American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-03
The Language of Fowls.

MIR. Henry Hales, poultry breeder
of experience, gives some notes on the
above subject in the Poultry Bulletin
which reminds us OF Scudder's 'sSongs
of the Grasshoppers,'' although the
chicken talk'' is little more intel
hgible to our unscientific ears:
Is there any one, who keeps fowls,
who has not noticed the great variety
of sounds they make, expressive of their
feelingsP 1t amounts almost, if not
quite, to language; probably more SO
than any other creature, except man.
Even the meditation of noises made
is very significant of meaning. First,
there is the piping of the little chick,
calling for the care of the stately
mother, who continually keeps answer
ing with the assuring ''cluck, cluck!''
As the chick grows little older, the
piping is succeeded by a chirrup; then
there is the trilling song of pleasure
when sitting down to rest; but just put
your hand under the mother, and pull
out one of the little chicks, and hear
its sharp cry of terror, mingled with
defiance and abuse of its parent.
Throw large beetle into their coop,
and hear the CONSERVATION uttered by
all the little family, mingled with the
warning voice of their matron. Now,
throw them some dainty bit, and hear
how soon her voice changes; her chill
4 4 &La =,
ira nice for them by her peculiar decla-
nations, which brings in all stragglers
in great hurry. How well the little
things comprehend the peculiar cry of
their mother in cases of danger, such
as the approach of cats or hawks; or
let little struggling waif peep into
the coop, and hear her timely warning
to keep out.
In the course of time, the mother
tires of her charge, and gives her chill
dren the slip, who express their forlorn
feelings by whining cry, while hunt
ing around for her.
In due time the young gentleman
chick tries his voice at a crow. Could
any one ever believe that such stammer
ing, such straining and croaking would
ever reach that clear, rich song, that
has been celebrated in the history and
poetry of all the great nations of the
earth, and caused so many great
" awakenings" in all classes of society,"
Soon he begins to feel gallant, and if,
by chance, he finds rare bit. he calls
some of the nearest bellies to partake of
it, but they frequently arrive just in
time to see him bolt it himself.
One of the next musical strains is the
prating of pullets, when they feel happy
and well then there is the alarm, when
startled by any thing strange; also the
shrill cry raised by all, should hawk
appear. Another peculiar noise is made
when you approach their roosts at night,
uttered and answered all round-a
slight, trilling noise, as much as to say,
'' Hank! What's that strange noisep"
which is deepened into a sharp tut-tut,
if danger is suspected, and into shrill,
cry, if taken from their perch
es, evidently suspecting that you may
be thinking of chicken pot-pie'
l think there is no domestic animal
hat has less offensive voice than the
domestic fowl. 1t will compare favor
ably with the voice of the duck, turkey,
guinea fowl, goose, or pea fowl. Their
oudest noise has 4 charm for many a
fancier, when they set up the cry,
'' Come! Come! Come! Take the
egg"