The hens survival strategy

[centrarchid]

How many different alarm calls have you identified. I know someone who would be very interested to find there are more than three.
If you have recordings that would be a great help.

Somebody needs to get their butt out there and watch the birds more. I will not point out what should be obvious to "experts".

 

[Shadrach]

I will be critical of those studies. They were done by graduate students in most cases that actually worked with the birds for only a year or two before moving on to bigger and better things.

Nope, they were done by professors, or at least a professor is taking credit for the work.

 

[centrarchid]

Nope, they were done by professors.

I am one. Most work in field done by graduate students.

 

[Shadrach]

I am one. Most work in field done by graduate students.

True, I have one in the field now.

 

[Shadrach]

I have had cocks stand their ground against Coopers Hawks in defense of their offspring less than about 12 weeks of age on many occasions. The cocks prevailed and on more than one occasion give chase on hawk pursuing his brood. Hens stand ground only when chicks less than about 5 weeks involved.

What goes on with terrestrial predators different.

My chickens are tougher and smarter than what you have to be sure but I do not have confidence they could handle Goshawks.

I agree with this. I've even had cocks defend 11 week old chicks when they weren't his offspring.
I agree about the mums as well, but i'm not talking about either of those situations.

 

[Shadrach]

Anyway, what do you think? Does the hen think the predator is a cock trying to mate, or is she protecting herslf for a chance to escape later, or something else.

 

[centrarchid]

Other situations do not appear to apply when it comes to adult chickens taking on a raptor. I have had chicks take on one that is outside scope of what I typically see, but they may indicate something hormonal at play with chicks reared by hens.


The chickens are pretty good identifying raptors based on species. They can even ID intent, part of basis behind calls science missing to date. Research is far from complete. I takes time to observe events that may happen once in a lifetime for chicken or even less often than that. They may even be able to ID individual hawks s based on what I have seen involving Coopers Hawks working my barnyard. Thread on that somewhere. Some Coopers a definite threat to juveniles while others are safe to dust bath next to. The alternatives can visit in same day.

 

[centrarchid]

Anyway, what do you think? Does the hen think the predator is a cock trying to mate, or is she protecting herslf for a chance to escape later, or something else.

No confusion on hens part I have seen. Possibly confusion for human observer.

 

[Shadrach]

No confusion on hens part I have seen. Possibly confusion for human observer.

That isn't really an answer is it. Go on take your best guess.

 

[Shadrach]

Other situations do not appear to apply when it comes to adult chickens taking on a raptor. I have had chicks take on one that is outside scope of what I typically see, but they may indicate something hormonal at play with chicks reared by hens.


The chickens are pretty good identifying raptors based on species. They can even ID intent, part of basis behind calls science missing to date. Research is far from complete. I takes time to observe events that may happen once in a lifetime for chicken or even less often than that. They may even be able to ID individual hawks s based on what I have seen involving Coopers Hawks working my barnyard. Thread on that somewhere. Some Coopers a definite threat to juveniles while others are safe to dust bath next to. The alternatives can visit in same day.

While I agree that this may be possible, chickens can identify a variety of predators, its not been proven.
I have had cockerels who give alarm calls for aeroplanes so that alone cast some doubt on the above