Chickens have a surprising range of vocalizations that go far beyond the stereotypical “cluck, cluck” noise Learning to identify and interpret chicken sounds can help you better understand and care for your flock In this article, we’ll explore the meanings behind common chicken noises so you can start to communicate with your feathered friends.
An Overview of Chicken Vocalizations
While chickens don’t have an extensive vocabulary like humans, research shows they make over 24 distinct sounds spanning multiple contexts like warning of danger, announcing eggs or calling chicks.
Mother hens also “talk” to chicks before and after hatching to establish bonds. Roosters announce territory and perform “roll calls.” Hens even purr when content! The complexity of chicken vocal communication indicates these birds are smarter than many assume.
Below we’ll break down the most frequent chicken noises into categories and explain what they mean.
Contentment Noises
Low Murmuring
When chickens wander and forage together, you’ll hear peaceful, low murmurs pass between them. This communicates overall contentment and safety in numbers.
Purring
Some chickens (especially pets) will purr like cats when relaxed or handled. This adorable sound signals complete contentment.
Alarm Calls
Ground Predator Alarm
A repetitive, increasingly rapid clucking alerts of predators approaching on the ground like dogs, foxes, or snakes. Hens run for cover.
Air Raid Alarm
A loud, shrieking scream means an aerial predator like a hawk is approaching. Hens will freeze in place or seek shelter.
Panicked Squawking
Loud, frantic squawking indicates a chicken is panicking due to being captured by a predator or pestered by a rooster. This cries for help.
Lonely Call
An insistent, loud call summons a rooster for company. The rooster will rush over to check for issues.
Egg-Related Sounds
Egg Song
Loud, excited cackling as a hen lays an egg, often joined by “cheering” hens. Celebrates the laying.
Angry Egg-Laying Cackles
A dominant hen will angrily cackle to force another hen out of her favorite nesting box. Resolved once she gets the box.
Broody Hen Sounds
Hissing & Growling
Broody hens preparing to hatch eggs are extremely territorial. They’ll growl, hiss, and cluck at any intruders.
Cooing & Clucking
Broody hens softly talk to their chicks through the eggshell to form early bonds. Chicks may chirp back pre-hatching.
Mother Hen & Chick Sounds
Food Calls
Rhythmic “tuk tuk tuk” calls gather chicks to food sources approved by the mother hen.
Warning Calls
A low cluck tells chicks to stay near mom. A “rrrrrr” sound means hide under mom immediately.
Chick Chirping
Peeping can communicate contentment, distress, fear, surprise, and more based on tone and urgency.
Rooster Sounds
Crowing
Crows mark territory and signal wake-up time. The dominant rooster crows first, then others join in order of status.
Food Discovery Call
Roosters cluck “tuk tuk tuk” to summon hens to food. Hens eat first, then the rooster.
Mating Call
A rooster’s rhythmic “gog gog gog” mating dance call around a hen signals his interest in breeding.
Roll Call
Some roosters cluck at night to count hens entering the coop and ensure all are present.
What To Do If Your Chicken Is Silent
While chickens make various sounds throughout the day, an unusually quiet hen may indicate health issues. Make sure she looks normal, eats and drinks, and rejoins flock activities. Seek vet advice if issues persist.
Quieter Chicken Breeds
Some breeds like Australorps, Orpingtons, and Barred Rocks are less vocal. Avoid notoriously loud breeds like Rhode Island Reds near close neighbors.
Bond By Learning Chicken Talk
Paying attention to your flock’s vocalizations helps ensure their health and happiness. With time, you’ll learn to distinguish their calls and interpret chicken “conversations.” Happy flocking!
Chicken sounds and what they mean
This is the chicken sound hens make as they peck their way through the grass or chicken run, and it means two things. It indicates that the chicken is enjoying the endless search for quick snacks, and it’s also telling the other birds ‘everything is fine’. A flock of hens saying borrrb together sends out the reassuring message that there’s nothing to worry about.
This brief, excited cry usually means that there has been some sort of confrontation, usually between a meek hen and a more dominant one who has muscled in to see what snacks the more timid bird has found. The sound is also used if a hen is surprised by something, such as the chicken-run door opening suddenly.
This is when the hen clucks, gobbles and squawks in one hysterical flurry. It sounds as if the bird is about to explode in a cloud of feathers. This is the chicken’s main alarm call, expressing fear and also telling the other birds to run. The causes can be vehicles, dogs, people trying to pick up the hen, or predators.
This is the name often used for the familiar Buk-buk-buk-badaaak! call. Repeated several times, and loudly, it is the sound many hens produce after laying an egg. The hen moves away from the egg and then begins cackling. It is thought to be a way of luring potential predators away from the egg and the nest.
Hen Sound To Attract Roosters | Chicken Sound Effects Free
FAQ
What is the sound of a chicken?
The sound a chicken makes is a cluck. One of the best things about keeping chickens in your yard is watching them scratch the dirt and listening to their clucks. A chicken or hen clucks when she’s rounding up her chicks, making a short, relatively deep sound.
How to write a chicken sound?
Cluck-cluck. Cluck-clu-Aaahhh!!
Do chickens say bawk or cluck?
A rooster will often call his hens over to share an especially tasty treat he has found. Be it some cracked corn, or an extra juicy insect, the rooster will make an excited, low clucking sound to get the hens attention and alert them of his special find.
Do chickens make noise?
Truth: Your chickens’ noise level will vary based on many factors, but all chickens do make noise. Flighty breeds and great layers tend to be noisier chickens on average.Jul 12, 2024