8 facts about chickens.

Most of those who have been lucky enough to adopt a chicken have a tendency to fall comb-over-claw for them, and if you ever have the good fortune to get to know one yourself, you’ll understand why…

When a hen’s chicks become distressed, she does too! Her heart starts beating faster, and she’ll increase vocalisations to her little ones.

Ever dreamt you could fly? It probably would have happened during REM sleep, which is associated with dreaming. Birds experience REM too … It’s heartbreaking to think of what hens who are trapped in cages might dream of each night, given a cage is the only world they’ve ever known.

Some of us like finding a quiet corner to read, others want to be the life of the party — and chickens are the same (minus the book and the DJ). Every hen has her own likes and dislikes, and favourite things to do in her spare time. There are, of course, simple pleasures that they all enjoy — like dustbathing in sunshine, exploring a garden, and settling into a warm and comfy place to sleep.

Chickens are intelligent and emotional animals, and “demonstrate thinking skills on par with mammals and primates“. If you hide an object from a chicken, they will still know it’s there — this is something even young human kids aren’t able to do.

You don’t get much more motherly than a hen. A hen will fuss over her chicks like there’s no tomorrow, keeping them protected from anything they’re too little to defend themselves against, like predators or the cold. She’ll homeschool them, too — teaching them the ways of chickenhood so they’ll be confident foragers, dustbathers and nest builders when they grow up.

We hear cluck, begerk and bokbok — but there’s a lot more to it than that. Chickens talk to each other in a language we have yet to understand. They make distinct sounds that could mean anything from ‘I found food over here’ to ‘Kids, get back here where I can see you!’.

A mother hen will even start communicating with her chicks while they’re still inside their eggs — this way, when they hatch, they’ll already recognise her voice.

A chicken’s beak isn’t just designed to collect food and water and chat with friends. It’s full of sensory receptors and nerves that enable them to distinguish between types of food, and interact with the world around them. This, coupled with their natural curiosity, means chickens love to explore and try new experiences.

One thing every person lucky enough to spend time with chickens knows to be true is that these animals just love being themselves. But tragically, millions of these sensitive and intelligent animals are never given the chance to know even the most basic joys, hidden away behind the walls of factory farms. Thankfully, you don’t have to adopt a chicken to be kind to them (although you probably are thinking about it right now, right?).

If you believe these gentle, curious birds deserve more than a life confined inside a factory farm, remember this: change begins with us.

Every time we shop, cook or order a meal, we help shape the kind of world we want to live in. Choosing egg-free and chicken-free options is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to withdraw support from factory farming and stand up for hens.

The good news? Living compassionately has never been easier. With so many delicious plant-based alternatives and simple recipes available, making kinder choices can be effortless. By making thoughtful, everyday decisions, you’re helping create a future where hens are valued for who they are — not just for what they can produce.