Warning & Alarm Call Identification & Examples

[CoopBoots]

Hey friends, maybe this is a long shot but I'd like to suggest a project that gathers chicken warning and alarm sounds as sort of a reference guide. I have one I think qualifies as a warning given by a cockerel in my flock, but I'd love thoughts on what kind of warning this is (arial predator, ground predator, etc) if you've heard it before.

 

[DLA]

My hens make a similar sound when they see something they don't like, most of the time it's a hawk flying over. I've never had anything handy to record them when they do it but it is very similar.

 

[CoopBoots]

Caught a hawk swooping with my broody and cockerel (off camera) providing some warning or alert calls. Don't mind my commentary; hopefully you can hear the chickens over me.

Edit: It's worth mentioning that my flock was making escort calls, probably post laying an egg, JUST before this clip. They completely stopped right before their warnings/alarms started.

 

[SueT]

I have heard those sounds, also a growling sound when a hawk was near. My rooster also makes a sound like when you very slowly let the air out of a stretched balloon neck, if he thinks something is fishy. Everyone stops what they are doing for all of the above.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

A crow when by. I can hear the screaming of it. It is a warning call to the hens - he is telling them that there is danger in the area

 

[CoopBoots]

A crow when by. I can hear the screaming of it. It is a warning call to the hens - he is telling them that there is danger in the area

I do get simultaneous crow and blue jay alarm calls when a bird of prey is about, but I saw the hawk in question immediately after the chickens joined with their own warnings. So all the warnings probably relate to the presence of the hawk, vs. the chickens alarming over the presence of a crow.

 

[CoopBoots]

I have heard those sounds, also a growling sound when a hawk was near. My rooster also makes a sound like when you very slowly let the air out of a stretched balloon neck, if he thinks something is fishy. Everyone stops what they are doing for all of the above.

I have also heard this whistling/balloon squeak noise, and hopefully one day I'll get it recorded! You're probably right--more of a suspicion/caution alert than a direct warning, perhaps.