Are chickens colorblind?

[CityGirlintheCountry]

It came up yesterday and I didn't know. Can they see color?

 

[key west chick]

I know they see red!

Go in with sandles and red toe polish and see what happens!

 

[danischi24]

Yes, they can see color. Many chicken experiments involve the chicken choosing a target of a certain color over targets of different colors in the same shade (so one can't argue that they see it in shades of gray).

 

[bkbuz1987]

I have a red hoodie I wear sometimes in the morning and my Roo loves it. He dances and a bit more wildly. So I would say yes and he he likes me to wear red.

 

[miss_jayne]

yep, they see colors and birds see ultraviolet colors too!

 

[lizard7]

They must see color, my chickens go wild over red grapes, could care less for green grapes.

 

[reallemons1]

I read somewhere that birds have 4 rods (or is it cones, whichever it is that preceives color). Humans only have 3. Maybe can see more different colors than we do?

 

[SterlingAcres]

I agree with everyone else. They must see color. When I walk up to the run with my little red bucket of water or treats, they go nutty.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Well isn't all this interesting! Chickens potentially see color BETTER than we do. If they can see unltraviolet I wonder if they can see infrared as well?

The cones in our eyes respond to the three lighting primary colors- Red Green Blue. I wonder what the fourth cone in chicken eyes responds to. That'd be interesting to know.

Sterling Acres- Have you tried switching the bucket to one of a different color? I wonder if it's the bucket they associate with treats or the color?

 

[debilorrah]

Our treat tray is red and boy oh boy do they see that!!!