It seems that "chicklets" are primarily related to the number of reputation points you have received from other users. Reputation points are awarded and taken away when users click on the "scales" icon at the top of one of your posts. Theoretically, these points are awarded for providing useful information. So, if someone found your post helpful, they could choose to "agree" with your post, which would add to your reputation. If they "disagree" with the content of your post, then they can take points away. As you reach certain milestones of reputation points, you get additional chicklets. You start with one and can get up to 11 or 12 (which require >2000 + rep points). If you have a negative rep point balance, your chicklet is red. If you have no rep points, I think your chicklet is grey.
The bottom line is, if you contribute to the board in a positive way, you'll eventually accrue some rep points and get chicklets. If you piss people off, you won't get them. The best advice is to just ignore it as much as possible and it will all be o.k. It really means nothing, except that you spend too much time on this board and have no real life.