Chicken Myths/Rumors: True or False, Please Share!

[Lacy Duckwing]

This thread is for all the chicken myths and rumors that we have all heard. Some MIGHT be true, whereas others, most likely not. Please be kind if you find someone who disagrees with you, and provide evidence (if possible) to back up your statement. Feel free to share as many chicken Myths/Rumors that you want to! Hopefully there'll be a chance to learn something new, and have a good time as well.


~Form~

Myth/Rumor:
Story:
True or False:
Evidence:


Here's the first chicken Myth/Rumor I'm wanting to share.:

Myth/Rumor: Broody hens produce milk.
Story: I read somewhere (and I can't remember where) that broody hens produce milk for their chicks. They pluck their chest feathers (true) and have milk droplets come off their skin (false) to feed their chicks.
True or False: False
Evidence: I've had plenty of hens hatch out chicks. If this was true, the chicks would be often wet when I pick them up from under their mother. Also, their down might not be so fluffy either.

 

[Mrs J]

I’m not sure how to complete the form..I’m a tech phobia, it takes me a while..but I’m confused about frost bite on combs/wattles, some say cover with Vaseline to protect…others say DON’T Touch…True or False?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I’m not sure how to complete the form..I’m a tech phobia, it takes me a while..but I’m confused about frost bite on combs/wattles, some say cover with Vaseline to protect…others say DON’T Touch…True or False?

That's ok. You don't need to fill out the form if you don't want to.

I've never heard of the don't touch before, but as far as Vaseline.... I've heard several times of people putting Vaseline on their roosters' combs where later, they find the roosters' combs frozen. I'd say using Vaseline is false.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Myth: All males are human agressive
True/False: False
Evidence: I have over 2 dozen males that, while not cuddlebugs, are certainly not human aggressive

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My mom and many other people have thought that you have to have a rooster for the hen to produce eggs. FALSE

You need to have a rooster for your eggs to be fertilized, but not for eggs

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Another one I heard from my mom, "the white stuff in the egg is rooster sperm"
Again, FALSE
It's actually chalazae/chalaza, which helps to hold the yolk in place. It's part of the egg.

 

[bill3607]

Some chickens are really good at math.
True, I have a hen that balances my checkbook.
Full disclosure: It is easy for her since I rarely use checks now days....but still pretty impressive.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

That's ok. You don't need to fill out the form if you don't want to.

I've never heard of the don't touch before, but as far as Vaseline.... I've heard several times of people putting Vaseline on their roosters' combs where later, they find the roosters' combs frozen. I'd say using Vaseline is false.

I think you're supposed to put Vaseline on a chicken's comb before they get frostbite on super cold nights or whatever..... it helps prevent it.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Some chickens are really good at math.
True, I have a hen that balances my checkbook.
Full disclosure: It is easy for her since I rarely use checks now days....but still pretty impressive.

This is actually scientifically proven, believe it or not.

 

[alwaystj9]

Roosters only crow at daybreak.