even as I called to her and she was puffed up like a ball and prowling the run.
Eventually she calmed down when I picked her up and brought her and the terrified chicks into the house.

Afterwards I examined the coop and run and have found no evidence of anything amiss. The wire and construction of the run makes it impossible for even a mouse to get in without chewing a hole, but there were no holes.

So what happened? Was my hen having some kind of nightmare? Psychotic break? Or was there something in the coop that got away without leaving a trace? My guess would be a mouse or rat, if I overlook the lack of entry holes, but why would a sleeping chicken wake up and freak out in total darkness over a rodent?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Your hen was probably disturbed by a predator trying to get into the run/coop. I’ve had something similar happen when I didn’t lock the chickens in the coop on a cool evening. I am woken up at 3 am by my rooster crowing and my hens clucking. Their run was undisturbed. I think that a raccoon had stopped by and scared them. I now use Nite Guards to deter predators. You can get them on amazon for $12.

 

[MzGina]

Your hen was probably disturbed by a predator trying to get into the run/coop. I’ve had something similar happen when I didn’t lock the chickens in the coop on a cool evening. I am woken up at 3 am by my rooster crowing and my hens clucking. Their run was undisturbed. I think that a raccoon had stopped by and scared them. I now use Nite Guards to deter predators. You can get them on amazon for $12.

Going to look up Nite Gaurds

 

[chuckachucka]

Yes me too! I'm just glad whatever tried to get my chickens went away hungry.

 

[aart]

Just because you didn't see evidence of a predator doesn't mean there was one there.

Save your money, flashing red lights will not deter a serious predator for very long, if at all.