Common knowledge that an inexperienced person should know?

[Aprilxoxo]

Oh my gosh little boogers

Worst time was after a nice drink of oilve oil. I ended up having to wear the oil too

 

[alinas2010]

Worst time was after a nice drink of oilve oil. I ended up having to wear the oil too

They truly are like toddlers hard to be mad at something that cute and fluffy.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The first time I saw my chickens dust bathing, I about had a heart attack. They had obviously eaten something toxic and were convulsing with death-throes. They would flap and thrash for a bit, uncontrollably, then just stop, so I was sure they were dead. Then they would revive and do it again. I tell you, it takes nerves of steel to be a chicken tender. I'm sure I heard them laughing as they waddled away when I ran out to check on them and frightened them out of their spa.

 

[Aprilxoxo]

The first time I saw my chickens dust bathing, I about had a heart attack. They had obviously eaten something toxic and were convulsing with death-throes. They would flap and thrash for a bit, uncontrollably, then just stop, so I was sure they were dead. Then they would revive and do it again. I tell you, it takes nerves of steel to be a chicken tender. I'm sure I heard them laughing as they waddled away when I ran out to check on them and frightened them out of their spa.

Same feeling with seeing them sunbathing and first time hearing the egg song. My poor heart

 

[pennyJo1960]

Okay see I started with chickens about the time grandma sent with spot and shadow to get eggs I was about 4.

 

[Acre4Me]

Chickens are omnivores.

They will eat meat.

Some new owners are shocked when they see their chickens gleefully catch a (lizard, mouse, baby bird, etc) and run with their prize, play tug of war with another and finally eat it.

 

[Shadrach]

A couple of things spring to mind. Don't judge intelligence by brain size.
Birds process data faster (faster neuron firing rate) than we do. Up to 30 times faster in some species. It's like comparing an old main frame computer with a modern mutli threading processor.

Chickens are not the sweet cuddly fluffy butts some would have you believe.

 

[3KillerBs]

They are PREY, so their instinctive behavior differs from the behavior of our common PREDATOR pets, cats and dogs. They look at the world in terms of "Will that eat me?" and we need to respect that when dealing with them.

illChickens are omnivores.

They will eat meat.

Some new owners are shocked when they see their chickens gleefully catch a (lizard, mouse, baby bird, etc) and run with their prize, play tug of war with another and finally eat it.

Indeed.

They are dinosaurs that eat anything that doesn't eat them first.

 

[chickieandpeeps]

Baby chicks will inevitably develop what seems like a tumor around their chest and feels like the end of the world. It is just a cropful of food and will go away overnight or if food is taken away from them!

 

[SmiYa0126]

Add nutridrench, electrolytes, vetericyn antimicrobial spray and vetericyn opthalmic spray or gel to that list, too! Might be overkill, but I swear they can be lifesavers in the right situations.

Add aqua mox to that, I keep it on hand, was a life saver when one of my hens had an egg break inside her and when one of my chicks was scalped by the bigs. Also add saline, great wound cleanser.