Chicken talk

[TheChickenShrink]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to make a list of the different sounds that chicken make, with the english verb, a description of the sound and the usual context the chicken utter those sounds. Here is what I have for now:

Peep, chirp ==> chicks
Crow ==> cock-a-doodle-doo (rooster)
Cluck ==> bok-bok-bok-bok-bok-... (often during feeding)
Cackle ==> bok-bok-bok-BOKAAAH (after laying an egg)
Squawk ==> bawk-bawk-bawk-bawkaaa (when they are scared or threatened)
Chatter ==> ???
??? ==> (soft plaintive sound or trill when we come out and the hens gather around, begging for food) should we call it whining?
??? ==> (high pitched shrill cry, very short, to sound the alarm - then all chicken lift their heads and stand motionless)

Could you help me complete this list, so that I can use the appropriate vocabulary to describe the different chicken calls?

Please feel free to modify or add items to this list. I wish to have the most complete list possible.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[RedStarDaddy]

I have heard my birds trilling when they were still in the brooder. Generally it was when everybody was distributed evenly across the floor, the feeders were full, and the waterers were clean. I interpreted that to mean everything was right in the chicken's world.

When they gather around me I often hear them go, "bawk buk buk bawk bawk buk bawk" -- soft mixed short and long sounds. I interpret that as meaning they want me to throw some more chicken candy (otherwise known as scratch) down for them.

When they fly across the yard they will often cackle as they launch. It almost sounds like an alarm call, but it doesn't faze any of the others. I interpret that as sheer youthful exuberance. After all, they aren't six months old yet.

I was watching them in the chicken house the other day and a couple were wandering around going, "bawk bawk bawk bawk" -- soft long sounds. The one that really caught my attention was the one that kept sticking her head into the one nest box that everybody uses. In the 15 minutes I was out there she must have stuck her head in that nest box 10 times.

That's all I have. Anybody else?

RSD

 

[norcal]

I have a couple pullets that honk.

They occasionally go "goonk" or "gawwwk".

I do think it's their voices changing. Hormones. ??

 

[TheChickenShrink]

Quote:
You're right! I remember that our RIR rooster was going "honk-honk, honk-honk" during the period he was just starting to crow. Like you say, probably the voice changing...

 

[toetoe]

1. Yes mine whine when it is time for food.

2. the honking by my youngsters is also the same I also think this is the voice changing.

3. My Alfa male coos at bed time, he sits on his roost and coos to the hens to come in to rest.
I have also noticed that my momma hens do this sound to call the chicks into bed.
The sound is a low high pitch purring coo sound.

4. My momma hens make a high pitched grueling sound when other hens come near her babys.

If I came across any more that I can remember I will fill them in.

By the way I think this is a fantastic Idea.

 

[SeramaLife]

They also cackle when something startles or upsets a flock or group of chickens!

 

[GardenWeasel]

Mine at 18 wks are all bawking and so loud when I enter the coop in the morning like they are telling me to hurry open the door, get our food refreshed. They were almost totally quiet before. I have noticed when free ranging , I call it a pip sounds almost like a sneeze and they all run for cover. Any body else have girls that peck each others feet to make them get off the roost? The poor peckee makes a lot of weird noises.

 

[Camelot Farms]

My silkies chirp and beep.

 

[Sitka]

Not sure how to spell it out but the rooster will make a distinct sound when he has found something for the hens to eat.

Also, there is a warning sound when they see a hawk or other predator, sort of a guttural screech.

 

[norcal]

Quote:
Yes, I heard this the other day when I upset a hen by picking her up, Big Roo let out a screech!!