Maria Allen
Chickens do not need much for a species-appropriate life. But there are a few important points to keep in mind so that they are doing well. Because an unhappy chicken is easily ill.
There is no doubt that it is a nice feeling to watch chickens scratching, pecking, or sunbathing. It is exciting to observe their behavior: the fear of a higher-ranking animal or a bird of prey just sailing past, the excitement when you throw grains or other delicacies into the run. And last but not least, it is a wonderful gift to be provided with an egg almost every day that tastes far better than a wholesale one.
But what can the owner do in return to give back some of these daily joys to the feathered animals? In other words: How can you make your chickens happy? First of all, the important question arises: What does a chicken feel – can it feel happiness, suffering, sadness? This question is probably the most difficult because we know very little about it.
Capable of Compassion
It is now known that many mammals and also birds have neuronal possibilities to show behavioral reactions. How intensely and consciously these feelings are perceived can only be speculated about. However, it is well established that chickens respond to poor conditions. Chicks, for example, which is reared individually, react to this with an increased frequency of distressing sounds, which clearly points to states of anxiety. And the longer this isolation lasts, the more frequently and intensely the sounds can be heard.
However, chickens are not only able to announce their own states of anxiety through vocalizations, they can also recognize them in other dogs and suffer from them as well. Seen in this way, they feel a kind of compassion, they can empathize with their fellows. If chicks are exposed to even a slight draft, the hens will have an increased heart rate. In addition, they are more alert, call their chicks more often, and reduce their own personal hygiene to a minimum. Researchers speak of typical anxiety behavior here.
Breed Fearlessly
Another example: if a visitor comes into the chicken yard excited or nervous, this state of mind is usually transferred to the chicken, which reacts by fluttering nervously or even trying to escape. If this turns out to be unfavorable, for example when the chicken injures itself, it quickly associates the encounter with the human with something negative. It will continue to behave nervously in the future and this, in turn, increases the risk of another injury.
If chickens are frightened, this can also affect their laying activity. Various experiments show impressively that a frightened hen lays significantly fewer eggs and usually also smaller specimens. Why this so has not yet been clearly explained scientifically. It is clear, however, that once the states of anxiety become chronic, this can lead to health problems and thus to a great deal of suffering. Even if no physical injury is evident.
Especially in the breeding season, an atmosphere that is as fearless and stress-free as possible is to be created. Otherwise, it may affect the chicks. They often experience cognitive impairment. Because the chicken body reacts to stress with increased production of stress hormones, the so-called corticosterones. These hormones prime the body for appropriate responses in response to stressful stimuli. So fight or flee.
If there is a lot of stress shortly before the egg is laid, large amounts of the hormones are released into the egg. In high doses, this can affect the cognitive development of the chicks. This so-called prenatal stress can reduce the chicks’ receptivity to imprinting stimuli. Research has shown that such chicks remain fearful and sensitive to change throughout their lives.
However, stress does not necessarily have to be triggered by an enemy, it also arises if the chicken does not receive enough water in summer or is exposed to excessive heat. Because chickens tolerate high temperatures far less well than low ones, and they are not able to sweat because they lack sweat glands.
The Safer, the Less Stressed
Chickens like to take a dust bath, scratch in the grass, or pick up grains from the ground. If they are prevented from doing so, they show frustration. According to Joseph Barber, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, this can be recognized by their aggressive state and the so-called “gagging”. This is an initially long whining sound, which is replaced by a series of short accented sounds. If you hear the sound too often, this is a clear sign that the animals have a lack of species-typical behavior.
But now back to the detailed question. What can I do to make my chickens happy? First and foremost, a calm and stress-free environment is to be created. A lot has already been achieved for your well-being. This includes ensuring that the animals have enough sleeping space and do not have to fight for a place. Sufficient laying nests that are protected and somewhat darkened. A varied run with trees, shrubs, or bushes. On the one hand, these offer protection from birds of prey, which gives the animals more security and thus leads to less stress; on the other hand, they have the opportunity to retreat – for example, to get some rest after a ranking fight or to cool down in the shade. It also needs an undisturbed, covered place where the chickens can take their daily sand bath.