Chickens. They’re human. Well, almost. At the very least they deserve to be treated humanely

YOU might think chickens are pointless, stupid birds who deserve to live in cages. You’d be very clucking wrong. Here’s your proof.

THEY are a staple on everyone’s dinner plate and their unfertilised eggs are a popular breakfast snack.

But there’s more to the humble chicken than a bit of leg, breast and poached eggs. In fact, the humble chook is probably more like us than you realise.

Sound a little eggstreme? Not according to a study in Scientific American which found our feathered friends are smarter than we realise. Not only can they be deceptive and cunning, but chooks possess communication skills on par with some primates. Yes, chickens talk. Chickens do lots of stuff.

This fine flock provides most of the free range eggs for Sydney’s Castle Hill RSL. We salute Castle Hill RSL for their initiative.

The people at Animals Australia know this, and that’s why they’re on a mission to rescue 150,000 battery hens from their caged hell. So far they’re up to 130,000 emancipated hens and counting.

We thought we’d show them a bit of a solidarity by spreading some of the chicken facts from their website, as well as throwing in a few of our own.

Begeeerk!

22 reasons why chickens are people too

1. They have personalities

Some hens are reserved, other more outgoing, and then there are the ones who get into a flap over the smallest things.

2. They have mates

The bird is capable of recognising the faces of up to 100 other chickens. Most of our mates would struggle to recognise us after a few beers at the pub.

3. They’re curious

Even if they sometimes leave you feeling a little hen-pecked.

To be fair to this poor confused bird, those old blue jeans are a little seedy.

4. They’re more colourful than you think

Chickens can actually see colour way better than humans.

5. They can solve problems

Chickens have excellent cognitive ability and will miss something if it’s taken away, just like children can.

6. They love a cuddle.

Any time of the day.

And their feathers are soooo soft.

7. They have dignity

Hens like to nest and lay eggs in private. Because they’re “laydies”.

8. They even talk to their babies like we do

Hens talk to their young while still in the shell, and the little ones chirp back. Naaaw.

9. They get on OK with cats

Except when they try to eat the cat’s dry biscuits. Then things can get ugly.

Stay out of my way kitty and we’ll get along fine.

10. They have super duper defence mechanisms

Hens vary their calls depending on whether a predator or threat is in the air or on the ground.

11. They’re neat freaks

Chickens love a good dust bath. It’s how they clean themselves, and it’s one of the main reasons that cages are so cruel for them.

12. They love exercise

Chickens flourish when allowed to roam in the open. Sadly, battery hens are at much higher risk of broken bones which become weak from inactivity.

For the record, the red thing atop a chicken’s head is called the comb and it helps them cool down. Don’t say you never learn anything on this website.

13. They’re sun worshippers.

Chickens love lying in the sun and airing their feathers. This behaviour also helps kill tiny mites, and is yet another reason why the cage environment is so brutally cruel.

14. Chickens love the great outdoors

They’ll cluck around in almost any weather. Tragically, most farm hens will only see the outside world when they are sent to slaughter.

15. And the great indoors

When Ant’s chicken decides it wants to sleep under a table, it sleeps under a table. End of discussion.

Quick tip. If planning to allow chook to stay overnight, lay newspaper down first. Alternatively buy chicken nappies. Yes they are a thing.

16. They have super powers

Their beaks are not just for food. They also act as powerful receptors packed with sensory nerves.

17. They’re movers and shakers

A hen’s natural movement is to stretch her wings and flap and perch. They’re also better flyers than you think.

18. When you say jump, they say “how high, begeerk!”

Just like this.

19. They can live long lives

Our humble feathered friends can live up to around 12 years, according to Animals Australia, but egg-laying caged hens usually only live up to 18 months.

20. It doesn’t cost that much to give them a bit of love

An extra ten cents an egg. That’s all it costs you to change the world for chickens. Buying free range eggs is one of the simplest ways you can help phase out cruel cage farming.

21. They’re amazing communicators

Who use up to 24 different clucks to tell you their seed bowl needs topping up and that the cat is getting on their nerves.

These future egg-layers are auditioning for the new series of The Spachelor.

22. They can empathise when other birds are in danger

The question is, can we?

If you want to know more about caged chickens and maybe even donate to help make caged eggs history, click here.