Can chickens mourn?

[Blooie]

One evening just after sunset we had 3 raccoons trying to break into the coop. It was a bit early for them, but they were there nonetheless. The girls put up such a racket that I'm amazed the town cop didn't hustle over. They kept this up for 3 more days, long after the raccoons were gone....it sounded like the needle was stuck on the Egg Song record. The slightest thing set them off - wind rustling a bit of plastic, tree branches scraping the side of the house - they were totally stressed out and their alarms were stuck on overload. Not one chicken harmed, not one feather mussed, but they carried on as if those raccoons were right there in the coop with them and they were all going to die at any minute. Nobody says they don't' react to changes around them. I just don't believe they understand the concept of "mourning" as it pertains to the emotional loss of a loved one. If a chicken dies in the coop and no one takes it out, the others are more likely to pick it apart than mourn it.

 

[centrarchid]

There is a lot of difference between missing a dead flock mate and mourning a dead flock mate. My hens wandered around for a couple of days like they were looking for something. I am sure they missed their flock mate. But, mourning lasts a lot longer than a couple of days. Chickens are just not emotionally equipped to miss their flock mate for an extended period of time, which is what mourning is.

The two days versus extended time may need to be taken in terms of relative life lifespan. Most chickens are lucky to live three years while humans conservatively live to be at least 50 years.

 

[Mutt Farm]

No. They don't mourn. They don't ponder. They don't reason. They don't dwell. They can react pitifully to a disruption of their environment and established routine, flock, pack, herd, covey, murder, litter, hierarchy etc. which can be equally devastating for them but it's not mourning in the sense that we mourn. It's just a what the heck happened and what do I do right now disruption. They don't mourn. TMI as we're talking chickens here, but studies show that whales and dolphins do mourn losses.

 

[Flocking]

Not to sound harsh, but even if they do (and I don't believe the do), what would you do about it? Get them counseling? Put them on antidepressants? It's kind of a moot point.

I'm of the opinion that prey animals are used to flock/herd members vanishing. Yep, they don't like change, and a missing member is a change. it may also mean they're in danger, so they can act different until they realize they're safe. 

I get it. Yeah, there's nothing I could do but feel bad.

 

[tjhyde09]

Hello! I have a flock of 18 (2 Rhode Island Red roos, 3 mottled duccle roos, 9 Cochin hens, 2 silkies one male one unidentified... An old English roo, and a sweet hen names Peaches, who is a Mille Fleur Duccle.) this is my first flock and I can easily say I love them!

Sadly, lately my 19th chicken died... She was at the bottom of the pecking order and was a young Cochin hen. She has a very sad death (one of the roof supports had fallen on top of her... I hope it was a fast death) and when I went to check on the flock it took me by shock. It wasn't easy, but the chicks showed no sign of sadness... They were actually pecking her which slightly disturbed me. I got the flock when they were 2-5 weeks old on June 5th, so they're still quite young.

Getting to the point, can chickens mourn? And is there a way if I can tell if they mourn or not? I feel so horrible knowing that the poor thing died... Thanks in advance!

 

[tjhyde09]

Hello! I have a flock of 18 (2 Rhode Island Red roos, 3 mottled duccle roos, 9 Cochin hens, 2 silkies one male one unidentified... An old English roo, and a sweet hen names Peaches, who is a Mille Fleur Duccle.) this is my first flock and I can easily say I love them!

Sadly, lately my 19th chicken died... She was at the bottom of the pecking order and was a young Cochin hen. She has a very sad death (one of the roof supports had fallen on top of her... I hope it was a fast death) and when I went to check on the flock it took me by shock. It wasn't easy, but the chicks showed no sign of sadness... They were actually pecking her which slightly disturbed me. I got the flock when they were 2-5 weeks old on June 5th, so they're still quite young.

Getting to the point, can chickens mourn? And is there a way if I can tell if they mourn or not? I feel so horrible knowing that the poor thing died... Thanks in advance!

My

 

[tjhyde09]

My understanding is that, as dogs will do, when one is wounded and "down" in a pack they all will, I hate to say it, but attack the wounded and unable to defend itself. I guess it is a natural instinct. The strong will survive.:-(