Chicken Noises and What They Mean: 20+ Sounds Your Flock Makes (Decoded)

Chicken noises carry specific meanings, and learning to decode them transforms how you manage your flock. Chickens produce approximately 24 to 30 distinct vocalizations, each serving a specific communicative purpose. The five most common sounds you will hear are: soft clucking (everyday contentment conversation), the egg song (loud post-laying announcement), alarm screams (predator warning), purring (deep relaxation), and growling (broody hen warning). Understanding what your chickens are telling you helps you spot predators faster, catch illness earlier, and simply enjoy your flock more.

I remember the exact moment I realized my chickens were not just making random noise. It was a Tuesday afternoon, and my Buff Orpington, Biscuit, let out a single, blood-curdling scream I had never heard before. Every hen in the yard froze instantly. Not a single bird moved for what felt like a full minute. When I looked up, a red-tailed hawk was circling directly overhead. Biscuit was not panicking. She was warning. That was the day I started paying real attention to every sound my flock made, and once I did, I realized they had been talking to me the whole time. I just was not listening. This guide breaks down every chicken sound you are likely to hear, explains what each one means based on scientific research and years of keeping chooks, and tells you exactly what to do when you hear it. Whether you keep backyard chickens in Texas, Ontario, Queensland, or anywhere else, the language is the same.

Do Chickens Actually Talk to Each Other? (The Science)

Yes. Chicken communication is far more sophisticated than most people imagine. According to Scientific American, research over several decades has revealed that chicken vocalizations are not simply reflexive emotional outbursts. As the publication reports, the sounds “convey specific information, and other chickens understand it.”

Referential Signaling: Chickens Name Their Predators

The groundbreaking work on chicken communication came from the late Dr. Chris Evans at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. As documented in Scientific American, Evans and his colleagues used digital recording equipment and high-resolution televisions to create a virtual reality for chickens, allowing them to control what each bird encountered and record how it responded.

What they discovered was remarkable. As documented by Evans, Evans, and Marler in their 1993 peer-reviewed paper in Animal Behaviour, male chickens (Gallus gallus) produce qualitatively different alarm calls in response to terrestrial and aerial predators. Their playback experiments demonstrated that “aerial alarm calls evoked crouching, whereas ground alarm calls caused hens to adopt an erect ‘vigilant’ posture.” Hens were also significantly more likely to look upward after hearing aerial alarm calls specifically.

This is called referential signaling, the ability to produce different calls that refer to specific external objects or events. As Scientific American explains, the chickens’ calls are “functionally referential,” meaning “they refer to specific objects and events broadly in the way that words used by people do.” A chicken does not need to see a hawk to behave as if one is there. She only needs to hear the alarm call from another bird.

This ability was previously thought to exist only in primates. Evans and Evans (2007) confirmed in Biology Letters that this was “the first such demonstration for any non-primate species.”

The Audience Effect: Roosters Are Strategic

Roosters do not just call out warnings automatically. They decide when to sound the alarm based on who is listening.

As Scientific American reports, a rooster that spots a threat overhead “would make an alarm call if he knows a female is nearby, but he would remain silent in the presence of a rival male.” This strategic behavior is called the audience effect, first documented in a 1988 study by Karakashian, Gyger, and Marler published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, which confirmed that subjects gave more alarm calls when in the presence of either a male or female audience than when alone.

The same audience effect applies to food calls. As the peer-reviewed research from Evans and Marler (1994) demonstrates, when a hen was present, males called at a higher rate following food presentations, while their actual rate of food consumption remained unchanged by social context. The audience effect “acts specifically to potentiate calling and is distinct from social facilitation.”

In plain language: roosters are not making noise by reflex. They are making decisions about when to communicate and to whom. That is far more sophisticated than most people give chickens credit for. For more on chicken intelligence, see our article on do chickens recognize their owners.

Mother Hens Talk to Unhatched Chicks

Perhaps the most endearing example of chicken communication happens before chicks even hatch. As documented by Nicholas and Elsie Collias of UCLA, who spent over 30 years cataloguing chicken vocalizations, mother hens begin clucking to their eggs during the final days of incubation. The chicks peep back from inside the shell. This pre-hatch vocal exchange establishes a bond so strong that chicks recognize their mother’s voice the moment they emerge.

Happy and Content Chicken Sounds

Clucking: The Everyday Conversation Sound

Clucking is the most common sound chickens make and the one most people associate with poultry. It is a soft, rhythmic “buk buk buk” that you will hear throughout the day as your flock forages, explores, and moves around the yard.

This sound means everything is fine. As one experienced keeper describes, a flock of hens clucking softly together “sends out the reassuring message that there’s nothing to worry about.” It is the chicken equivalent of friendly small talk, keeping the flock connected while each bird goes about her business.

The speed and intensity of clucking varies by context. Slow, quiet clucking means deep contentment. Faster, louder clucking often signals excitement, such as the discovery of a particularly tasty bug or a favorite treat. My morning routine begins with opening the coop door to a chorus of soft “buk buk buk” from my hens as they file out into the run, each one narrating her way down the ramp as if describing the weather.

Purring and Trilling: The Relaxation Sound

Purring is a soft, low vibrating hum that chickens produce when they are deeply relaxed and feel completely safe. You will most often hear it during dust bathing, while being petted, or as your flock settles onto the roosting bars at dusk.

The sound is functionally similar to a cat’s purr. It indicates contentment, security, and comfort. My Buff Orpington, Biscuit, purrs like a tiny motorboat when I scratch under her chin. My Silkie produces a version so soft you need to hold her close to hear it at all.

Some breeds purr more than others. Buff Orpingtons and Silkies are prolific purrers. Leghorns, by contrast, are more “talk and go” personalities. Hearing your chickens purr is one of the most rewarding experiences in chicken keeping. It means you have created an environment where your birds feel genuinely safe.

The Nesting Box Murmur

When a hen settles into her nesting box to lay, she often produces a soft, low, repetitive “tuk tuk tuk” sound. This is a private, focused vocalization. She is essentially talking to herself as she goes through the business of laying. It is quiet, calm, and nothing to worry about.

Some hens are chattier in the nesting box than others. My Rhode Island Red carries on a full conversation with herself before, during, and after laying. My Australorp, meanwhile, enters silently and does her work without a peep.

The Bedtime Murmur

As your flock settles onto the roosting bars each evening, you will hear a brief period of soft chattering. This typically lasts 5 to 15 minutes and represents the flock confirming that everyone is present and accounted for. It is the chicken equivalent of saying goodnight.

This sound is normal, brief, and one of the more peaceful moments in chicken keeping. If you stand quietly outside the coop at dusk, you can hear the soft murmuring fade as each bird tucks her head and drifts off to sleep.

The Egg Song: The Loudest Daily Announcement

What the Egg Song Sounds Like

If you keep chickens, you know this sound. The egg song is a loud, repetitive “buk-buk-buk-buh-GAWK!” that can last anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes and can be heard across your entire property. It typically begins immediately after laying, sometimes while the hen is still in the nesting box.

What makes the egg song particularly notable is the chorus effect. One hen starts singing, and others frequently join in, creating a cacophony that sounds like every chicken in the flock has something urgent to announce. It is dramatic, it is loud, and it happens almost every day. For first-time chicken keepers, the egg song can be alarming. For experienced keepers, it is just Tuesday.

Why Do Hens Sing After Laying?

Honestly, no one knows for certain. There is no single confirmed scientific explanation for the egg song, which is worth acknowledging openly. According to the Poultry Extension at Oregon State University, the post-laying cackle is “a repetition of brief sounds followed by a final more extended one.” Several competing theories exist:

Theory 1: Flock reunification. The hen has been separated from the flock on the nest and is announcing her location so the rooster and other hens can find her.

Theory 2: Predator distraction. By making noise away from the nest, the hen draws potential predators toward herself and away from the vulnerable egg.

Theory 3: Mating signal. Originally, scientists hypothesized the egg song signaled readiness to mate, but as Oregon State Poultry Extension notes, research has “found NOT to be the case” and that the period after laying is actually a poor time for fertilization. One study even hypothesized that “hens use the post-lay cackle to discourage sexual harassment from the males.”

Theory 4: Flock cohesion. The sound simply serves to re-establish contact with the group.

Most likely, the egg song serves a combination of purposes. For more on the behaviors surrounding laying, see our guide on chicken behavior before laying their first egg.

Some Breeds Are MUCH Louder Than Others

Breed selection significantly affects how much noise your flock generates, especially during egg songs:

Breed	Overall Noise	Egg Song Volume	Notes
Leghorn	Very High	Very loud	Most vocal common breed
Rhode Island Red	High	Loud	Proud, vocal layers
Easter Egger	Moderate	Variable	Each bird is different
Barred Rock	Moderate	Moderate	Conversational
Australorp	Moderate	Moderate	Generally pleasant
Buff Orpington	Low	Quiet	One of the quietest breeds
Silkie	Low	Soft	Gentle vocalizations
Wyandotte	Low	Moderate-quiet	Calm temperament

If you have close neighbors, breed selection matters enormously. For a full breakdown, see our guide on the quietest chicken breeds for backyards.

Chicken Alarm Calls: Aerial vs Ground Predator Warnings

This is where the science of chicken communication becomes genuinely life-saving for your flock. As documented by Dr. Chris Evans and colleagues at Macquarie University, chickens produce two distinctly different alarm calls depending on the type of predator they detect.

Aerial Predator Alarm (The Scream)

Sound: A single, high-pitched, loud screech or scream. As Scientific American describes, chickens emit “a short, high-pitched alarm call” when they detect an aerial predator.

Trigger: Hawks, eagles, large birds, or any large object moving overhead.

Flock response: Instant freeze. As the Macquarie University research confirmed, aerial alarm calls caused hens to run toward cover and adopt a crouching posture. Hens were also significantly more likely to look upward after hearing this call.

This is one of the most dramatic sounds you will ever hear from your flock. Every bird freezes, crouches low, or sprints under the nearest cover. The silence that follows is eerie. The first time I heard Biscuit’s aerial alarm, I did not know what had happened. Every single bird in my yard turned to stone.

Ground Predator Alarm (The Rapid Alert)

Sound: Rapid, repeated, staccato “buk-buk-buk-BUK-BUK” that becomes faster and louder as the threat approaches.

Trigger: Foxes, dogs, cats, snakes, raccoons, unfamiliar humans, or any threat moving on the ground.

Flock response: As confirmed by the Macquarie University research, ground alarm calls caused hens to adopt an erect “vigilant” posture, standing tall with necks extended and scanning at ground level. There is less freezing and more active assessment compared to the aerial alarm.

The rooster typically positions himself between the threat and the hens, often being the first to sound the ground alarm.

Feature	Aerial Predator Alarm	Ground Predator Alarm
Sound	Single high-pitched screech	Rapid repeated staccato clucking
Trigger	Hawk, eagle, large bird	Fox, dog, cat, snake, raccoon
Flock response	Freeze, crouch, hide under cover	Stand tall, neck extended, scan, run
Who calls first	Whoever spots threat	Usually rooster
Duration	Brief, one or two calls	Sustained, continues until threat gone
Scientific term	Referential aerial alarm	Referential ground alarm
Keeper response	Check sky, provide overhead cover	Check perimeter, inspect fencing

How to Respond When You Hear Alarm Calls

Take every alarm call seriously. Chickens rarely give false alarms. As one experienced keeper notes, if a rooster starts giving false alarms too often, “the ladies will ignore him and rely on other flock members.” The fact that your flock responds so consistently means the calls are almost always legitimate.

When you hear an alarm:

• Check the sky and the ground
• Investigate the perimeter of your coop and run
• At night, grab a flashlight and check immediately
• After confirming safety, your flock will gradually resume normal behavior

For protection strategies, see our predator-proofing guide and best predator deterrents for chickens.

Rooster-Specific Sounds

Rooster Crowing: More Than Just a Wake-Up Call

Roosters do not only crow at dawn. As documented by A-Z Animals, “contrary to what most of us city-dwellers think, roosters crow throughout the day.” Crowing is simply one of several vocalizations roosters use to communicate, regardless of the hour.

Research has shown that crowing serves multiple purposes:

• Territory assertion: Announcing ownership of his patch
• Social hierarchy: Scientists found that “the top-ranking rooster crows first, followed by its subordinates in order of rank”
• Response to stimuli: Noises, disturbances, lights, and other roosters all trigger crowing
• Flock status: Communicating that the rooster is present and vigilant

Each rooster develops a unique crow “signature” that his flock and neighboring roosters learn to recognize. Some roosters crow 15 to 20 or more times per day. This is the number one noise complaint from neighbors, so be aware before adding a rooster to your urban or suburban flock.

Tidbitting: The Food Call

Tidbitting is one of the most charming rooster behaviors you will ever witness. The sound is a rapid, excited “tok tok tok tok” in staccato rhythm, accompanied by a specific physical display: the rooster picks up a food item, drops it, picks it up again, and calls the hens over.

As confirmed by Evans and Marler (1994) in their peer-reviewed research, male chickens produce characteristic “food calls” upon discovering edible objects and are more likely to do so when a hen is present. The hens come running when they hear this sound, trusting that the rooster has found something worth eating.

As Hobby Farms reports, tidbitting is used by “roosters and, in female-only flocks, by alpha hens to call flockmates over to just-discovered food.” Mother hens also use tidbitting to teach chicks what to eat.

Here is the delightful twist: roosters sometimes perform “fake tidbitting.” As documented by the Macquarie University researchers, subordinate males learned to perform only the visual part of the tidbitting display without the vocal call, silently attracting hens while avoiding the attention of the dominant rooster. This is documented deceptive behavior, and it demonstrates a level of strategic thinking rarely attributed to birds.

Rooster Alarm Calls vs Hen Alarm Calls

Both roosters and hens produce alarm calls, but with some important differences:

• Roosters are typically the first to call and call louder
• Roosters physically position themselves between the threat and the flock
• Roosters modify their calling based on the audience (the audience effect described above)
• As Poultry Extension confirms, “female chickens rarely give alarm calls unless they have a brood of chicks”

Maternal Sounds: Mother Hen and Chick Communication

Mother Hen Clucking to Chicks

The sound a mother hen makes to her chicks is distinctly different from general clucking. It is softer, more rhythmic, and more repetitive, with a lower pitch. As Chickens And More describes, the mother hen has a low-pitched clucking that means “chicks should stay near Momma.”

This call keeps the brood together while foraging, essentially functioning as a “follow me” signal. Chicks follow this sound instinctively, and the mother adjusts her pace based on whether the chicks keep up.

The Food Discovery Call (Mother to Chicks)

Mother hens perform their own version of tidbitting, similar to the rooster’s food call but softer and directed at her chicks. She demonstrates with her beak, picking up food, dropping it, and calling the chicks to come eat. This is how chicks learn to identify edible items.

Mother Hen Warning Growl

When danger approaches, a mother hen produces a low, urgent growl combined with puffed feathers that means “get under me NOW.” Chicks respond instantly, diving under their mother’s body within seconds. Even the gentlest, most docile hen becomes fiercely aggressive when protecting her brood. According to Chickens And More, the second maternal warning is an “rrrrrrr” sound that sends chicks running for cover where “they will remain still and quiet until she lets them know it’s ok.”

Baby Chick Sounds and What They Mean

Baby chick vocalizations are simpler than adult sounds but still carry clear meaning. As catalogued by Gail Damerow in Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens (cited by Flip Flop Ranch), chick sounds include:

• Soft, intermittent peeping = contentment (warm, fed, safe)
• Loud, sharp, persistent peeping = distress (cold, hungry, lost)
• Loud, insistent peeping = panic (“Help me!”)
• Soft warbling trill = pleasure, often when settling down for a nap

Volume is the key indicator. Loud equals a problem. Soft equals fine. If your brooder sounds like a frantic alarm, check the temperature immediately. A quiet brooder with occasional soft peeping means your chicks are comfortable. For more on chick care, see our guide on bringing chicks home: 15 must-haves.

Warning and Aggressive Chicken Sounds

Growling: The Broody Hen Warning

Sound: A low, sustained, continuous growl, often accompanied by a hissing sound.

Context: A hen sitting on eggs or occupying a nesting box with broody intent. Her feathers are puffed up, her body is flattened, and she will peck at any hand that reaches toward her.

Meaning: “Do NOT touch me or my eggs.”

This growl is unmistakable once you have heard it. My Silkie, Dumpling, produces a growl so menacing you would think a small dog was hiding in the nesting box. She means business, and she will draw blood if you are not careful. For strategies on managing this behavior, see our guide on how to break a broody hen.

Hissing: Back Off

Hissing sounds remarkably similar to a cat hissing and serves the same purpose: a defensive warning. As Hobby Farms reports, “a broody hen will make a distinct hissing sound when she feels her eggs are being threatened.”

Non-broody hens also hiss when defending food, territory, or a preferred nesting box from other hens. The sound is usually accompanied by a head-down, neck-forward posture that clearly communicates “back off.”

Squawking: The Protest Sound

Squawking is a loud, sharp, single or repeated vocalization that hens make when startled, picked up, caught, or displaced from a roosting spot. As Hobby Farms notes, “this is the sound you’ll most likely hear if you try to catch your hens.”

Squawking is not a true alarm call. It is more of a complaint. Think of it as the chicken equivalent of “Hey! Stop that!” It is loud, dramatic, and usually harmless.

The Pecking Order Sounds

Flock social dynamics produce their own set of vocalizations:

• Dominant hen: Low growl combined with a chest bump means “move, this is my spot”
• Subordinate hen: High-pitched squeal when pecked means “I’m leaving, I’m leaving!”
• Food competition: Rapid, aggressive clucking near feeders signals territoriality

These sounds are completely normal and part of healthy flock dynamics. Intervention is only necessary if one bird is being persistently bullied to the point of injury. For management strategies, see our guide on pecking order problems and stopping bully hens.

Distressed Chicken Sounds: When Something Is Wrong

The Predator Attack Scream

Sound: Extremely loud, high-pitched, continuous screaming.

This is different from the alarm call. The alarm call is a warning. This scream happens during an active attack. It is louder, more sustained, and far more frantic.

If you hear this sound, investigate immediately. If you hear it at night, grab a flashlight and go to the coop now. This is an emergency.

Pain or Injury Sounds

A chicken in pain produces sharp, repeated cries at a higher pitch than normal vocalizations. These can indicate physical injury, egg binding, internal illness, or other distress. Check the bird for wounds, limping, swelling, or discharge. If the sound persists, seek veterinary attention. See our chicken health check guide for examination procedures.

The Isolation Call

Chickens are deeply social animals, and a bird separated from her flock will produce loud, persistent calling. She is not in danger. She is calling for her flock and wants to rejoin them. If you hear this sound, check whether a hen has been accidentally locked out of the coop or separated by a barrier.

Why Is My Chicken Making Weird Noises? (Health Warning Sounds)

Disclaimer: The following section is for informational purposes only. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of poultry health issues.

Gurgling or Rattling

This is not a normal vocalization. Gurgling or rattling sounds from the throat or chest indicate a respiratory infection. Possible causes include Mycoplasma gallisepticum, chronic respiratory disease (CRD), infectious bronchitis, or aspergillosis.

If you hear wet, fluid-like sounds coming from a chicken’s breathing, isolate the bird immediately and contact your veterinarian. Respiratory infections spread quickly through flocks. For treatment information, see our guide on treating chicken respiratory infections.

Wheezing or Snicking

Labored breathing sounds, especially when combined with open-mouth breathing, signal respiratory distress. Before assuming infection, check your coop ventilation first. Ammonia buildup from poor ventilation is a common and easily correctable cause of breathing issues. If improving ventilation does not resolve the problem, seek veterinary attention.

Repeated Sneezing

An occasional sneeze is normal. Dust, bedding particles, and dry conditions can all trigger isolated sneezes. However, repeated sneezing combined with nasal discharge, watery eyes, or lethargy indicates likely infection. See our guide on what to do when your chicken is sneezing.

Silent Bird (Suddenly Quiet)

A normally vocal hen who goes suddenly silent is a red flag. This can indicate severe illness, significant pain, or extreme stress. As multiple poultry resources confirm, “an unusually quiet hen may indicate health issues.”

Examine the bird immediately: check her body for injuries, inspect the vent area, feel the crop for impaction, and observe comb color (pale or discolored combs indicate circulatory problems). Lethargy combined with silence warrants urgent veterinary attention. For a full symptoms guide, see our article on why is my chicken lethargic.

Nighttime Chicken Noises: When to Worry

Normal Night Sounds

Chickens are mostly quiet after dark. The normal nighttime soundscape includes:

• Soft murmuring as the flock settles (5 to 15 minutes after entering the coop)
• Occasional quiet repositioning sounds as birds adjust on the roost
• Brief, soft clucks if a bird shifts position

These are all completely normal and not cause for concern.

Abnormal Night Sounds (Take Action)

• Sudden loud squawking: Predator disturbance. Investigate immediately.
• Continuous distress calling: A bird may have fallen off the roost, become injured, or gotten trapped.
• Screaming: A predator is likely in or directly at the coop. This is an emergency.
• Gasping or wheezing: Respiratory issue. Check the bird in the morning and isolate if needed.

Any loud, sudden nighttime vocalization should be investigated promptly. Predators like raccoons, opossums, weasels, and owls are active at night and can breach poorly secured coops. For coop security, see our predator-proof chicken coop guide.

Chicken Body Language That Accompanies Sounds

Reading the Full Picture

Sound alone does not always tell the complete story. Combining the sound with body position and context gives you the most accurate reading of what your chicken is communicating.

Sound + Body Language	Meaning
Growling + puffed feathers + sitting flat	Broody hen, wants to hatch eggs
Rapid clucking + neck extended + scanning	Predator alert, ground threat
Single scream + freeze crouch	Predator alert, aerial threat
Purring + eyes closing + dust bathing	Deep contentment
Squawking + running + wings flapping	Startled or chased, not true danger
Hissing + head lowered + neck forward	Aggressive warning, back off
Soft clucking + pecking ground + dropping food	Tidbitting, showing food to others
Loud calling + pacing + looking around	Separated from flock, wants to rejoin
Quiet + fluffed feathers + eyes half closed	Unwell, examine immediately
Egg song + leaving nest box + rejoining flock	Normal, just laid an egg

Common Body Language Signals

• Feathers puffed up: Cold, broody, aggressive, or feeling unwell
• Feathers slicked tight to body: Fear, submission, or heat
• Wings held away from body: Heat stress
• Head tilted: Listening or curious
• Tail held up: Alert and confident
• Tail held down: Submissive or unwell
• Squatting: Submissive posture toward a human (recognizing you as the dominant figure in the flock, similar to how a hen responds to a rooster). For more on this, see our article on why chickens squat when you pet them.

Quick Reference: Complete Chicken Sound Guide

Sound	What It Sounds Like	What It Means	Your Response
Soft clucking	“buk buk buk,” gentle, rhythmic	Contentment, general conversation	None, your flock is happy
Loud clucking	“BUK BUK BUK,” louder, faster	Excitement, mild alarm, food discovery	Check context, usually fine
Egg song	“buk-buk-buk-buh-GAWK!” loud, repeated	Just laid an egg	Collect egg; normal behavior
Purring/trilling	Soft vibrating hum	Deep relaxation, contentment	Enjoy, your bird is content
Nesting murmur	Soft “tuk tuk tuk”	Settling into nest, about to lay	Leave her alone
Bedtime murmur	Soft chattering	Flock settling on roost	Normal, goodnight routine
Aerial alarm	Single loud SCREAM	Hawk/eagle overhead	Check sky; provide cover
Ground alarm	Rapid “buk-buk-buk-BUK-BUK”	Fox/dog/snake on ground	Check perimeter immediately
Predator attack scream	Continuous loud screaming	BEING ATTACKED	Emergency, investigate NOW
Rooster crow	“cock-a-doodle-doo” (variable)	Territory, time, status	Normal, cannot be stopped
Tidbitting	Rapid “tok tok tok tok”	Rooster found food for hens	Charming, watch the show
Broody growl	Low continuous growl	“Stay away from my eggs”	Handle with care; she will peck
Hissing	Cat-like hiss	Defensive warning	Give her space
Squawking	Sharp loud squawk	Protest, being picked up, startled	Check if she is OK; usually fine
Submission squeal	High-pitched squeal	Subordinate bird yielding	Normal pecking order behavior
Mother hen cluck	Soft rhythmic clucking	Calling chicks to follow	Normal maternal behavior
Chick loud peeping	Loud, rapid, persistent	DISTRESS: cold, hungry, lost	Check brooder temp, food, water
Chick soft peeping	Soft, intermittent	Contentment: warm, fed, safe	All is well
Gurgling/rattling	Wet, fluid sound in throat	Respiratory infection	Isolate bird; consult vet
Wheezing/snicking	Labored breathing	Breathing difficulty	Check ventilation; consult vet
Silence (normally vocal bird)	No sound	Possible severe illness	Examine bird immediately
Pain cry	Sharp, repeated high-pitch cry	Injury or illness	Examine for wounds; consult vet
Night screaming	Loud squawking in dark	Predator in/near coop	Investigate IMMEDIATELY

Frequently Asked Questions

The best advice I can give any chicken keeper is simply this: spend time with your flock and listen. Sit in a chair near the run with a cup of coffee and just pay attention. Within a few weeks, you will start recognizing individual birds by voice, predicting eggs before you see them, and knowing instantly when something is wrong. Your chickens have been talking to you since the day they arrived. All you need to do is learn their language.