There may be a variety of causes, from something minor like a bit of dust in their nasal cavities, to a parasitic infection with gape worm in the throat, to a full-blown viral infection of the lungs and air sacs. These are pretty similar noises to those humans make and can all mean a bird is unwell. SNIFFING, SNEEZING, COUGHING AND GURGLING They also communicate using posture – head up, head down, tail up, tail down, feathers spread, wings flapping – but what they’re ‘saying’ can mean different things depending on context.ġ. Once you can identify the noises and their meanings, you’ll be better able to identify what is normal and what might mean trouble in your flock.īirds aren’t limited to sound though. Understanding the common sounds that your chickens make will help you understand what they’re saying to each other and when they need your help to fend off a predator.Poultry make a variety of sounds to communicate with each other, somewhere from 24-30 depending on the scientist. While some breeds can be quieter than others, they’re all chatterboxes, and if you’re in city limits, you’re bound to hear protests from your neighbors, even with a hen-only flock. When you throw in the loud warnings that they give each other whenever they see a threat, the noises that they make can be obtrusive and a little concerning. By paying attention to how they communicate and interact with each other, you’ll be able to learn what each of their noises means.Ĭhickens make various noises to communicate with their flock. The best way to familiarize yourself with your chickens and their language is by watching them. How do I learn what my chickens are saying?ĭifferent breeds will have different ways of vocalizing, but the common sounds are all inherently the same. There won’t be any obnoxious crowing from a rooster, but you’ll still have hens’ loud egg songs to contend with. Even keeping a hen-only flock will only slightly limit the amount of noise that they make. There are quieter breeds - Australorps are one example - but they still have the same talkative habits, even if they are a little more reserved than Welsummers, for instance.Ĭhickens are usually only quiet when something is wrong. Chickens “talk” to warn each other of threats and to make sure they know where the rest of their flock is, especially when they wander off during foraging. Some people do train their chickens to be quiet, but it’s not recommended. Image Credit: MabelAmber, Pixabay Can I train my chickens to be quiet? It’s also why roosters are often not allowed within city limits - with how loud their crowing is, they’re often the noisiest chickens. This is why it’s a bad idea to force them to be quiet their vocalizations tell each other when something is wrong. Your chickens are noisy simply because that’s how they communicate. This usually means there’s something wrong, like an illness or some kind of injury. It’s actually more concerning when they don’t make noise. No matter what breed you look after, your chickens will make noise. We answered a few frequently asked questions so you can learn more about your chickens’ habits. Now you know about the common noises that chickens make, you’re probably curious about why chickens are so vocal. PanicĪ step up from distress, this cheeping is also high-pitched and loud but more persistent and panicked. They’ll quieten down as soon as they feel safe again. High-pitched, repetitive, and fast-paced, these peeps are sounds that your chicks will make whenever they’re taken away from their mother. You’ll hear this distress whenever they’re hungry or too cold. The cheeping that chicks use to show their distress is similar to their content cheeping but higher in pitch, repetitive, and distinctly unhappy sounding. If one of the chicks sneaks up on another and pecks them, you’ll hear a high-pitched, loud peep from the unaware chick. Siblings, even the chicken variety, are bound to come to blows now and then. It’s a soft and cheerful noise that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Like their adult counterparts, chicks cheep to show that they’re content. If you raise your chicks away from the rest of the flock and their mother, it’s up to you to make sure their needs are met, and learning about the noises that they make will help you understand what they need. While they don’t have as wide a range of noises as fully grown chickens, they have enough of a variety to keep you updated on how they’re faring. Although they’re fluffy and adorable, chicks can make just as much noise as their adult flock mates.
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