What the Chicken Knows

1. Chickens Defy Stereotypes: They're Intelligent and Affectionate

But, as I’ve come to learn over the decades of sharing my life with successive flocks of these affectionate, industrious, and resourceful birds, almost everything people “know” about chickens is wrong.

Common misconceptions challenged. Many people view chickens as stupid, dirty, or merely food, often based on experiences with factory farms or the "headless chicken" myth. However, the author's decades of living with chickens reveal a vastly different reality, demonstrating their capacity for affection, industry, and resourcefulness. This book aims to correct these widespread misunderstandings and foster a deeper appreciation for these common creatures.

Beyond the dinner plate. For most, the relationship with chickens is purely culinary, with the average American consuming over a hundred pounds of chicken annually. This narrow view obscures the birds' true nature and intelligence. The author recounts an airplane conversation where a man, having worked at a factory farm, described chickens as "stupid, disgusting, filthy, cowardly, occasionally cannibalistic automatons," a perception the book directly refutes through personal anecdotes and scientific findings.

A world of wonder. The author's journey into the "Chicken Universe" began with a gift of hens, which proved to be "the most incredible gift anyone ever gave me," opening up an entire world of revelation. This journey highlights how chickens, despite being among the commonest birds, are "movingly like us" in their capacity for rich, varied lives, and yet "thrillingly different" in their unique avian ways, constantly surprising and dazzling with their complexity.

2. Kindness Tames the Rooster: Cuddling Over Confrontation

But gathering the angry bird into your arms and carrying him around is, she assures, the best and only foolproof way to train a rowdy rooster to become a loving friend.

Counter-intuitive approach. When faced with an aggressive rooster, the natural human reaction is to retreat or confront. However, neighbor Ashley Naglie, a seasoned chicken rescuer, suggests a staggeringly counter-intuitive method: pick them up, cuddle them, talk to them softly, and even do chores while holding them. This approach, while requiring caution against spurs and beaks, is presented as the most effective way to transform a "rowdy rooster" into a "loving friend."

Building trust and respect. Ashley's family, including her children Brooke and Tyler, have successfully rehabilitated numerous aggressive roosters over a decade. They emphasize that roosters, despite their intimidating appearance, respond to respect and kindness. Brooke notes, "you just have to build trust," while Tyler adds, "if you treat them right, with respect and kindness, they’ll be calm." This method contrasts sharply with traditional approaches, which often lead to roosters being rehomed or worse.

From rogue to companion. The author's own experience with roosters, some of whom started sweet but "changed," highlights the challenge. Before learning Ashley's method, the only solution was to find the rogue rooster another home. The story of Cooter, a rescued Buff Orpington, exemplifies a gentle rooster who charmed the family, watched Brian work on cars for hours, and selflessly guided hens to food, proving that roosters can indeed be affectionate companions when treated with understanding and patience.

3. Avian Minds Are Sharp: Self-Awareness, Memory, and Foresight

Experiments like this show that chickens “can do things that people didn’t think they could do,” says Christine Nicol, professor of animal welfare at the University of Bristol in England.

Beyond "bird-brained." Contrary to popular belief, chickens possess remarkable cognitive abilities. A 2023 study in PLOS One reported that roosters recognize their own reflections in mirrors, a measure of self-awareness previously thought limited to apes and humans. This finding, achieved by observing roosters' warning calls (or lack thereof) in mirrored enclosures, suggests a sophisticated understanding of self and environment, challenging the notion of birds as mere automatons.

Spatial and temporal intelligence. Chickens demonstrate impressive spatial learning, able to find hidden food using landmarks and even calculate the center of unfamiliar environments. Italian researchers found that chicks as young as fifteen days old could perform these feats, suggesting an innate capacity for spatial reasoning. Furthermore, studies show chickens can remember the past and anticipate the future, as evidenced by their ability to delay gratification for a larger food reward, waiting up to twenty-two seconds over 90% of the time.

Hidden depths revealed. Christine Nicol, a professor of animal welfare, asserts that "There are hidden depths to chickens, definitely," underscoring the complexity of their minds. The author's own observations support this: her first chicks, despite being six weeks old, instinctively knew their new barn home and returned to it at dusk, demonstrating an inherent spatial awareness that surprised even the author. This continuous revelation of their intelligence makes the "Chicken Universe" a fascinating realm of discovery.

4. Flocks Are Complex Societies: Individual Recognition and Social Bonds

Researchers have documented that an average chicken can recognize and remember more than one hundred other chickens.

A complex social fabric. Chickens live in intricate social structures, where belonging and individual recognition are paramount. They can identify and remember over a hundred other chickens, relying on a gestalt of features including voice and, crucially, facial characteristics. Experiments where fake combs or dyed head feathers rendered hens unrecognizable to their flock-mates highlight the importance of facial cues, much like humans recognize each other.

The nuanced pecking order. The pecking order, often misunderstood as purely aggressive, is more about maintaining order within the flock. While pecking can occur, the author's hens demonstrated "admirable discretion and restraint," often using "air pecks" or raised hackles to convey messages. Dominant chickens often act as peacekeepers, settling squabbles and watching for danger, demonstrating a sense of responsibility that comes with their position in the hierarchy.

Deep interspecies bonds. Chickens form deep bonds not only with their own kind but also with other species, including humans and even pigs. The author's hens adored their pig, Christopher Hogwood, with some even choosing to roost on him at night. They also formed strong attachments with neighbors Bobbie and Jarvis Coffin, rushing to greet them, gathering beneath Jarvis's hammock, and even attempting to join him. This demonstrates their capacity for complex social relationships beyond their immediate flock.

5. Chickens Speak a Rich Language: Beyond Simple Clucks

At Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, working with Golden Sebright chickens, a breed whose voices are most similar to the ancestral jungle fowl, psychology professor Chris Evans and his wife, Linda, have identified twenty-four distinct calls the birds use to communicate specific information to others in the flock.

A sophisticated vocabulary. Chickens possess a surprisingly rich and varied vocal repertoire, far exceeding simple clucks. Researchers Chris and Linda Evans identified twenty-four distinct calls used by Golden Sebright chickens to convey specific information. For instance, a rooster's "kissing took-took-took" call signals food, and hens respond differently based on their hunger levels, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the call's meaning.

Contextual communication. Chicken alarm calls are highly specific, varying based on the predator's size, shape, speed, and location. A high-pitched scream signals a hawk, prompting sky-scanning, while a pulsating "buk" series followed by an "AH!" indicates a ground predator like a raccoon, leading to ground searches. These calls are more vehement when the threat is closer or approaching quickly, and roosters even adjust their calls based on whether they have an audience, suggesting intentional communication.

Personalized "names" and emotional expression. Beyond general calls, some chickens develop unique vocalizations specifically for their human companions. Melissa Caughey, "the Chicken Whisperer," discovered her lead hen, Tilly, coined a distinctive "bup, bup, bup, BAAAH!" sound that other hens adopted as a "name" for Melissa. Furthermore, new research shows that ordinary humans can intuit a chicken's emotional state—happy or unhappy—just by listening to their clucks, highlighting the depth of their vocal expression.

6. The Human-Chicken Bond: A Deep and Mutual Connection

I am honored to follow in the footsteps of a great ethologist—as my chicks will follow in mine.

Imprinting and attachment. The author's practice of hand-raising chicks in her home office, allowing them to perch on her lap, shoulder, or even inside her sweater, fosters a profound bond through imprinting. This process, observed by Nobel laureate Konrad Lorenz with geese, means the chicks follow and direct their innate responses towards the human, effectively making the author an "honorary chicken." This early connection lays the foundation for deep, lifelong affection.

Mutual affection and understanding. The author's hens eagerly rush to greet her, even without food, seeking physical affection like being picked up, stroked, and having their combs kissed. They squat, arch their backs, and fluff their feathers, welcoming caresses, a behavior the author calls "overpet." This mutual interaction, including "lilting chicken voices" in conversation, amazes visitors who previously thought chickens were "stupid," demonstrating a clear recognition and bond.

A sense of belonging. The author finds immense peace and a sense of belonging among her flock, often losing track of time in the henhouse, enveloped by their "cozy, restful sounds." This deep connection is not just one-sided; the chickens actively seek out human interaction, whether it's the author's daily visits or the Coffin's presence next door. The author's commitment to their well-being, even in the face of challenges, underscores the profound and reciprocal nature of these interspecies relationships.

7. Wild Nature's Balance: Predators and the Peril of Freedom

I could not be angry with these predators. Their return was the signal of a recovering ecosystem.

The cost of freedom. While the author cherishes the idea of her hens ranging freely, the reality of a recovering ecosystem in New Hampshire brings a constant threat from native predators like foxes, hawks, bobcats, minks, and ermines. Despite efforts to secure the coop, these intelligent hunters find ways in, leading to heartbreaking losses. The author recounts finding two decapitated hens after a weasel attack, highlighting the vulnerability of free-ranging birds.

A difficult choice. The increasing presence of predators forced the author to confront a painful dilemma: confine the hens for safety, or allow them freedom at greater risk. Confinement, even in a "supersafe coop," would mean sacrificing the very interactions and observations that make keeping chickens so rewarding, as they would no longer roam the yard or join family activities. This tension between protection and freedom is a central challenge for backyard chicken keepers.

Acceptance of nature's way. Despite the sorrow of losing beloved hens, the author expresses no anger towards the predators. Instead, she views their return as a positive sign of a "recovering ecosystem," acknowledging that humans and their pets "are, after all, living on their land." This perspective reflects a deep respect for wild nature, even when it impacts her flock, underscoring a broader understanding of ecological balance.

8. Instinct's Paradox: Blind Drives and Profound Wisdom

But this interpretation, he warned, is “inadequate and incorrect.”

The "blind" side of instinct. Chickens, like all birds, exhibit "locked-in behavior" or "fixed action patterns" that are beyond conscious control, irresistibly carved into their genes. The most striking example is their tendency to attack a wounded flock-mate, pecking cruelly at the sight of blood. This seemingly "mean" behavior, while appalling to humans, is an ancient, genetically determined drive, perhaps linked to quickly consuming rare meat or preventing predators from being drawn to the flock.

Intelligence alongside instinct. Nobel laureate Niko Tinbergen's experiments with herring gull chicks demonstrated how specific stimuli (like a red dot) can "release" an inborn pecking response, even if it's illogical (pecking a giant red dot over a real bill). Similarly, Konrad Lorenz observed his intelligent jackdaws attacking him when he pulled out a black bathing suit, mistaking it for a limp, black, injured bird. These instances show that even smart birds, capable of reasoning, can be governed by "blind" instinct.

Evolutionary wisdom. While such actions might appear "stupid" or "cruel" to human observers, Tinbergen cautioned against this interpretation. He argued that these behaviors, sculpted over millions of years of adaptation, have proven to be survival strategies. What seems like a "silly mistake" in an experiment has, over vast spans of unforgiving time, meant the difference between life and death. This highlights a "deep wisdom of a sort humans seldom recognize," where ancestral instructions in genes guide behavior.

9. The Unseen Crisis: Abandoned Chickens and Misconceptions

“Everybody got chickens,” she reports, “but now they’re back to school and work and they just get rid of them.”

Post-pandemic surge in abandonment. The pandemic sparked a craze for backyard poultry, leading to a "wicked increase" in abandoned chickens and roosters as people returned to work and school. Animal sanctuaries nationwide, like Amazing Grace Animal Sanctuary, are overwhelmed, struggling to accommodate three times the usual number of unwanted birds. This crisis extends globally, with shelters in Germany and Britain reporting similar influxes.

Lack of education and foresight. A major contributing factor to abandonment is the public's lack of education before acquiring chicks. Many people don't realize that not all chicks will grow into hens, and most male and female chicks look alike, making it difficult to sex them without expert knowledge. This often results in an unexpected surplus of roosters, who are then deemed problematic due to crowing ordinances or aggression, leading to their abandonment.

Roosters as "problems." Roosters, in particular, are often considered a nuisance due to their crowing, which can violate town ordinances, or their amorous behavior, which can bother hens. If too many roosters are in a flock, they may fight over hens, necessitating separate enclosures, as the Naglies have built. This perception of roosters as "problems" rather than valuable protectors contributes significantly to their disproportionate abandonment rates.

10. Embrace the Chicken Universe: A Journey of Continuous Discovery

My travels in the Chicken Universe have been a portal to an unknown kingdom.

A lifelong voyage of revelation. The author's multi-decade journey with chickens, dubbed "travels in the Chicken Universe," has been a continuous "voyage of revelation." From the initial gift of hens to the ongoing discoveries about their intelligence, social structures, and emotional lives, the experience has consistently deepened her wonder, respect, and compassion for these "common creatures." This journey underscores that even the most familiar animals hold profound, unexplored depths.

Beyond the ordinary. Chickens, often overlooked or underestimated, are presented as extraordinary beings. They are "feathered dinosaurs" with hollow bones and air-filled bodies, yet they share fundamental traits with humans: a need for companionship and a capacity for affection. This blend of ancient lineage and relatable qualities makes them endlessly "dazzling," highlighting both our "sameness and our differences."

A call to deeper understanding. The book itself is the author's "small effort to be of service" to chickens, aiming to enhance human wonder and deepen respect for them. By sharing personal stories and scientific insights, the author invites readers to look beyond superficial perceptions and recognize the rich, varied, and complex lives of these birds, which are "as fraught and joyous and changeable as our own." The empty coop, though a sad reality, leaves behind the enduring wisdom of St. Francis: a higher mission to serve our "humble brethren."

Last updated: August 15, 2025