My chickens act different, anyone else noticing this?

[Lobzi]

The jerky head movements shown on TV, mine dont do it. Mine move their head smoothly and like other animals. When chickens are shown on TV they are shown with the jerky head movement which to me demonstrates stupidity and sets them off as being very different mentally from other animals (hence bird brain).

Has anyone else noticed this with their flock, one way or the other? Mine are raised as pets and seem pretty darn smart to me. Im wondering if there is a difference in this behavior between caged chickens and chickens raise as pets. Any comments or ideas on this matter? Please share what you think or know.

 

[centrarchid]

The jerky head movements I associate with a stress bird or one that is moving rapidly through a visually complex environment. It is not indicative of stupidity although does help the bird process information visually in what more closely approximates pictures over movies. When they move continuously like we do it makes picking out movement more difficult. We also have problems processing movement of others while we are in motion.

 

[Lobzi]

So that might explain why it is shown in birds being filmed but not in the comfort of most back yard flock environments. If Im understanding that the jerky movement is indicated of higher stress then this makes sense. Thank you for this info and feel free to clarify if Im not understanding your writing.

I think I know what most non-chicken as pet owners think about chickens...it is that they are stupid "farm' animals. Those of us who spend time with our flock and really getting to know our feathered family members know they are quite smart.

 

[centrarchid]

The jerky movement I associate with situations where the birds are more interested in detecting movement while the bird itself is moving slow enough for rapid head movements interspersed with non-movement relative to the environment. Once a chicken gets into more rapid movement or flight the rapid head movements are not fast enough to allow for the periodic snap shots provided at lower speeds.