Penguin Watch Talk

Do unhatched chicks call to the parent penguin please?

by AvastMH moderator

Do unhatched chicks call to the parent penguin please? The egg shell is thick - does this preclude the parent from hearing the chick if it does call?
Thanks!

Posted June 15, 2015 6:44 PM

Subject: APZ0008frl

Comments

by bienle123

through the relatively thick egg shell, when they were making a sound inside. Lets see what the moderator say.

Posted June 15, 2015 4:38 PM
by AvastMH moderator

Well - Those eggs do have tough shells as you say Bienle. I thought I had seen a comment that the chicks do call before hatching, but

Posted June 15, 2015 6:43 PM
by AvastMH moderator

cannot trace it now. So I'm going to open a science board question for this one. When Gentoos call to each other as they swap

Posted June 15, 2015 6:43 PM
by AvastMH moderator

brooding duties they call at an average of 83 decibels at a metre distance. So I guess the chicks DO hear mum and dad!

Posted June 15, 2015 6:43 PM
by bienle123

Yes, but, if I understood it correctly, the question was, whether the chicks in the eggs make sound before they start to get out of the egg

Posted June 15, 2015 7:16 PM
by AvastMH moderator

Hi Bienle! 😃 I asked the question 'Do unhatched chicks call to the parent penguin please?' so we should get the answer we

Posted June 15, 2015 8:40 PM
by AvastMH moderator

need. But whilst I looked for the answer to that, I found out just HOW loud those penguins shout. The chicks must hear

Posted June 15, 2015 8:40 PM
by AvastMH moderator

that - and they can't cover their ears poor little things 😃

Posted June 15, 2015 8:40 PM
by gardenmaeve moderator

As far as I know all bird species have chicks and parents communicating through the eggshell. I'll be interested in the replies.

Posted June 15, 2015 11:16 PM
by Zilli translator

at least hen chicks do peep a few hours before hatching. Heard that myself.

Posted June 16, 2015 11:14 AM