Pullet chittering at night?

[mshep02]

I have a 5/6 week old sweetie that my partner decided to buy on clearance. Her name is Clearance. She's still inside and growing. When I walk by her room at night, I can hear her softly chittering away. It doesn't sound panicked or anything, just a soft, quick "chee chee chee chee chee," then silence. My question is: what's up with that? Is she just saying hi or did I startle her awake when I walked by and she's complaining?

Also, I have no idea what kind of chicken she is. She's white with a few black speckles here and there. Here's a picture of her on my shoulder, her favorite spot.

 

[aim0474]

I cant help with the breed but we had a chick that chirped in her sleep. She loved to be held and I would pet her neck. She would fall asleep and chirp away.

 

[donrae]

My brooder chicks often mutter and chirp like that. Just kind of a talking to herself, quiet contented sounds.

I'm thinking she's a Leghorn based hybrid. maybe an Austra white, something like that. That's the cross that's going to give a white bird with the black flecks. She should be a wonderful layer.

 

[azygous]

That bedtime trilling sound is one of the most endearing coming from chicks. They make it when they are settling in to sleep.

It originates with baby chicks and their broody hen. They set up that trilling to signal to her that they need to get under her skirts to warm up or to go to sleep for the night. It's a sound like a human baby crying to signal its needs to its mother, and it triggers the necessary response in the mother to see to those needs.

 

[mshep02]

Baww! That is so endearing! Thank you for the feedback. She is a pretty charming bird and I can't wait to see her grown up and laying. She'll either join a flock of silkies or a flock that is mixed with some other bigger breeds. For now, she's content thinking she's a human.

 

[mshep02]

This is an updated pic of Clearance at ~4 months old. Her waddle just came in and her comb's gotten bigger. She also doesn't sit on my shoulder anymore and runs away when I try to get close, like she did when I was trying to get her picture. Apparently she wants to be a teenager now. Hmph.

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From what I've seen on the interwebs, she looks like an Austra white. Thanks for the help!!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thanks for the update, she's pretty and 'unfortunately' they do grow up