Do chickens really experience empathy?
The Country Smallholder|June 2024
This month, Paul Donovan turns his attention to the psychological side of poultry behaviour, and investigates whether hens sense empathy – a trait indicative of mammals.
Paul Donovan
Do chickens really experience empathy?

One of the reasons why I work with animals, and have done almost since leaving school, are the new discoveries which are being made, almost on a daily basis surrounding their biology and natural history. A favourite pastime, is wading through the scientific papers to broaden my knowledge, in the hope I can apply some of those findings to the animals I look after – primarily poultry and goats. I don’t just keep layers for their eggs, but also study their behaviour.

For several years now, I have been contributing articles on poultry behaviour to Practical Poultry magazine, despite most people seeing chickens as being little more than a cheap source of food. During this time, there has been some interesting research undertaken. One particular area of research which has caught my attention of late, is the discovery that chickens can experience empathy. “Empathy!, I hear you cry”. Yes, you read that correctly.

While a great deal of emphasis is placed on the physical welfare of poultry, very little covers the psychological side - the emotional stress when they see others suffering, and how it can impact on their welfare. Fortunately, scientists are now beginning to investigate this sphere of poultry behaviour, with some interesting results.

WHAT IS EMPATHY?

Now, empathy, one of the most complex and integral emotions, is regarded as a form of high emotional intelligence, and is the ability of imagining what someone else may be thinking or feeling, and sensing their emptions/pain, and sharing that experience with them. Empathy can be categorised in different levels, from emotional contagion, to cognitive perspective-taking.

Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin June 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin June 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE COUNTRY SMALLHOLDER DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Share in the therapy sheep experience
The Country Smallholder

Share in the therapy sheep experience

The chance to win one of ten books in a series designed to empower young minds where 'Merlin finds his magic'

time-read
2 dak  |
Spring 2025
What uses are their for cockerels?
The Country Smallholder

What uses are their for cockerels?

In this issue we want to touch on a subject that may ruffle a few feathers, but as a national charity helping 60,000 hens year in and year out we believe the topic merits some hard facts and an appeal for your support as readers of a popular poultry magazine.

time-read
5 dak  |
Spring 2025
All About Grafting - an historic form of propagation
The Country Smallholder

All About Grafting - an historic form of propagation

Lee Senior explains the top technique for gaining increased vigour, disease resistance, yield and speed

time-read
6 dak  |
Spring 2025
Time to get seed sowing
The Country Smallholder

Time to get seed sowing

Kings Seeds give a guide to a flourishing veg patch that starts in spring

time-read
2 dak  |
Spring 2025
Welcome to our feature on alpacas!
The Country Smallholder

Welcome to our feature on alpacas!

We've asked experts to share their knowledge with us on keeping alpacas, their handling and their fleeces.

time-read
3 dak  |
Spring 2025
Getting Your Bees!
The Country Smallholder

Getting Your Bees!

Claire Waring looks at how you can obtain your first colony and become a beekeeper.

time-read
6 dak  |
Spring 2025
The springtime pecking order
The Country Smallholder

The springtime pecking order

Spring brings new life and fresh challenges to the coop. Cara Wheeldon discovers how to smoothly introduce new birds, curb bullying, and keep your flock happy and harmonious with help from expert advice.

time-read
6 dak  |
Spring 2025
Keep the date of Sunday 8th June free for an Open Farm Sunday near you
The Country Smallholder

Keep the date of Sunday 8th June free for an Open Farm Sunday near you

But could you open your smallholding or farm and take part in this event that brings farmers and consumers together?

time-read
2 dak  |
Spring 2025
A wheelbarrow is an essential tool on any smallholding, but what is the best choice for a smallholder?
The Country Smallholder

A wheelbarrow is an essential tool on any smallholding, but what is the best choice for a smallholder?

Wheelbarrows come in all shapes, sizes (and price ranges too). After years of rusted tubs, flat tyres and strained muscles, Hugh and Fiona have distilled the right choice of wheelbarrow into five simple choices.

time-read
4 dak  |
Spring 2025
The Hamburgh, an old British light breed from the North
The Country Smallholder

The Hamburgh, an old British light breed from the North

Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS tells how Yorks and Lancs came together to produce an attractive breed and a useful layer

time-read
2 dak  |
Spring 2025