Do Chickens Have Feelings?

Very interesting article. I've definitely seen the bonds between two chickens, the anxiety of seeing a feared predator in the distance, and have even had chickens pacing the fence just because they saw me and wanted to hang out with me. Well-written! I enjoyed seeing BYC members' pictures in this article (including my own), too.

Great article. Very true and a reason to treat chickens with respect.

Pretty cool stuff in ths article! Any chicken keeper would want to know these things! Thank you for sharing.

I love this article! Alot of the advice on here and answers to questions posted seems to revolve around what chickens will *survive* and I always want to respond yes we know they'll survive xyz but I want to know if they'd be happy or content or comfortable not jsut the bare minimum to keep them from dying. We can see them as living beings with thoughts and feelings AND understand that they're livestock to feed our families! What a lovely read!

Great article I loved reading this. I have a chicken who is half-feral for some reason and all that goes through her head in panic but all the rest have obvious personalities.

I love this article. I have a small spoiled pet flock of 10 hens. You can clearly see personalities in each bird. I had a lavender Orpington who would actually hug me. She would jump on my lap lay her chest against me and stretch out her neck and curl so her beak was pulling on the back of my neck. She was amazing. She loved to sunbathe but on my lap only. I also have a little silkie who loves to lay her head on my shoulder or ride around in my jacket while I am doing chores. They bring me so much joy.

Nicely explained with sweet photos. Thanks for sharing your insight. My Dottie (Barred Rock) and I have a special bond. She took to me as a 6 week old pullet and has been my special buddy ever since. Likes to ride around on my back as I clean up coop poop

I raised 2 chicks as absolutely spoiled pets, one from hatch and the other about 2 weeks old. I suspected they were a lot deeper than I'd been led to believe when I picked up on different cheeps, watched them become instant best friends on introduction, and the purring when we got settled in bed at night about turned me into a puddle. This is my first time with chickens of my own, and they're my feathery little babies. I joked to my husband watching 'Rio' "the only people worse than cat people are bird people" before I got them, I didn't mean to exemplify that Thank you for the validation that they DO love!

Great article with really nice pictures! Whether you think chickens have "real emotions" or not, this article ties them to real behavior in a way that absolutely supports the idea. I'm convinced!

Awe, this was touching. I have picked up some of these emotions and feelings from mine, and neat to see other mannerisms and explanations for some as well. Very nice read! Thank you!

Very nice article on chicken emotions and behavior! I enjoyed it! I would add jealousy to the mix! I have seen it many times!

Loved this, it does a good job of pointing out that chickens are more than just egg laying machines.