Would A Rooster Crow to Warn About Coyotes?

[GooseyMcGee]

Would a rooster crow to let his hens know there was coyotes lurking around the pen?

 

[theoldchick]

A rooster will crow when he sees anything lurking around the pen.

 

[sourland]

A rooster will crow for many reasons among them the presence of a predator. There are also a variety of other warning sounds in his vocabulary. Understand that this is only a warning and not a predator deterrent.

 

[cupman]

I can't help but wish they would shut up sometimes. I love the crowing, but it almost seems like it's a big notification to all predators within a quarter mile. In this book I read about chickens at school it said roosters had something like 13(maybe 16) unique calls and noises it would make to indicate different things to his flock.

 

[Life is Good!]

Our layers are long gone to the coop by the time the coyotes come out fully - I know as they are hunting the rabbits in our patch of land (the new balls of bunny fur scattered about the back 40 are indication that someone got food - and the fur is there newly at least 2x/wk). If you have a coyote hunting in broad daylight - I'd call animal control, as that critter is likely not well somehow.

 

[sourland]

When hungry and feeding kits/cubs/pups predators are not restricted by the time of day. They are opportunistic.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I think they crow more to attract a hen, saying here I am, virile and strong...they have a low growl they use to warn of danger, and a scream sort of cluck when that danger is very real.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I don't know if they will crow to warn of a coyote, but I can guarantee you that when they cow, it will draw the coyotes in to check and see if there is an easy meal available.

 

[centrarchid]

Would a rooster crow to let his hens know there was coyotes lurking around the pen?

My roosters stop crowing when a predator is detected.

Roosters crow to communicate with other chickens. They use crowing to advertise their health and vitality to hens and other roosters. Hens prefer to associate with roosters at top of their game while other roosters can game some insight into the abilities of a rival.


With respect to predators, the chickens (roosters and hens) will produce calls that can indicate to flockmates the type of predator (flying versus on ground) and the risk is poses. The "cackle" call is used to indicate a ground predator and modifications of the call can indicate proximity and activity of predator. It does not seem to indicate direction although other chickens can likely figure out where predator is based on how caller orients body relative to predator. The cackle does not likely intended to threaten predator but may serve to indicate to predator that surpise is not longer an option.

Roosters in mixed sex groups do most of the communicating about predators although not all. Hens will also make a ruckus and hens with chicks will produce warnings about predators that can only be heard at close range and is intended for chicks.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

I can't help but wish they would shut up sometimes. I love the crowing, but it almost seems like it's a big notification to all predators within a quarter mile. In this book I read about chickens at school it said roosters had something like 13(maybe 16) unique calls and noises it would make to indicate different things to his flock.

Yes, and I believe I've heard just about all of them since my roo's realized he's King of the Hill around here. Although it is kind of neat hearing him, my daughter's rooster (she just lives 2 driveways up the country road from me) and my neighbor's rooster across the way, all having their "crow off" competitions several times a day.