Charming Chickens

All you need to know to fall for these curious, gentle and misunderstood souls
CHICKEN FACTS
  • Chickens flock together in a complex and highly ordered hierarchy.  
  • Chickens communicate using more than thirty different vocalizations.
  • Chickens can recognize more than a hundred different faces of people and other chickens.
  • Roosters will look out for the flock by sounding an alarm call if a potential predator is nearby.
  • Studies have shown chickens express feelings and demonstrate empathy.
  • Flocks may contain multiple roosters, but only one is the head rooster.
  • Mother hens will talk to their chicks while they are in the egg. Chicks in the eggs vocalize back the day before they hatch.
  • In studies, chickens have demonstrated communication skills on a par with primates. 
  • Males perform a dance called ‘tidbitting’ for females in which they make food calls and move their head up and down, picking up and dropping a piece of food.
  • Chicks stay close to their mother for the first ten days, after which they begin to feed independently but still sleep and warm themselves under her.
  • Chickens love to 'dust bathe' in order to keep their feathers free from problems such as lice and mites.
  • ​Chickens have shown the ability to make decisions based on prior experience and to solve complex problems.
  • Just like humans, chickens will dream in their sleep.
  • Chickens beaks produce an oil that they use to coat their feathers as they preen.
  • Chickens' poor night vision means they like to roost high at night away from potential predators.
  • Chickens don't want to die any more than you or I would, and will try to avoid being killed.
CHICKEN VIDS
Chickens can count
​
Pepper the rescued chicken
​
Chicken enjoys a daily hug
​
Happy Hen Sanctuary
​
Dog and chicken are inseparable friends 
​
Chickens showing intelligence 
​
Chicken delays the usual hug
​
The story of Penelope
​
Life at Farm Sanctuary
​
Chicken Street, Texas
​
Tofu the chicken is a true survivor
​
Chickens love to hug
​
Jokgu the piano playing chicken
​
Rescued chicken is much loved
​
Rooster likes to meet his favourite girl

​
Good morning at Farm Sanctuary

​
CHICKENS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Bobby Bob Bob
Instagram
​
The Chicken Sanctuary
​Facebook
The Chicken Lady
Facebook       Instagram
​
Pearl the Chicken
Instagram
Hen Harbor Sanctuary
Facebook       Instagram
​
Happy Hen Chicken Rescue
Facebook
Toronto Chicken Save
Facebook       Instagram
​
Manchester Chicken Save
Facebook       Instagram
Melbourne Chicken Save
Facebook       Instagram
​
East London Chicken Save
Facebook       Instagram
There's also a list of great farm sanctuaries active on social media here.
   
You can find out what happens to chickens when we use them for meat and eggs by clicking
 on the red button below. Much of what you'll find is standard practice to the industry or
  took place at humane assured facilities. It's not easy viewing, but if you still think it's fine
  to use and kill these animals then I highly recommend taking a look. If instead you find
   these things are simply too awful to look at please ask yourself why, if you can't even
​      bear to look at them, is it okay to pay for them to happen?
​
                                                          "Sins, like chickens, come home to roost."
                                                                                           - Charles W. Chesnutt