Chicken Sense

[Porterfive]

Wow, this has become a pretty interesting topic. Thanks for all the input.

We have just been observing our hens and chicks as we are new to chicken raising and are enjoying what we see so far. Have noticed that they can either see or hear an insect when we "roll over" a log and they just come running. I think now it's the learned behavior for when we roll it over, but before it seemed like they saw the insects.

And their hearing must be amazing. We observed one day, they all froze stiff then made this horrible little noise, must have been some kind of warning sign. They stayed that was for about a minute then went about their way. On other occasions, we see or hear hawks fly overhead and they just spring to the coop as fast as lightning. Just all kinda unusual to us and we're trying to learn and understand a bit more.

BTW, our coop and run are covered, you could store the Crown Jewels in there. LOL

Anyway, thanks for all the input, we just love learning all we can about anything new......

 

[Lunachick]

Elderoo, your description of how well a chicken can hear -

 

[Davaroo]

Have noticed that they can either see or hear an insect when we "roll over" a log and they just come running. I think now it's the learned behavior for when we roll it over, but before it seemed like they saw the insects.

They did. They have one overiding function - to eat. This drives what we would fancifully call curiosity. As you watch them, you will see they "test peck" everything that comes within their sharp eyesight. We say "Oh, look, how cute. They're curious."
Naaaaww - they do this to see if a thing is edible. When you roll over a log, they DO see the squirmy little grubs and such. They are both omnivorous and motion oriented to a great degree in their vision. When left to their own devices, they are predators par excellence. When something smaller than themselves, squirms, wiggles, flies, hops, scurries or what have you, that is the signal for a feast to them!

DO they hear bugs? I think so, yes. At least to some degree, especially when the bug is scritching around in wood or leaves.​