What does this sound mean?

[KyCoop]

This morning the hawk visited my very, very secure run and coop to harass my girls. The oldest in the group is a 13 wk old Barnie and she started (for the first time) the what I thought was the egg song. Bawck Bawck Bagaawck I thought for a hawk they would be trilling or screaming, but not that.

 

[Waves]

Is it: Co Co Co cooooooooooooo (out loud)?

It is the "danger sound". They use it to warn the others chickens, and maybe (not sure) to call you, too.

 

[Abriana]

Sometimes if they see a bird they might freak out. This morning one of my four month olds started making that sound for absolutely no reason while standing on the feed cans (mine also make it as a scared call if a hawk gets a bird and is in the pen). They might just do it just because! Usually trilling is a “hey pay attention to that large bird but it’s not an emergency” and a sharp quick sound I’ve taken to mean as “run quickly under the coop!” If they feel afraid they will get very still and stare at the bird. To me that sounds like she was just being loud

 

[DobieLover]

This morning the hawk visited my very, very secure run and coop to harass my girls. The oldest in the group is a 13 wk old Barnie and she started (for the first time) the what I thought was the egg song. Bawck Bawck Bagaawck I thought for a hawk they would be trilling or screaming, but not that.

That was not the egg song. It was a panic alarm call.
Just FYA, there is also no egg song! That's an escort call.

 

[KyCoop]

Thank you all. I listen to them on a monitor and Im trying to learn what their language means. With their voices changing now it gets confusing to know what's a real threat and if they just want to be loud just because.

 

[jher77]

Thats what my rooster says when he sees anything alarming. Alot of times it is something ridiculous like me carrying a trash bag or walking with anything they haven't seen before.

 

[Sally PB]

there is also no egg song! That's an escort call.

From my experience, I agree. My cockerel is always nearby, as they don't free range, so no escort needed. Last summer, I was wondering when they would start laying and singing. The laying began August 2.

The only time I've heard anything like "the egg song" was when the girls saw something in the brush, probably a raccoon. Sometimes I hear the "danger trill" too.

 

[KyCoop]

So there was danger and she needed and escort to the coop or a safe place? Is that what the rooster would do if I had one?

 

[Abriana]

Thats what my rooster says when he sees anything alarming. Alot of times it is something ridiculous like me carrying a trash bag or walking with anything they haven't seen before.

I had a rooster named Napoleon would would give the “watch out for that large and dangerous bird” for butterflies

 

[rosemarythyme]

With their voices changing now it gets confusing to know what's a real threat and if they just want to be loud just because.

I can usually hear the difference between the egg song and the alarm call that sounds similar (the rhythm of the sounds seems to be the main difference), but just to be safe, I'll peek outside if I hear any off-kilter egg songs, since that could indicate a predator.