Wisdom Gained From Chickens

Maybe it’s just human nature that we divide our world up into categories, but I’m afraid when we do so we create an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality in which we are the us, and them are the other. Spell-check will correct you when you’ve used the word ‘who’ to refer to a chicken instead of ‘that’ because ‘who’ is a pronoun reserved for humans.

I find it curious that we try to distance ourselves from animals, as if we ourselves are not also animals. All kinds of disparaging terms refer to other species: eat like a pig, she’s chicken, he’s an ass, don’t have a cow, rat someone out, don’t be a snake or a sloth. You get the idea; we don’t elevate other species and try to emulate them or validate their characteristics. Lots of pet owners are accused of anthropomorphism, attributing human traits, emotions, or intentions, to their dogs and cats. I would contend that far from erroneously imbuing animals with human characteristics we actually minimize the breadth and depth of what other sentient beings think and feel or what motivates them.

This allows us to treat them as less than us, as though they are ‘just’ animals and therefore not worthy of respect and care. I see this attitude pervade online chicken groups in which keepers question whether their sick or injured birds feel pain; or kill, rather than try to understand, perfectly healthy roosters who are deemed ‘aggressive’. Devaluing animals allows us to feel superior, and by extension behave in ways that demonstrate that superiority. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard folks justify their actions with the comment it was ‘just’ a chicken.

“I mean, it sucks but it’s nature. We all live and we all die. Mine are my pets too, but I also realize they’re animals. When one dies I replace it, no big deal to me. I mean, not to be rude or sound heartless but animals are just animals they’re replaceable. I believe that what’s meant to be just happens. Nothing anyone does will stop it.” – Facebook comment regarding the death of a young bird, name withheld

It might see like an odd juxtaposition inserting this video here, but I found it both touching and heartbreaking. To watch this mother’s reaction to being reunited with her baby should confirm the depth of connection between them. I’ve viewed it several times and never fail to tear up watching it.

I understand that chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, may also more closely resemble our behaviours, but these relationships are also seen in ‘bird brained’ chickens. Once you really open your eyes, and your heart, to what goes one with other animals you’ll never quite see them in the same way again.

I asked my Facebook followers and folks from online groups for some stories from their flock that fit the bill and present them here.

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Kimber Kinard-Poyner

I really had a touching moment today and I’d like to share. I’d also like to preface this with saying, I really like my chicken KFC more than the others and I’ve really grown attached to her.

As I was getting ready to get in my car to leave the ranch, I was saying “bye” to the hubby and kiddo and I caught a last glimpse of our flock that were easily 30’ away from me and I said out loud, “I’m heading out, see ya” or something like that, and my little KFC started clucking and carrying on and ran straight to me as if to say “Don’t go!”

I picked her up and hugged her just one last time and almost cried. If I’m lying, I’m dying. I love her so much.

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Marti Martinez

My broody Australorp hen allowed me to be her midwife throughout her chickency when she hatched out one chick. This week my friend gave me a bunch of newly hatched Silkie and Showgirl chicks. I was going to put them in the brooder when I thought to offer them to her. I raced into the trailer where her chickominium is. As I got to her cage she heard the babies and was instantly interested. I opened the door and put two inside near her, but not too close. She stretched out her neck, looking all around as if to say, “Hey, someone lost their kids”. Twenty seconds later, the two babies walked toward her, she stretched her wing and under they went. I was so over-the-moon excited that I immediately put the others in too. This time her eyes got wide and she looked directly at me. She either said, “You have got to be kidding” or “For me?! More presents”.  Another twenty seconds and they disappeared under her. I am so proud of her. Honestly, I have never seen such love and tenderness.

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Kim Drumm

I just had a baby two weeks ago. I had gotten really sick before the birth so they kept me at the hospital with my baby and it took awhile till I could be sent home. I got really depressed. I must say I really missed my chickens this whole time. Today was the first day I was allowed to go out back and mingle with them since my surgery. My husband lets them out to free range up to three times a day with our dogs (he also opened up the garden for them to go in). When I went out the sliding back door and called them, believe it on not, I heard these loud excited calls and I looked in the garden and our chickens were jumping off the raised beds and heading out of the garden. They came to my side and some of my Barred Rocks were walking on my feet almost tripping me with the coffee I had in my hand. I’ll be honest I’ve grown very attached to these ten girls. Growing up, my family always treated them like farm animals, which I understand to a degree, but more and more they are becoming pets to me.

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Rhonda Hammons

I believe the pandemic gave us all an opportunity to make life a little bit more understanding, a little bit more compassionate, and a little bit more kind so we can look at a bird like a chicken and be able to see it as having personality, even a mind of its own, like any other house pet. There is a loyalty in a chicken, a loyalty to its owner who provides its care.  And once you commune with a chicken you come to see it is a caring bird with a playful and affectionate side that wants to be cared for and shown care in return for all it can give.

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Jacob Franklin

I think I was lucky in the number of chickens I ended up with. Five hens and four roosters (kept in a separate bachelor flock) is not so many that I could never get to know everyone, but enough that I could see a wide variety of personalities. Spending three hours each day with them I learned just how human-like they really are. Each and every chicken is a distinct individual with their own unique voice, habits, and preferences. They have good days and bad days. They can be considerate, oblivious, selfish, helpful, stubborn, cooperative, frustrated, annoyed, excited or displeased. Most importantly, in my opinion, is their clear desire for love and affection from anyone who has gained their trust. I never expected chickens, especially roosters, to seek out hugs, pets, or just being close literally every time I see them. They have completely blown my mind and changed my life forever. So much in fact that my introverted self must tell everyone! They are just too intelligent, self-aware, and loving to be nothing more than a food product.

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Alexa Cope

I had a special trusting moment with my head hen just now. I heard the girls alerting me and looked outside to see a large red-shouldered hawk watching over my flock and doing its call. Everyone was in the coop except for my head hen, Jojo, who was attacked by a hawk last March.  She was all the way across the yard by herself, panicking and too scared to run to the coop. I shut everyone in the coop and walked towards her, calling for her. She was still too scared to move even with me standing there. I stood directly next to her until she was confident enough to start making her way towards the coop. Eventually every step I made, she made. We walked side by side all the way back and when she finally made it to the coop, I opened the door for her and she looked back at me, right in the eyes, like she was saying “Thanks mom. I got it from here”. I love that they trust me enough to let me guide them and get them to safety. They know momma will do anything to keep them safe. Little moments like these are quite special to me!

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Mel Morgyn Smith

I’m a firm believer in chickens grieving. I saved our turkey’s feathers for crafting purposes and I was letting them air out in the sun, but now his flock mates sit by it multiple times a day and look in the bucket at his feathers. At first I watched them waiting in the driveway for their friend to come back and when he didn’t, and the feathers came back instead, they went straight to them and have been every day since. My heart breaks for them. We have about 30 birds total, but this flock of seven was closer than I realized. Rest In Peace Turk.

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Anisa Cantero

I heard a strange howl from the coop this morning. Not the normal morning crows.

Sure enough, when I went to feed them shortly after, I found Red was dead! She was not eating and because she was a rescue we don’t know how old she was. Do your chickens have a mourning howl? Mine do and I’ve heard it before. It all voices together, soft leading to loud and sustained! Only one howl, to grieve!

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Stephanie Martinez

It’s a great start to a day on your chicken farm when your most stubborn hen finally bonds with you. I love you too, Shirley. To some, this may not seem significant but if you know, you know. This is a significant thing for me because I’ve had Shirley for a few weeks. I brought her and another 11-week-old flock mate, Laverne, to join my tiny flock of three five week olds (Amy, Lucy, and Ethel) to teach them how to be chickens, not humans. Needless to say, they did their job and taught my sweet babies just that and so much more. They became finely tuned raptors in no time. My bond with my home-raised flock has remained strong and unbroken, as I imprinted on them from the beginning. Laverne grew to bond with me over the course of a few weeks after she arrived. By the end of May, she and I were besties. I’ve been working so hard to gain my Shirley’s trust and it’s been a hefty task to say the least. Treats, chats, toys, quiet time, even Edith Piaf – anything to bring joy and relaxation for my girls. This morning, as I was kneeling down chatting with Shirley, Lucy, and Laverne, Shirley just hopped onto my back and sat there talking to me and of course I talked back to her. This was the best moment of my chicken raising life to date!

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Haidy Mansfield

‘Cor ad Cor Loquitur’

I heard this in my audio book on Mary Magdalen, @megganwatterson my fourth time listening and then I came across an article on trans-species psychology by Gay Bradshaw, founder of @keruloscenter and it feels that these layers of thinking and knowing, so eloquently expressed, clarify my deep beliefs. Where I am now with my understanding and feelings on our relationship with animals and with love, I know now has always been, from a young child, but I got taken along the path we all do, of societal programming.  This image depicts all of it for me!  Cor ad Cor Loquitur – Heart speaks to heart directly!

When you quieten your clamour and sit with animals, the communication begins and it is beautiful, they are beautiful and when you get that, you truly start to grasp the horrors caused by the belief that we are separate from animals, that we are the only species to experience emotions. Unless you live in a hole you will know that more and more governments are conceding to sentience bills, acknowledging the sentience of animals, which makes our acts even worse!

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Many thanks to all those who contributed their insights into the often overlooked nature of chickens and what they can bring to our lives, if we open our hearts to the possibilities. Featured photo: Jen Hamilton