Chickens Talk. Are You Listening?

Humans Can Identify Reward-related Call Types of Chickens

It has long been established that chickens communicate through body language and vocalizations, which can be diverse and unique. Chicks communicate with their mother and siblings through peeping to synchronize hatching. They establish a communication network to inform the mother about the progress of hatching. After hatching, chicks use peeps and clucks to communicate with each other and their mother. Hens and roosters coordinate through nesting calls, primeval grumbling growls, egg cackles, distress calls, and squawks. Roosters crow to recognize danger while sending alarm cries that prompt the flock's response. Food finding elicits vocal communication within the flock. Chickens also have soft trills, piping voice of woe when bored or at loose ends, and sing as they settle down for the night in peace.

Now, a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on January 3, 2024, reveals that humans possess the remarkable ability to comprehend fundamental chicken emotions solely through their clucks. Surprisingly, nearly 70 percent of participants successfully matched the cluck with the corresponding emotion, irrespective of their prior exposure to chickens. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that individuals' familiarity with chickens does not impact their capacity to interpret chicken moods based on sound alone. These findings shed light on humanity's inherent bond with other creatures and propose the existence of a universal language for expressing emotions among animals.

We know chickens can talk, we know we can understand them, so maybe we should stop eating them!

Learn more about Chicken Talk by Karen Davis, PhD:
Let’s Understand How Chickens Communicate - Vegan India!

Special Friends: Rupert the rooster and UPC sanctuary assistant Paul Connon.

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