Chickens paralyzed from fear?

[Barredrocker99]

Hello all! I have a flock of ten hens, and everyday I let them free range in my yard all day until they’re ready to go inside the coop. I live in the middle of the woods in Massachusetts, so naturally there are predators, though we have a dog that spends most of her time outside with them, so predators haven’t really been an issue. We have hawks, and within the last week we’ve seen a bald eagle here and there, flying really high over my house, barely visible. I was just sitting in my room with my dog, a clear view of the front yard from my window, and I noticed every single one of the girls had stopped moving. They weren’t even moving their heads, just frozen. I watched them for a couple minutes, still no movement from any of them. I went outside and immediately they came over to me, so I got them all in the coop and locked it up just to be safe. Is this something they do when predators are around? Could something have been watching them from the trees? I’ve never seen any of them do this before, they were so still.

 

[sourland]

Most likely there was a predator in the area. In my experience they 'freeze' more when a raptor is in the area - then burst into action when it strikes.

 

[Aapomp831]

I agree with Sourland. When my rooster alerts my hens all do the same thing - they freeze and listen intently so they know what’s going on. Like if you got up in the middle of the night bc you thought you heard something - you get quiet and still so you can hear and better assess the situation. What’s the first thing we say? “Shhhh! Did you hear that?”

 

[Barredrocker99]

Most likely there was a predator in the area. In my experience they 'freeze' more when a raptor is in the area - then burst into action when it strikes.

Okay, that’s really good to know. I might keep them in the coop for the next couple of days just to play it safe... thank you!

 

[Barredrocker99]

I agree with Sourland. When my rooster alerts my hens all do the same thing - they freeze and listen intently so they know what’s going on. Like if you got up in the middle of the night bc you thought you heard something - you get quiet and still so you can hear and better assess the situation. What’s the first thing we say? “Shhhh! Did you hear that?”

Ugh, I love just having hens for several reasons, but it’s seeming more and more like having a rooster would be extremely beneficial. Thank you so much for the input, I definitely think you guys are right. I heard a hawk in the trees earlier this morning, it was probably stalking them all day.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd keep them in longer than a couple of days; ten to fourteen days is better if there is a raptor scoping them out. At least be out with them and see what's going on.
Depending on circumstance, during ground predator attacks, some birds will fly up into trees, and some will crouch on the ground. Freezing in place usually isn't a good thing if it's a canine!
Your dog is really helpful out there, but may not react to hawks as if it's a problem, at least that first time. Dogs tend to do best against ground predators.
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree with Mary, keeping them in longer rather than a shorter time is probably better. Give whatever it was time to scope out a new territory to hunt.

I'm not sure when hawk migration time is in Massachusetts but it could just be one passing through. People often have problems in migration times than otherwise.

Good luck.

 

[Aapomp831]

Ugh, I love just having hens for several reasons, but it’s seeming more and more like having a rooster would be extremely beneficial. Thank you so much for the input, I definitely think you guys are right. I heard a hawk in the trees earlier this morning, it was probably stalking them all day.

Actually... your hens seemed to recognize the danger all on their own... If you don’t want a rooster don’t get one. It may even be that one of them has assumed the protective and dominant role (common in flocks with no roo) and has been alerting them, which is why they were all standing at attention. Just a thought....

 

[aart]

I might keep them in the coop for the next couple of days just to play it safe

Do you have a secure run?

 

[Barredrocker99]

I agree with Mary, keeping them in longer rather than a shorter time is probably better. Give whatever it was time to scope out a new territory to hunt.

I'm not sure when hawk migration time is in Massachusetts but it could just be one passing through. People often have problems in migration times than otherwise.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for the well wishes.

Do you have a secure run?

Yes! Very very secure. We lost a flock to predators several years ago so we did our absolute best to make this coop and run predator proof