Translating Chicken Talk

[giuseppe916]

I've had my three hens for about 4 months -- since they were 3 days old. I've gotten totally addicted to them and find myself trying to understand their behavior and language. I can tell when they coo that they're happy and when they screeck they're scared or angry. But they make so many other strange sounds as well, and anywhere from loud to barely audible. And so many general clucking varieties. Are there any posts or videos that explain chicken talk or chicken behavior. I've read up on how to raise chickens, but would like to learn to read their body language and what they're saying.

Joe in Sacramento

 

[momreda]

Hi Joe

I asked a similar question when we first started with our Chickens. I was asking about my Roo's body language. What kind of Chickens do you have?

 

[GreenGoddess]

Hey Joe,

I'm not sure if anyone has a "list" out there but I have noticed a few different sounds and their meanings with my 7 pullets and 4 roos (yeah, if the snow hadn't have hit tonight, they would have already been separated!).. Let's see...

Buk-buk-buk-buk-bawk - when done loudly and fast it means they are nervous/mad or very angry! I have noticed this whenever the neighbors dog comes over to check them out, or if I happen to make a loud sudden sound by dropping something too close to the pen/coop..

If it's done very low and slower, it means I better go collect the egg in the nest box.. lol


A low screeching sound means they are upset by something.. I've been hearing this A LOT the entire time I've been building two more runs and separating the rabbit hutch in half to accommodate the two roos I am going to separate from the rest.


A loud screeching "baaaaaaaaaawk" means, DANGER! If I hear one of my roos making this sound, the other roos ALWAYS join in...

I've also noticed that when my girls are in the nest boxes and the primary roo comes in to "check things out", they cluck softly as if they were talking to each other and making sure everything "comes out ok" (sorry.. bad pun.. lol!)

Goddess

 

[eastbaychicks]

A loud screeching "baaaaaaaaaawk" means, DANGER! If I hear one of my roos making this sound, the other roos ALWAYS join in...


Seriously, when a cat comes to the fence, and if the dog isn't there right away to scare it away, my girls sound like a pack of 8 year old girls screaming! And usually even if the cat is gone, they'll still be screaming just because they have their panties all in a bunch and are all put out that cat even came around. So funny!!!!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I've heard of the dog whisperer, but........the CHICKEN WHISPERER?

 

[GreenGoddess]

Goddess

 

[MowNGrow]

My girls rouse at me if I dare go down the yard with no scraps LOL its like Bawk Bawk (what does she have) and if I walk past and don't give them even a pat, Bawk BAwk BAWk BAWK BAWK BA BA. It is so worth sometimes just walking past the cage not saying anything to get a reaction LoL.

 

[giuseppe916]

Thanks for the info, fellow peeps! I have a Rhode Island Red, a Black Hybrid sex Link, and an Antweerp. They're all very sweet and have started to do some cooing...

 

[gryeyes]

The trilling sound is their "happy sound." It's particularly adorable when my rooster makes that sound!

 

[nanawendy]

One of my EE's BARKS at me when I don't hand feed her, after coming in with snacks.

It sounds so funny I have to stop and give her something special. Which just reinforces her Barking.
Have you heard your girls purr from their roost. That is my DH favorite sound. We go out to the coop @ night just to hear that

It reminds me of listening to one of my kids or Gkids sleeping sounds

ENJOY