Chickens can Blush When they Feel Emotions, and it’s Worth Noting

Some chickens not only express their dissatisfaction with a disgruntled squawk but also exhibit blushing when they are suddenly picked up. According to a recent study, similar to humans, this reddening of the facial skin in chickens signifies an aroused emotional reaction.

Previous studies have shown that facial redness can signify arousal states in birds such as macaws and vultures. Building on this, Delphine Soulet, an ethologist from the University of Tours, and her team investigated whether this trait also serves as an indicator of emotional states in chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

Observing chickens across a spectrum of scenarios

Researchers observed six Sussex hens in various scenarios, including natural situations and controlled activities like dustbathing and being fed mealworms, as well as fear-inducing events like being captured and restrained.

By analyzing thousands of still images captured during these scenarios and employing a specialized algorithm, the researchers assessed the degree of redness in the chickens’ comb, cheek, earlobe, and wattle (the hanging skin flaps beneath the chin).

“While our findings are preliminary due to the small sample size,” explain Soulet and her team, “they suggest that reduced redness in the cheek and earlobes may indicate states of calmness and contentment.” Conversely, heightened facial redness seemed to correspond with increased emotional arousal, such as excitement during encounters with favored foods or fear.

Gradual exposure to human presence

In addition, over a five-week period, 13 Sussex hens were gradually exposed to the presence of a researcher, while another 12 were left undisturbed. “Habituated hens exhibited significantly lower fearfulness and facial skin redness in the presence of humans compared to non-habituated hens in the reactivity to human test,” note the researchers.

“We suggest that alterations in facial skin redness indicate variations in emotional states and can serve as a marker for evaluating the quality of the human-hen relationship.”

With further investigation, facial redness could emerge as a valuable indicator of chicken welfare. It may also aid in interpreting social dynamics and hierarchies among individual birds—an aspect the researchers are eager to delve into.

Despite being as cognitively, emotionally, and socially complex as many other birds and mammals, chickens are often misperceived as unintelligent.

Human Influence on Chicken Evolution

Humans have influenced the evolution of chickens from wild junglefowl to domesticated poultry, a process likely spanning thousands of years.

Throughout history, chickens have not only provided sustenance for billions but have also contributed to agriculture by fertilizing crops, controlling insect populations, and even offering companionship and emotional support. It seems only fitting that we strive to understand them better.

As articulated in The Little Prince: “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

Recognizing how animals express emotions is a crucial step toward gaining insight into their level of consciousness, as emphasized by Soulet and her team in their research.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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