sounding like a stressed chicken (6)
I believe the answer is:
afraid
'chicken' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for afraid that I've seen before include "Regretfully" , "Not confident" , "with butterflies" , "makes one panicky" , "Fearful, anxious" .)