Do chickens feel sad when I take her eggs??

[jeslewmazer]

There are so many opinions on the subject. Even though "no one really knows", I feel that we (humans) long for another species that is "on the same wavelength" as us. Think of it as belief. Not everyone believes the unknown the same way, and can cause conflict. With that said.....To me chickens are still more primeval. They rely on their instincts rather then feelings (whether they have them or not). The also are supported by their "pecking order", that can include other species as well as chickens......there has to be a "leader". We (humans) have "domesticated" the chickens for our use. If they were in the wild...you would not be able to get near them, but if you did they would run (unless cornered they might fight). If you tried to take a wild chickens egg, then you would be disturbing the nest and the hen would most likely not come back. The domestic chicken, however, is accustom to humans and human hands removing their eggs. Also, We have breed some of the instincts out of some breeds of chicken. Take the Leghorn, Sex Link, and other production breeds for example......Majority of the hens will never go broody or raise chicks.....there is always an exception. Chickens will also turn cannibalistic, even on their "friend" if certain occasions apply, and they continue with their lives like it never happened. Maybe saying that they don't have "human like" feelings is actually more like they don't have a conscience "like humans". We tend to live our lives on or morals, values, and such. This in a sort gives us or conscience...a way for use to tell "right from wrong"...in the "animal world" this would most likely get you killed. Some animals have been noted to show "human emotions" (mostly mammals...go figure). All in all....if you want to think that your chickens get sad, by all means you can believe that, but if you try to state it as a fact that might start a fight. I don't think they get sad, and that animals are animals.

There I go, fixing to get completely off subject.

But I don't believe they get say if you take their eggs, some want even notice and the ones that do see you as dominate.

 

[cutiepie960]

I think my girl Heather do get pissed off Lol since she is feral she has been laying in 2 different spots b cuz i DON'T want any chicks so i have been collecting her eggs daily... Now i have a bigger problem she has now found a 3rd spot this time in my neighbor's yard which has a dog running loose!!! So far shr has been lucky that the dog hasn't chased her or killed her yet!!! So yesterday i made a cheap nest box out of cardboard left one of her egg inside HOPING & PRAYING she lays there!!! I have feeling she won't i just don't know what to do... I have already accepted that if she gets attack &:dies then oh well at least i trued to do my best... More so she is feral & can't catch her..

 

[LaNaeMarie]

Do not let anyone make you feel bad. I found this conversation because I search the exact same thing. Today my chickens laid their first eggs. when I went out to pick them up the chickens watched intently I also cleaned out the coop while I was out there. as soon as I stepped away one of my chickens Dharma ran up the ramp, looked and turn in circles. She started clucking as I approached she went back down the ramp and out into the yard but her and two other chickens circled around my feet constantly making a sad sort noises that they don't normally do. I thought for sure she had gone down, told the other two I was a baby snatcher and they all were telling me what they thought. I realized this is my emotion I am projecting on the chickens however I did feel like they were upset about the whole situation.

 

[cutiepie960]

Not sure how my girl heather feels i just don't want any baby chicks!! When i collect her eggs i make sure she's not around to see... After she lays she's out & about with my roo henry..After i collect her real eggs i replace them with white ping pong balls & golf balls so she thinks her eggs are still there...However if i leave more than 4 eggs regardless if real or fake she'll start setting on them so i make sure i just leave 2 ping pong balls...

 

[Killer Tomato]

I wondered the same thing -- but after 4 months of the new girls laying, I noticed that if they have *any* human-like emotion regarding egg laying, it is PRIDE! They sing their egg song loud and proud, and my two barred rocks are the cheerleaders of the flock, running to the coop to sing along with the other ladies as they lay. When they are done they strut out of the nest box, head high, not a backwards glance.

If someone goes broody, hormones and instinct will change that, but for now, they are very pleased that Mama makes her happy noises at them for making such beautiful eggs.

 

[Pagoda88]

Hi my chickens (well hens and roo) have been you know *wink wink nudge nudge* and we don't want new chicks so I was going to take the egg BEFORE she sets them, but will she feel sad??
Cause if so I will let her hatch them! But we are at a loss of what to do even if they aren't fertilised will she feel sad???

Mine just laid her first egg today, I took it away. The poor hen keeps looking for her egg, going into her coop and digging every where of course making a raucous whilst at it. Her two friend hens were joining in looking under the coop and everywhere. So sad

 

[HeiHeisMom]

Actually, I find it rude that people would assume to know what another species thinks or feels...
Yes animals feel some type of emotion...not the same as we humans do perhaps, but a type of connection to other animals and humans.
That being said, only your chicken can tell you if it upsets them to have an egg taken.
As a mom and having watched multiple species with their young, I would wonder also if a momma of another species is a "Mommy" type, and a Chook has hatched an egg before and mothered her young, do they "know" that egg could become a chick? If so, then maybe she would either wonder what you're doing with her young or not worry because she knows there is another one coming soon.
Hufflepuff to the max here

 

[usmcpilot06]

After I collect the egs the three chickens that are laying daily raise hell in the barn for a couple hours, mostly arguing over nesting spaces. one hen has taken over the whole box I built that has three boxes in it,,,she wants no other birds in their with her.

 

[HeiHeisMom]

Mine just laid her first egg today, I took it away. The poor hen keeps looking for her egg, going into her coop and digging every where of course making a raucous whilst at it. Her two friend hens were joining in looking under the coop and everywhere. So sad

So sad...