What alarm call does a rooster make to scream - HAWK! ?

[Linda in San Diego]

We have a blue heron that stops by to inspect the pond in our yard, boy you should see our hens bolt for the covered coop when that giant stops by!

 

[crtrlovr]

Quote:
Same thing happens here when the blue heron visits our neighbor's pond. Roo makes call, hens bolt!

 

[fowltemptress]

That's interesting. My rooster does not sound at all like that for aerial predators. He makes one very deep noise . . . I always know to look up when I hear it and the hens either hunker down or run for nearby cover. I don't know quite how to describe it, really, other than to tell you to imagine someone saying one word in Barry White's voice, and then imagine that in chicken speech. He seems to know the difference between hawks and harmless vultures, too, which I find pretty impressive.

 

[vermontgal]

When I played the sounds from the website for my gals, they looked interested, but like they did not know what I was talking about. I think it might be flock specific. Several articles out there reference the idea of chicken "talk" being partly learned (not just instinctive).

Some is instinct, sure, but some of it might come about through interactions with the other chickens in the flock. Kind of like a chicken dialect. My flock speaks a different dialect than your flock.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else gets the sounds recorded, or finds more examples online that sound more like your own roo.

 

[sunflowerbc]

ScoobyRoo that's what I do as well LOLOL I've laughed about it that the neighbours probably think I'm nuts

I often throw rocks up into the sky as well at them. Not like I can throw it up high enough so I look nuts for sure!!!

I have always known those 2 sounds (aerial & ground) were some sort of warning but never knew what kind so this is so good to know!! Thanks for the link to know the different calls!
I woke this morning to find my Bantam boy making the ground calls like a mad man and I couldn't figure out what it was. I was lookin' in the sky but saw nothing so I assume now that it was something hiding in the bush. Cool stuff.

 

[sunflowerbc]

Quote:
I have a huge Macaw parrot that sits outside and when a heron flew above him the other day he almost fell out of the tree LOL Scared the crap outta him. Too funny! Those heron's are gorgeous. I always think of the dinosaur 'Pterodactylus' that flies cuz they are so big and look alike

 

[centrarchid]

The arial predator call seems to come in two forms. One that makes everyone freeze and the other means bolt for cover. My imitation gets the second response. When I have ID on predator causing stir, the everyone freeze occurs when raptor just flying by. The second is when predator is incoming.

 

[woodmort]

I managed to get my pullets in to the coop the other day by using the high pitched "EEEEEEEEEEE" sound the redtail makes although they had been attacked by a coopers it scared them enough to get inside.

 

[PhilErvin]

I was out and about the other day and heard my roo let out a blood curddeling gurgle that I can't describe. The hens went running into the run and as I looked up I saw a hawk do a 15 - 20 foot fly over. The next day I was out there again and again I heard the roo make this same sound. I looked up and around and soon I saw a small kids helium ballon fly over and into my trees. I was real proud of my mean, obnoxiuos, aggressive, combative sneeky roo, he saw the ballon before I did and warned his girls of a possible threat. THAT is why I tolerate his meaness.

 

[chkn]

Quote:
This is hilarious! I agree, it doesn't all sound quite the same, maybe it depends on the chicken. The arial warning is kind of a 'whooish' sound, going up to a higher pitch. It always sounds a little startling and it makes you want to look and take notice. At first I didn't know what it meant but every single time my rooster does it there's something overhead. I notice my younger chickens run for cover at the sound. Chickens have amazing good sight and hearing.