What are some of the most mind-blowing facts about chickens that few people actually know??

[Esrun]

I worry about this because we could never convince our neighbors it's not a rooster!

It’s stressful indeed bc we aren’t allowed roosters. Thankfully (or not, maybe) the neighbors are older with hearing aids that helps. We love them and they also love us, thankfully.

 

[TooCheep]

I worry about this because we could never convince our neighbors it's not a rooster!

Just tell them that you've trained your rooster to lay eggs. They'll be quite impressed.

 

[Ocho 8 Farm]

Do you know any CRAZY facts about chickens? Share them here!

They remember things…..
When I wanted to sell a few chickens, they remembered that I took them. So my egg laying established flock that once would run to me, is now scared of me and runs away from me

 

[Some Old Guy]

They taste like dinosaurs?

 

[dilynn]

Do you know any CRAZY facts about chickens? Share them here!

I was surprised to read that a chicken's one eye watches out for predators overhead, while the other eye mostly is used pecking for food! (Chickens are so fascinating, so as a retired teacher, I wrote a children's book about them, "Chelsie Chicken's Choice")

 

[igorsMistress]

Roosters can be involved in nest selection, preparation, and even sometimes sit a little. Mine don't go much past suggesting real estate to the ladies but it's possible we've mostly bred the trait away, much like how many hens no longer brood either.

Yes! My rooster goes into the nest with his favorite girl and arranges it for her. He usually hangs out with her u til she’s done as well.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Do you know any CRAZY facts about chickens? Share them here!

Chickens can self fertilize an egg.. known as parthenogenesis.

While most embryos fail to make it to term.. some have.. mostly male offspring. and from what I can recall would likely be infertile or shooting blanks. There are some studies on the subject.

Some hens can and do grow spurs in addition to the crowing that was already mentioned!

Since eggs are produced in only one ovary.. if that one gets damaged a hen *may* take on male characteristics such as the pointed saddle feathers.

A hen that's been fertilized may continue to be so for up to 3-4 weeks after separation from a cock.

 

[igorsMistress]

Statistically the hatch rate of male to female is 50/50 and the hen determines the sex of offspring.

 

[GlicksChicks]

One thing I found out when butchering a rooster for the first time is that they actually have a "claw" on their wings.

Scientists claim that the claws are remnants from the days when they would climb trees.

Careful because they can poke you when you are plucking their wings!

If you would like pictures I can post some on here!

 

[aquila]

Every cell in a chicken's body is either male or female. Sex is determined by the Z and W chromosomes, the male is the homogametic sex (ZZ) and the female is the heterogametic sex (ZW).

The ovary-producing gene is suspected to be on the Z chromosome rather than the W. Evidence suggests that secondary sex characteristics of non-reproductive tissues in chickens are primarily due to the sex chromosome content of cells/tissues and independent of gonadal hormones.


Primary sex determination in chickens [...]