Guillermo del Toro, when he was the director, indicated that he will remain true to the text and that animals will talk in the movies: “I think it should be done exactly as in the book- the “talking beast” motif has to exist already to allow for that great character that is Smaug. It is far more jarring to have a linear movie and then – out of the blue – a talking Dragon.” It’s reasonable to expect PJ was in line with this and will also have the animals talk/communicate.