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“I am so fascinated with Chickens ! Do you know much about them? Well, let me enlighten you and then you will be as intrigued as I am.”
by Dr. Cathy Beck, Director Cheatham County Schools.
DID YOU KNOW? Chickens are living descendants of dinosaurs. Scientific evidence has proven the shared common ancestry between chickens and the Tyrannosaurus rex. Chickens aren’t completely flightless. Chickens were domesticated about 8000 years ago, and evolved from the Red junglefowl, which are tropical birds that live in the jungle. These wild birds fly to escape predators and to roost high up in trees. Today’s domestic chickens still have the ability to fly, although not as effectively. Chickens can fly for short distances – enough to clear obstacles or reach a perch. Chickens can dream. They also have a sleep phase that humans don’t experience called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, where one half of the brain is asleep and the other is awake. This means that chickens can sleep with one eye open, which is especially useful for looking out for predators. Chickens have better color vision than humans. Like humans, chickens have color vision, and are able to see red, green and blue light. However, what makes chicken vision unique from ours is that they are also able to see ultraviolet light, which are the colors you see when using a black light! Chickens have complex communication. Chickens have over 30 unique vocalizations that they use to communicate a wide variety of messages to other chickens, including mating calls, stress signals, warnings of danger, how they are feeling and food discovery. Chickens have great memories. Chickens are able to recognize over 100 different faces, even after being separated for extended periods of time, highlighting their long-term memory capabilities.
These faces don’t just include chickens, they can recognize the faces of humans too! Chickens bathe by covering themselves in dirt. Dust bathing is when chickens crouch on the ground and spread dirt or another dusty material over their body. The stale oil sticks onto the particles of dirt, and gets shaken off. Chickens can then spread fresh oil onto their feathers. Egg shell color can be determined by the hen’s earlobe. It depends on the breed of the hen, but it’s not feather color that tells you what color the egg shell will be. It’s the color of the hen’s earlobes! Generally, hens with red earlobes will lay brown eggs, and hens with white earlobes lay white eggs (with a few exceptions of course). Although the color of the eggs may differ, the nutritional content or flavor does not. Chickens are very intelligent animals. Studies have shown that chickens are self-aware and can distinguish themselves from others. They learn from one another, such as a chick learning from her mother which foods are good to eat. Chickens can also demonstrate complex problem- solving skills. You, too, can become an expert on the amazing chicken... visit https://spca.bc.ca/news/fun-facts-about-chickens/ .
Coming January 2024... Marvels & Wonders!
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