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Chickens Know More Than We Think (Chickens Worry About Being Slaves)
Natures Corner ^ | 11/04/2006 | Theodosia Burr

Posted on 11/04/2006 8:04:33 PM PST by Dallas59

Did you know that chickens worry about the future? I'm worried about chickens worrying. But what worries me the most is that most people do not worry about chickens at all.

A recent sobering sight on the freeway brought the truth home to me. I noticed a smell outside the bus I was on and looked over to see flatbed truck passing on the left. It was stacked high and long with crates of chickens. But these chickens weren’t happily pecking about in their boxes. They were trussed, lying on their sides, with their feet sticking outside the crates.

Directly outside my window, I could inside the crates, only a few feet away. The chickens were on their sides…they were not sleeping, but in fact were wide awake, with panicked, staring eyes…I knew that they KNEW trouble was on its way. It was a horrible sight, but I couldn’t look away. My eyes stayed glued to that truck as it moved down the highway, and my last memory of it was a view of all those little yellow legs sticking out from the sides, and those little yellows legs bumping away on a road that lead them to a certain death.

“Slave ship,” the thought popped into my mind as I watched the truck exit the highway, “that’s nothing but a slave ship.” And indeed, those animals with their legs tied together, being carried to a destiny they had no control over, truly reminded me of all the first-person accounts I had read of slave ships.

Although I don’t consider myself an animal rights activist, the term “animal slaves” that is used so often by animal rights organizations certainly seemed appropriate in this instance…and that appropriateness was numbing in its implications after I read a recent publication in the journal Animal Behavior.

A research team from the Biophysics Group at Silsoe Research Institute in England has determined that chickens have a concept of the future. Prior to this publication, scientists believed only humans and other primates had the concept of time existing beyond the present moment. But not so any longer…we now know that chickens can anticipate the future.

Researchers used a simple method of food reward to ascertain this truth. If a hen pecked on a colored button, they received a food reward. If the hen waited a couple of seconds, they received a small amount of food. But if they waited for 22 seconds, they received a much larger amount. Over 90% of the hens held out for the big reward.

The anatomical structure of the chicken brain is much more complex than most people think. Previous studies show that the organization of the neurons in the chicken brain is highly structured. This sophisticated arrangement of the brain implies that, like humans, a high level of intelligence has evolved--an intelligence that helps them survive.

Although we don’t know the exact thoughts of chickens, the concept of the future and the complex brain structure suggests that chickens are intelligent enough to worry.

More than 40 billion birds worldwide are raised for human consumption…and if chickens can worry about what happens to them, that’s something to consider before you bite into a drumstick.

The choice to eat or not to eat chicken is, of course, a personal one. But for me, there’s no question. The slave ship of yellow legs, and the thought of contributing to it, has stopped me from eating chicken in any form…and although I always bought eggs laid by cage-free hens, eggs have also made the I-won’t-eat-it list.

Yes, I’m worried about chickens worrying…and it worries me that more people won’t be worrying about it as well.

Source: Animal Behaviour


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: chickens; feelings; slaves; whatajoke; whiskeytangofoxtrot
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To: kylaka
Now you have opened a can of worms. Organizations are already popping up, hatching out plans to get your money. I can see universities clamoring for affirmative action for chickens; seeking diversity in the departments, claiming that Chicken-Americans have long been underpresented in a department. And just think of the welfare problems it will create, all of those unwed hens, having chicks with no rooster around. Farms will become economic enterprise zones to help chicken-owned businesses. And if any farmer steps in, chicken riots will ensue. Oh the mayhem! Chickens will be running around everywhere like their heads were cut off, pecking, pooping, and clucking. Jesse Jackson and Screwy Louis will step in, leading a million chicken march on Washington. And, or course, I should not have to explain this, but it is common knowledge that chickens are not only anti-gun, but are also anti-axe.

They're liberals! Ever notice how they all live in little collectives, milling around together but never performing any work? And whenever anything goes wrong, they never confront the problem but simply run in circles flapping their wings.

61 posted on 11/04/2006 9:30:22 PM PST by flying Elvis ("In...War, the errors which proceed from a spirit of benevolence are the worst" Clausewitz.)
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To: Eagles6

No problemo. That's the saying I had in mind when I posted. I should have said meat instead of food.


62 posted on 11/04/2006 9:30:43 PM PST by NonValueAdded (Prayers for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub. Brian, we're all pulling for you!)
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To: Dallas59
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/

This is not a gag. My father remembered this.

Could it be that Mike was a Democrat chicken??

63 posted on 11/04/2006 9:36:13 PM PST by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s...you weren't really there.)
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To: Dallas59
Although we don’t know the exact thoughts of chickens ...

Sure we do. Visit any political function of the Democratic Party.

64 posted on 11/04/2006 9:38:50 PM PST by Fatuncle (Of course I'm ignorant. I'm here to learn.)
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To: Dallas59
How Mike stopped worrying and learned to love the hatchet.
65 posted on 11/04/2006 9:41:00 PM PST by Joe Miner
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To: Hildy

Driving on the freeway at night recently, we passed a truck pulling a huge load of little cages. It was dark, but I could just make out the shapes of chickens inside the tiny cages. What struck me was that the night was cold, the truck was driving at 70+ m.p.h. on the freeway, and the cages were completely uncovered. As if it weren't bad enough that the poor things were undoubtedly freezing, the lights and noise of the freeway traffic must have been terrifying. I'm not a vegetarian, but I do think we have a responsibility to treat with respect and kindness the creatures that become our food.


66 posted on 11/04/2006 9:43:11 PM PST by giotto
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To: krinkrayyado
I live in East Texas also - Lake Fork area. I have a tiny chicken farm of my own. I have 11 hens that keep me supplied with eggs and one happy rooster. Chickens are smart enough to know that when I come out to their pen, they are in for a treat. My husband does the daily feeding and gathering, but I come with leftovers like the bottom of the Frito bag or yesterday's rice.

I call out to them as I bring goodies and they go wild. Mr. Chin, the rooster, begins kicking his feet in the dirt and calling back to me. When we first got him, I thought this was aggressive behavior. But as I really watched him, I realized he was calling up the "girls". He makes sure every one of them gets a little treat before he will eat anything. He has it all figured out. Happy girls = happy rooster. Pretty smart after all!

67 posted on 11/04/2006 9:44:08 PM PST by myprecious
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To: nevergore
I for one, welcome our new chicken overlords....

Meet the Queen:


68 posted on 11/04/2006 10:05:07 PM PST by Maven (I can kill you with my brain - "Firefly")
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To: Dallas59
"When will they rise up against us???"

What is the lowest on the pecking order are these Chicken Littles worrying about the chickens rather than watching the road.

69 posted on 11/04/2006 10:15:21 PM PST by jonrick46
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To: flying Elvis

I'm a turkey leg, sweet potato, peas and cranberry sauce guy. I like Spanish food, too. They have a way of finding shrimp that are bigger than your pee-pee.


70 posted on 11/04/2006 10:27:02 PM PST by BobS
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To: Dallas59

Next this yahoo will start litigation against all of the restaurants demanding reparations for all this "slavery." He must have visions of making huge sums of money on this shake down scheme with only the writing of a few threatening letters. Not!


71 posted on 11/04/2006 10:27:24 PM PST by jonrick46
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To: Eagles6
If God had not meant for animals to be eaten, He wouldn't have made them out of meat. (BTW, yours is good, too. I hope you don't mind if I use it without your consent)

I've heard that "long pig" meat tastes a bit like pork, and that it was a major source of protein for the Aztecs. All those priests on top of stepped pyramids cutting out hearts and tumbling the dead down the steps wasn't just for ritual effect. The tumbling acted as a meat tenderizer.
72 posted on 11/04/2006 11:56:29 PM PST by caveat emptor
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To: Dallas59

I'll never forget the time that chicken stole Al Gore's pencil.


73 posted on 11/05/2006 2:31:00 AM PST by rogue yam
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To: Hildy
I ain't saying I won't eat them, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM ALL TIED UP LIKE THAT BEFORE THEY DIE. Geez.

It is not high on my list of things to worry about. And these people make themselves look stupid when they talk about chickens "worrying", but we should still treat sentient creatures humanely. Just because we non-PETA types do not worship animals as holy and untouchable for food or even pet purposes, doesn't mean we have to buy into the raw industrial model either. If it's wrong to pull wings off of moths but not to squish them, and it is, a somewhat more sentient form should meet his end without being trussed up for a long truck ride. However, trying to regulate it is will cause more problems than it solves. I for one would be willing to pay a bit extra a pound for a humanely treated chicken.(Do note, they do not care about being crowded together, I just can't imagine being tied up is comfortable.)
74 posted on 11/05/2006 5:00:09 AM PST by sittnick (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: Dallas59
“that’s nothing but a slave ship.”

What a twit, you don't eat slaves.

I prefer to call it "meals on wheels"..........

75 posted on 11/05/2006 5:07:55 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (I was just thirteen, you might say I was a musical proverbial knee-high...)
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To: Dallas59
"Chickens Worry About Being Slaves"

Silly Chickens. They should be more concerned about becoming somebody's dinner.

76 posted on 11/05/2006 5:22:36 AM PST by meyer (Kerry - the voice of true democRAT feelings. Vote them out!)
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To: Dallas59

I for one, welcome our new chicken overlords....


77 posted on 11/05/2006 7:28:17 AM PST by nevergore (“It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.”)
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To: NonValueAdded
It's a shame they made them out of food, then.

Thank you. Thank you for a sit-back-in-the-chair-and-laugh-long-and-loud punchline. I work at night, and I thought of your line and burst out laughing a half dozen times before dawn. That is a perfect comeback to a PETA rant. Complete rejection of their argument, and total intransigence about your own point of view, all in one succinct observation.

Lovely!

78 posted on 11/05/2006 3:21:08 PM PST by Fatuncle (Of course I'm ignorant. I'm here to learn.)
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To: Dallas59

At the same Web site, Nature's Corner, there is an article about Animal Psychics:

"Over my many years of professional metaphysical experience, I have been privy to a variety of examples of the 'human/animal' spiritual connection. Sharing these stories might be entertaining; but helping YOU deal with your own 'encounters' on a one-to-one basis may provide a far better 'learning forum' for us all."

"Most metaphysically trained practitioners believe that animals too, have a soul. It is my personal opinion that their souls have different properties and a separate ‘set of rules and regulations’ than our own. But yet their souls are similar, in that they too grow, learn, spiritually advance, incarnate, reincarnate and 'bond' to each other and to us on their 'journey' through existence. What I am able to do in many cases is 'crack into that code,' and then 'tap into the information encoded in the trip/exchange.' This is done in an attempt to assist in any way that I can, when given the opportunity through the 'sharing process,' which I pick up on through my psychic ability."

PSYCHIC ANIMAL CONNECTION SHARING
"Here now begins that sharing process with all of you and your 'psychic animal encounters.' What I need, ideally, is a picture of the animal, preferably against a light colored and uncluttered background. The photo should be as 'close up' as possible and containing a shot of the eyes. Pictures can only be returned if a self addressed, stamped envelope is included. Digital pictures emailed are the best as several shots can be sent."

Yeah, I think we need to worry about chickens worrying.


79 posted on 11/05/2006 3:26:20 PM PST by Silly
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To: Joe Miner
"Then the determined bird shook off the traumatic event and never looked back"

Thanks for a great laugh!

80 posted on 11/05/2006 3:36:51 PM PST by Silly
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