What are your hens telling you?

As a vocal species, chickens talk to each other all through the day and since you’re someone in their social sphere they acknowledge you too.

In fact, research into chicken’s vocal calls conducted by ornithologists across 30 years revealed that they use up to 24 different phrases! Interestingly, scientists concede there’s more but formal research is still limited.

Believe it or not, as backyard chicken keepers, your familiarity with key phrases is important for their health. By tuning into their vocal changes, you’re better equipped to know when they experience stress – the chicken’s archenemy.

The really good news though, is that observation of their chatter is fun and a rewarding learning opportunity for everyone in the family.

Plus, you’re probably more fluent in chicken speak than you think!

After all, there’s a stark difference between their excited vocal pop-pops when food’s delivered compared with the squawk of a predator threat (even if it is just your cat).

Here’s some easily recognisable phrases:

• Morning greeting: loud chatter of clucks and caws

• 
  Hello: gentle, low (berr-dup)
• 
  Anticipation: rapid, quiet, rising pop (kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk)
• 
  Frustration: long, loud, undulated moan (bAAr-bar-baar)
• 
  Egg on the way: Loud exclaim that gradually gets softer then repeats (bRRk-brrk-brrk-brrk-brrk-brrk-bk)
• 
  Laid an egg: loud, staccato (buk buk buk buk BAK-KAW)
• 
  Alarm (ground predator): loud, rapid clucks (bok-bok-bok-BE-DER)
• 
  Contentment: frequent, low chatter of clucks
• 
  Broody: quiet, high pitched squeal (scrEE-oop-oop-oop)

• Roosting: gentle murmur and trills (doh doh doh)

So next time you’re out in the garden with your girls, listen carefully to their chatter and keep us posted on your discoveries - we’d all love to know more!

Sourced from TalkingHens.com.au