Question about chicken behavior during a stalking incident

[z3lda3]

I’ve got a flock of 30 hens, 2 primary roosters. They share the same coop, and outside space. This morning a coyote was stalking my chickens (I’ve got all wire mesh fencing and avian netting). It terrified the flock and half ran into the coop and half was in the chicken yard, but up close to the coop, with the door right there. A rooster was with each flock. Why didn’t all the chickens go into the coop? They all get along very well, it wasn’t a rooster bullying thing. Was it a survival strategy or did some of my hens freeze up outside and a rooster stayed with them?
My coonhound chased off the predator, luckily my chickens are ok physically.

 

[RoyalChick]

I’ve got a flock of 30 hens, 2 primary roosters. They share the same coop, and outside space. This morning a coyote was stalking my chickens (I’ve got all wire mesh fencing and avian netting). It terrified the flock and half ran into the coop and half was in the chicken yard, but up close to the coop, with the door right there. A rooster was with each flock. Why didn’t all the chickens go into the coop? They all get along very well, it wasn’t a rooster bullying thing. Was it a survival strategy or did some of my hens freeze up outside and a rooster stayed with them?
My coonhound chased off the predator, luckily my chickens are ok physically.

Glad they are all OK. I think they are all individuals and make a decision on the spot.
When Pooh got grabbed by a hawk there were the following reactions.
- Bernie-the-brave (lead hen) ran forward and started pecking and kicking the hawk
- Babs (Bernie’s number 2) came over all kindergarten teacher and ushered everyone she could find into the coop and into the nest boxes in the coop.
- Sylvie froze on the spot - she was quite well hidden under a butterfly bush and she did not move a muscle until it was all over.
- Calypso flew over the fence and disappeared. She did not return until after dark by which time I was sobbing because she would likely get eaten by foxes in the night. She showed up from nowhere and complained loudly that I had closed up the coop door and she couldn’t get in!
- and I ran to the hawk who had Pooh in its grasp (they were only about 20’ from me when it all happened) and helped Bernie get the hawk off Pooh.

Pooh survived and went around for days with her head held high boasting about her bravery.
Bernie and Babs (now both sadly have left us) got extra treats.
I got a stiff drink to calm my nerves!

And in these stalking incidents (young fox) - none of the chickens were in danger as they were all enclosed in the run. But you can see some are much more panicked about it than others.
In the first video below you can see the last hen to depart the area (Bernie) is quite leisurely about it and in the second video they are almost not bothered!

 

[z3lda3]

Wow how scary was that?? Even though they were safe, they had to so scared. I imagine it’d be like a bear beating on my door trying to get in. I’d be terrified. Great job Bernie and Babs!!
A few weeks ago I had a hawk attack one my little bantam polish hens. I had one rooster herd everyone under the coop, and my other rooster fought off the hawk. My little hen survived after weeks of antibiotics and TLC.
Isn’t it awesome how they work together for the safety of the flock.
I had a mama hen outside with her newly hatched chicks. (I’m outside with them of course), and a hawk landed in a tree right above them. Mama screamed and the babies ran under a bush. Mama stayed right there screaming. I think she was deterring the attention from her babies to herself. (I’m standing there with a trident type thing, thinking “come on Mr Hawk, I’ll have hawk shish kabob”).
Sigh everything wants to eat our chickens!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Good Mama!

 

[z3lda3]

Good Mama!

Sheryl is a wonderful mama! And she’s a red sex link. Everything I read said RSLs don’t go broody, but she goes broody every spring and beginning of the fall. And just the best mama. Every clutch she’s had, she didn’t wean until they were 5 ish weeks old. Isn’t that on the long side to still heavily mother? I mean for a hen..lol

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sheryl is a wonderful mama! And she’s a red sex link. Everything I read said RSLs don’t go broody, but she goes broody every spring and beginning of the fall. And just the best mama. Every clutch she’s had, she didn’t wean until they were 5 ish weeks old. Isn’t that on the long side to still heavily mother? I mean for a hen..lol

My two co-parenting broody hens this spring abandoned their two chicks at three weeks. They now have 21. Had, I should say. The chicks will be 8 weeks tomorrow and the hens stopped sleeping with them in the brooder yesterday. I'll quote @Ridgerunner here and say, "with living creatures you don't get guarantees." Anything can happen, and does. You can't predict what they might do.

 

[z3lda3]

My two co-parenting broody hens this spring abandoned their two chicks at three weeks. They now have 21. Had, I should say. The chicks will be 8 weeks tomorrow and the hens stopped sleeping with them in the brooder yesterday. I'll quote @Ridgerunner here and say, "with living creatures you don't get guarantees." Anything can happen, and does. You can't predict what they might do.

Isn’t that the truth! Particularly with chickens and children. I stopped planning with my chickens a long time ago. I got them nice nesting boxes, enough for everyone..they bicker over 2 ol 5 gallons buckets! Ever since then, we just play it by ear.
And broody hens are so.. unpredictable especially after hatch. I let them lead and I try to accommodate.

 

[McChooky]

My broody hen was re introduced to the flock with her 5 chicks on day#3 .She won't let them near the chicks and got into a couple scraps . I've been leaving the run open a couple hrs a day. The chicks are doing fine and stay under her a lot.In 3-5 wks they'll be weaned

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I’m standing there with a trident type thing, thinking “come on Mr Hawk, I’ll have hawk shish kabob”

Lol- what I can imagine here.
If we could only see ourselves on video while defending our flocks. BYC parents would be internet famous for sure.

 

[SamLockwood]

Unless they've been attacked by a canine before, likely they were just anxious about this big strange, animal poking around their domain. They do have survival instincts, but they only go so far. They have to learn what's a threat and what isn't, and what works for a good hiding place and what doesn't.

Mine have been attacked and killed by predators before, mostly by hawks, a bobcat, and coyotes. They're used to me, but when strange people show up they tend to do what yours did in that situation: some go into hiding, others raise a fuss or just observe to see what the stranger is about.

They pretty much hate anything that looks remotely like a dog, though, as well as birds of prey. Either one of those shows up at any distance they can see, and they go into "lockdown mode." The roosters and guineas sound the alert and everyone dives to various hiding places. Then they make a decision as to whether to shelter in place or form a "goon squad" to drive the tresspasser off.