Hen Talks To Her Eggs And They Chirp Back

Patricia isn’t just any hen. She’s a devoted Pekin bantam with a clutch of eight eggs under her care — and she takes her role as mother very seriously. For nearly three weeks she’s barely left the nest, sacrificing meals and comfort to keep her eggs at the perfect temperature.

But what makes Patricia’s story so fascinating isn’t just her patience. It’s the way she communicates. As the first chicks are due to hatch, Patricia leans close and begins to cluck softly. To an outsider it might sound like ordinary chicken chatter, but something remarkable is happening inside the shells.

The chicks hear her. And even before they hatch, they answer back.

This back-and-forth between mother and unhatched chicks is one of the most extraordinary parts of nature’s design — a conversation that begins before the chicks ever see the light of day.

Watch the video below to witness this surprising moment of connection, as a mother hen talks to her babies before they’re even born.

💡 Did You Know?

Chick embryos are able to hear sounds and respond to them well before hatching. Studies have shown that by the final days of incubation, chicks can distinguish their mother’s clucks from other noises — and will even shift their sleep and wake cycles in response to her calls.

This early communication serves an important purpose. By clucking to her eggs, the mother hen not only stimulates the chicks but also begins teaching them the sound of her voice. That way, once they hatch, they can recognize her instantly among other hens.

The chirping from inside the shell isn’t random either. As the first chick begins to pip through the shell, its calls can encourage its siblings to start hatching too. In essence, the first chick to break free acts as a cheerleader, spurring the rest of the clutch into action.

This prenatal “conversation” ensures that chicks hatch in a coordinated way, keeping the group together and making it easier for the mother to protect and care for them. It’s an incredible reminder that bonding between mother and baby begins long before birth — even in the animal world.