Posted on 03/22/2011 12:21:44 PM PDT by Red Badger
Apples and oranges.
Lando offered an anecdotal observation regarding a mother hen’s treatment of an egg. Did she know that the chick would hatch without a leg? Or did she simply believe something was wrong? We don’t know.
To counter, examples are offered regarding dogs and cats treating their young - even the sick and malformed - with the same love and care that they offer to their healthy young. However, dogs and cats =/= hens with regards to behavior and instincts, so these examples do not counter Lando’s.
Again, the (somewhat snarky) counter-example of the zookeeper who died of a heart attack at age 44 does not counter Lando’s, simply because of his additional proposition that many animals have instincts beyond human comprehension (which I do believe, because the animal kingdom has some freaky stuff).
But I digress.
You actually didn’t digress, you stayed on topic.
I wanted something other than a vague, “She knew” nothing more, nothing less. I see no way she could have known anything from a sealed egg, but was open to suggestion. I have no idea why you entered the conversation, since I don’t think you were there (were you?). But, if you have something to offer other than some suppositions, please do. I’d like a possible mechanism. Go ahead.
Thanks US007. A mother hen can become very fussy with her eggs and toss them out for a variety of reasons. She will almost always reject a non-viable egg because of gases emitted through the shell. Also, almost always, a mother hen will peck a chick to death should one hatch with deformities.
I just found the rejection of that one egg to be strange. There are indeed mysteries in the animal world.
BTW... we named that brood hen Olga as I recall. LOL!
Lando, rejecting a *dead* egg because of smell make perfect sense.
Based on my limited experience...
It sure would be boring if no one entered a converstaion around here.
It does to me.
Oh come on, it’s not that bad. I’ve been called a liberal here on FR because I like to ride the train. Having a skeptical mind is a curse I tell you. :)
This is why you don’t let Charlie Sheen visit the zoo.
He should be in a zoo.............
Skepticism is fine and appropriate. Condescension? Not so much (re: Magic? Psychic?). Just sayin’.
I don’t post much these days anyway. Too many poison darts and pack attacks for me to spend time addressing.
You like trains? :>O
I apologize, that was rude and over the top.
Oh, and yes, I do. But I’m willing to pay my own way. :)
No worries. And, thanks.
I can’t understand why anyone would dislike trains!!
I suppose they don’t really dislike trains, it’s government subsidies, but a lot of people think in soundbites. :) I like trains, therefore, I must be a liberal. (nothing in between). It’s silly of course, but it’s easier than actually thinking. It’s a problem with conservatives, like it is with liberals. We are a diverse group, but some people can only imagine that exactly what they think is absolutely correct. I’ve discovered, on occasion (horror of horrors!) I was wrong. I hate when that happens.
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