Clucking hen - chick - behaviour

Clucking hen - chick - behaviour

Under natural conditions the life of a chick starts in an egg under a brooding hen. Shortly before hatching (21st day) the chicks communicate by peeping with the hen and amongst eachother (approx. 18th day) more than through intervisibility. This promotes a more simultaneous hatch of all chicks. Even after hatching the chicks and hen communicate more via peeping and clucking sounds than via visual contact.

The hen protects and warms the chicks by taking them under her abdominal plumage and wings.

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