The hens survival strategy

[Shadrach]

The cock has three warning calls he uses to alert his hens of danger;
one call is for ground predators,
another call is for aerial predators,
another call for everything else.
The cock has two reactions to predators, fight or run.
The hens reaction to predators is different.
For ground predators she will run or fight.
It’s when it comes to aerial predators it seems to me that something had gone wrong with their survival instinct.
Once a cock has given the warning call for an aerial predator everyone runs for cover, including most of the cocks I’ve had here.
If the cock can’t get to cover in time to avoid the aerial predator he may turn to face it and try to fight.

The hen doesn’t do this. Once the aerial predator is within approximately ten metres the hen squats.

Why?

It’s not as if the hawk is going to miss and overshoot the intended prey. My initial reaction to the hen squatting in this situation was that this is a suicidal survival strategy.

If you’ve watched a cock responding to a hens escort call you may have seen the cock run towards the hen with his wings outstretched and his head lowered. Sometimes the hen squats if she’s interested in mating, sometimes she just side steps the cock until he calms down.
The cock running towards a hen intent on mating doesn’t look too dissimilar to the last moments of a hawk strike. Id the hen mistaking the hawk for a cock?
There are differences in how each species of hawk/falcon/eagle attacks its prey. The Goss Hawk which is responsible for most of the hen deaths here hammers the hen into the ground when it strikes; the force is considerable and one could imagine that a standing hen might easily suffer a broken leg in this situation. Escape with a broken leg is almost impossible.
Once the hawk has struck, its next action is to stand on the hen and pull out the feathers on her back and then claw an opening in the exposed flesh in order to eat the internal organs.

It’s at this point the hawk may step off the hen and attempt to drag the hen to a more secluded spot to eat. If the hen is going to escape, this is when she does it. She probably wouldn’t be able to make an successful escape attempt with a broken leg.


So, does the hen get confused as to the predators intent and mistake it for a cock wanting to mate, or is the squat a damage limiting strategy perhaps offering a chance of escape should the hawk release its claw grip in order to drag the hen away?

 

[centrarchid]

Way more complex than that , way more complex in predator calls alone.

 

[centrarchid]

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.

 

[True Patriot]

 

[Shadrach]

Way more complex than that , way more complex in predator calls alone.

I've only identified 3 alarm calls. You need to be careful not to confuse the general panic calls with the cocks alarm call.
There are some interesting studies on the cocks alarm call and so far these studies have only identified 3.

 

[centrarchid]

I have been watching chickens kept free-range for almost 50 years and also a trained professional when it comes to animals. I am careful.

 

[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.

Yep, I get the occasional cock who will stand his ground, it depends on the cock and what's attacking.
I've only had one hen in seven years who has survived a Goss Hawk attack.
I'll look up Coopers Hawks. I don't think we have them here.

 

[centrarchid]

I've only identified 3 alarm calls. You need to be careful not to confuse the general panic calls with the cocks alarm call.
There are some interesting studies on the cocks alarm call and so far these studies have only identified 3.

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.

 

[Shadrach]

Way more complex than that , way more complex in predator calls alone.

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.

 

[centrarchid]

Yep, I get the occasional cock who will stand his ground, it depends on the cock and what's attacking.
I've only had one hen in seven years who has survived a Goss Hawk attack.
I'll look up Coopers Hawks. I don't think we have them here.

Biggest predictors I see on cock is his relations to birds being targeted and his stage in molt cycle. You should be controlling for that as well.