What do comb shades mean

[IsaChicks]

I wouldn't say that animals need to be evolutionarily close to us in order to have similar experiences as us, like emotions. Sometimes evolution takes different paths to arrive at similar results. For example, by now there is no doubt that the octopus is an incredibly intelligent creature, capable of complex social behavior, despite being an invertebrate, and a solitary animal (while intelligence, including social intelligence, is traditionally ascribed to higher animals like vertebrates, and specifically social vertebrates). The octopus has taken a different path to arrive at a similar place. Who knows what else we'll learn about other animals as well.

As for chickens, it would be a lot more practical and accurate to try to judge their emotions by observing the whole picture - not just the comb, but also the body language and vocalizations. The latter two are how they communicate those emotions to each other, so it would be better to read that instead. The comb seems to be more useful in judging fertility or overall health, rather than more fine tune things like emotional state.

Yes i mean when comb shades change does it mean emotion. Chickens are smarter than a toddler so of course we would have to look at the whole picture

 

[K0k0shka]

Yes i mean when comb shades change does it mean emotion. Chickens are smarter than a toddler so of course we would have to look at the whole picture

While chickens do have some smarts and emotions, they are absolutely not smarter than a toddler. Let’s not get carried away here.

 

[LoveChickens27]

Deep red almost purple is a signal your chicken has not enough air to breath. Unless purple is the color of your chickens, comb and waddles.

 

[IsaChicks]

While chickens do have some smarts and emotions, they are absolutely not smarter than a toddler. Let’s not get carried away here.

You should honestly research the psychology behind chickens it's really interesting on how intelligent they are!

 

[Squawkers]

You should honestly research the psychology behind chickens it's really interesting on how intelligent they are!

Don’t think that they are smarter than a toddler, but they can be pretty smart. Their memory is the most impressive thing. They NEVER forget.

 

[LoveChickens27]

You should honestly research the psychology behind chickens it's really interesting on how intelligent they are!

Agreed.

 

[K0k0shka]

You should honestly research the psychology behind chickens it's really interesting on how intelligent they are!

I have. And it says they are not smarter than toddlers. Some dogs approach toddler level smarts, but chickens are a very far cry from a dog, both in intelligence and in emotional range.

 

[thistlewick]

Horses and Border Collies can reach the intelligence of a five year old child.

Most other dogs are about a 2 to 3 year old's intelligence.

Border Collies are simply meant to be intelligent enough to handle independent choices up on the mountains when they are sent to herd sheep down in the beginning of summer. It's just this particular breed - in the lowlands of Scotland/North of England where they were bred that have sheep that spend all winter on the mountain tops. Instead of the shepherd running around trying to gather them all up, they've trained the dog to do it -- they simply just send them up the mountain, acres and acres of coverage. And they do it - they roam alone to herd up the sheep to bring them down into spring pastures.

They are an *incredible* working dog, and there really are no other breeds that are as independent thinkers as they. Out of necessity. Horses of course we all understand just exactly how intelligent they are.

As far as comb color goes=emotion; from my own personal anecdotal evidence, (which means nothing, just like everyone else's anecdotal evidence, lol) their combs don't change that much. They are pre-lay or laying and their combs denote which. Not much change happening at all during the day - and I'm with them and hanging out with them often.

Would be interesting if there was a journal article on the subject; I doubt it - but you can try rooting around jstor.org or cambridgecore to see if there is - you might not get access to the article but you will at least be able to read the abstract.

 

[AlphaButterfly]

It could have been that, indeed.

I just wanted to make it abundantly clear that they do in fact have emotions, just in case it wasn't how you read it. Glad you mentioned that though!

Excellent points! I’m so glad you addressed this theory of no emotion in chickens. Sometimes I think it’s due to the way some ppl were raised, that they assume this, also, because some people just see chickens as a source of food, which I think is more related to some people just not being pet people in the broader sense. As in farm animals aren’t pets. Maybe? Maybe not? I’m definitely NOT criticizing. We are all different with varying emotional makeups. If everyone saw every farm/ranch animal as a pet, we’d never have meat available to eat. That would be unfortunate.

My husband has been completely & utterly surprised & bewildered over all of the care & research I have poured into our chicks (now laying hens). When he’s had chickens in the past, he said he never gave them the attention I do mine. He said he never gave much thought to housing them except for their most basic needs. He definitely never talked to them.

He’s been bemused and amused over how I talk to my chickens and how they follow me around.

He would’ve never attributed chickens as having emotions until he met me.

In regards to the initial question; from my research and observation, it seems that their comb color is more attributed to being a reflection of aspects of their health and development. Great question!!

 

[AlphaButterfly]

Don’t think that they are smarter than a toddler, but they can be pretty smart. Their memory is the most impressive thing. They NEVER forget.

Your reply made me grin, because it sounds as if there is a story (or two) there????