Chickens have feelings

[Dixiedoodle]

I love your stories.. I too believe they have feelings. Thanks for sharing..

 

[artsyrobin]

i absolutely agree! i have a little buff cochin who has been bullied alot, to the point she would run to the front door to be let in, she'd see the other hens and cry - just heart wrenching, she is now a semi house chicken- we had a mean roo, and the girls got increasingly stressed- finally got rid of him and have a brahma cockeral, the girls have become friendly again- that is proof to me about how complex these birds are...

 

[Cluckywucky]

I definitely think chickens have feelings and especially hold grudges. My 3 sebrights had to have their wings clipped the other day because they kept flying up into pine trees and disappearing into next doors garden. We have a few cats which wander about and we were afraid they'd get caught. So they are back in the pen for a while until they get used to staying in our garden. After trimming their wings we have had a frosty reception. Staying in their coop and just popping out to feed and drink. I feel sooo guilty but we had to do it as they are very good flyers, also with our weather here in the Highlands of Scotland in the next couple of months the weather will be such they cannot stay up in the tree without getting frost bite. How do I gain their trust again?helpppppppp

 

[gsim]

I don't know how you can regain their trust. Time may take care of it after all is said and done.

The very first day we got our first 25 from our mail-carrier, I taught them all to drink as per instructions from the hatchery. After the first one drank the warm sugar water I sat her down in a small saucer of warm water inside of a large cardboard box. She began to cry. I took her out of the saucer and just sat her down in the litter near the saucer. She cried again. I mean she cried. No doubt in my mind but she was crying. When I finished teaching the 2nd one to drink I sat her down in the box with the other one and reached for the 3rd one. The crying stopped immediately.

I concluded that she was crying for her flock mates, not liking the feeling of being alone.

A few years later I had one come to me and cry, obviously begging to be picked up and protected. Her head was a bit bloody. I removed her from the flock and kept her in the house until she got stronger from whatever it was and returned her to the flock and saw no further incidents. Another one was crying because she was sick and dying and being pecked. I brought her in the house and made her comfy for 3 days and then put her down as it appeared she would never even stand up again. She was too far gone but none of the others were in trouble at all. Even tho I put her down, I would never tolerate a situation where one was suffering as a result of bullying. I would at the very least separate the afflicted one from the others somehow.

Chickens do have feelings.

 

[Farm Girl 1]

If the chickens are being a little unfriendly I but a treat in my hand ( usually a little bit of grain) and most of the time I have some chickens run up and start eating out of my hand. I think that's a pretty good way to get chickens to trust you.

 

[azygous]

This is such a sweet thread. I'm glad it was revived.

That chickens are emotional beings was one of the most startling discoveries I made soon after getting them for the first time. They do crave affection and will come to me and insist on being cuddled. I even indulge in group hugs where up to nine of them try to squeeze inside my arms as I kneel on the floor of the run.

It goes even further. I have a couple who have emotional issues. They suffer from lack of self confidence and need extra care to survive the pecking order. They know their names and come running when I call them to be fed in a separate enclosure. One of them will run to me to be picked up when she's being hounded by bullies. It's amazing to see her relax in my arms and shut her eyes in blissful relief.

Knowing all this, how chickens are capable of suffering intense distress and extreme joy, it makes my heart bleed to know factory hens are so badly mistreated.

 

[Farm Girl 1]

I like seeing chickens personalities. I have 20 Isa browns and they are all different. One likes to hop onto laps and be pet, another will peck you HARD if you try to touch her. And they all react differently to being pet.