Chickens are one of the most common birds on the planet, with a population of over 25 billion. Despite their ubiquity, there are many fascinating and surprising facts about these feathered creatures that most people don’t know. Get ready to learn some incredible things about chickens that will make you see them in a whole new light.
I love my chickens. Those girls are utter clowns. They’re friendly, too, and incredibly useful for their eggs, their bug-eating, their weed chomping, and their poop.
1. Chickens Can Recognize Over 100 Human Faces
Studies have shown that chickens have the ability to recognize and remember the faces of over 100 different people. This means that if you spend time with a chicken regularly, it will likely recognize you and respond differently to you than to strangers.
2. Chickens Have Their Own Language
Chickens communicate with each other using a variety of sounds, including clucks, crows, and chirps. In fact, researchers have identified over 30 distinct sounds that chickens use to convey different messages, such as warning others of danger or letting them know when they’ve found food.
3. Chickens Can Dream
Just like humans and other animals, chickens experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is associated with dreaming. While we don’t know exactly what chickens dream about, it’s fascinating to think that they have their own inner world of experiences and emotions.
4. Chickens Are Descendants of Dinosaurs
Believe it or not, chickens are the closest living relatives of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. While they may look very different from their prehistoric ancestors, chickens still share many biological similarities with dinosaurs, such as their scaly feet and the shape of their bones.
5. Chickens Have Excellent Memory
Chickens have a highly developed memory and can remember things for a long time. In fact, studies have shown that chickens can remember the location of food sources and the faces of individual people for several months.
6. Chickens Can Run Up to 9 Miles Per Hour
While chickens may not be known for their speed, they can actually run quite fast when they need to. In fact, some breeds of chicken can reach speeds of up to 9 miles per hour, which is faster than most humans can run!
7. Chickens Have a Complex Social Structure
Chickens are highly social animals and have a complex social structure within their flocks. They establish a “pecking order” to determine who is in charge, and they communicate with each other constantly to maintain their social bonds.
8. Chickens Can See More Colors Than Humans
Chickens have a highly developed sense of vision and can see a wider range of colors than humans can. In fact, they can see ultraviolet light, which allows them to detect things that are invisible to the human eye. They have four types of cones in their eyes, while humans only have three, allowing them to see ultraviolet light and distinguish between more shades.
9. Chickens Can Live for Over 10 Years
While most chickens raised for food only live for a few months, chickens can actually live for over 10 years in the right conditions. The oldest recorded chicken, Muffy, lived to be 23 years and 152 days old.
10. Chickens Have a Highly Developed Sense of Hearing
Chickens have a highly developed sense of hearing and can detect sounds from far away. They use their hearing to communicate with each other and to detect potential threats in their environment.
11. Chickens Can Swim
While chickens are not known for their swimming abilities, they are actually capable of swimming if they need to. However, they typically avoid water and prefer to stay on dry land.
12. Chickens Have Unique Personalities
Just like other animals, chickens have their own unique personalities and traits. Some chickens are more curious and adventurous, while others are more shy and reserved. Getting to know individual chickens can be a rewarding experience.
13. Chickens Are Omnivores
Contrary to popular belief, chickens are not strictly vegetarian. While they do eat a lot of plant matter, they are actually omnivores and will also eat insects, worms, and even small animals if given the chance.
14. Chickens Can Lay Different Colored Eggs
While most people are familiar with brown or white chicken eggs, chickens can actually lay eggs in a variety of colors, including blue, green, and even pink. The color of the egg depends on the breed of chicken and is determined by genetics.
15. Chickens Are Intelligent and Emotional Creatures
Despite their reputation as simple farm animals, chickens are actually highly intelligent and emotional creatures. They are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, and fear, and they have been shown to have problem-solving abilities similar to those of young children. Treating chickens with kindness and respect is important for their well-being and for our own understanding of these fascinating animals.
16. The Record for Most Egg Yolks in One Egg is Nine
The greatest number of yolks ever found in a single chicken egg is nine, reported in 1971. Record-breaking eggs are rare but can happen when ovulation occurs too rapidly or when one yolk becomes joined with another.
17. Hens Teach Sounds to Their Chicks Before They Hatch
Hens communicate with their unhatched chicks while they’re still inside the eggs. They teach the embryos specific sounds that the chicks then use after hatching to alert the hen if they’re cold or distressed.
18. A Hen Rotates Her Eggs About 50 Times Per Day
In order to ensure proper development, a brooding hen turns and rotates her eggs about 50 times each day. This prevents the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane.
19. Chickens Have Taste Buds
While chickens don’t have nearly as many taste buds as humans (around 350 vs. our 10,000), they can still taste flavors. However, they cannot taste anything sweet or spicy.
Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
