When you look at a group of chickens at the farm, what do you see about them? Are chickens "impassive by nature" or do they have social life like human beings? Do chickens develop their self-identity, personality, and behaviors?
Karen Davis, PhD and her chickensRead the article
"Social Life of Chickens and the Mental States I Believe They Have and Need in Order to Participate in the Social Relationships I Have Observed,"
written by Karen Davis, PhD.
"Social Life of Chickens and the Mental States I Believe They Have and Need in Order to Participate in the Social Relationships I Have Observed,"
written by Karen Davis, PhD.
After reading Karen Davis's article, does it make you wonder about how chickens are treated and killed for food? Do meat eaters regard chickens as inferiors compared to other animals because it seems they are brainless birds clucking around with nothing else better to do. If people stop putting chickens in small cages to be slaughtered for food, would more people realize chickens have personalities and social behaviors like human beings?
Would it be better for the environment if human beings develop symbiotic relationship with chickens? Would less chickens be killed for food? What can we benefit from raising chickens not just only for food? Read Robin Ripley's Eight Benefits of Raising Backyard Chickens.
Robin Ripley even agrees with Karen Davis that every chicken has a personality. What about you? Feel free to leave a comment.
Thank you Katherine for sharing Karen Davis's article with us.
Thanks for posting, Anthony! One of the greatest and inspirational articles I have read.
ReplyDeleteThis is the reason why I can't go to sleep or live with myself when not doing my part to end the mistreatment and slaughter of animals, be it for meat or skin. One of many good reasons for vegetarianism is to be their voice.
I always believe there is something about the animals we do not know. This article is just one of few that is coming out to educate the public with their findings.
Someone, who I befriended years ago, told me she was a vegetarian. I asked her what made her become one. She said she lived on a farm with her family. There was a calf born and they both became very close. The calf/cow would follow her to the school bus in front of her home everyday to see her go and would be there in front waiting for her when she gets back. One day, she got home and didn't see the cow. She went looking for him and couldn't find him. Her father told her the cow has been slaughtered. She was so heartbroken and never saw the meat the same way anymore.
what an inspirational post!!! i haven't been able to shake this outta my mind, been talking about how fun it would be to have hens!!! i found a very useful site - to find out laws re: having chickens in your area as well as other things. "the city chicken"
ReplyDeletehttp://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html
I enjoyed reading the article too!
ReplyDeleteFunny how recently I answered a list of survey questions and one of the survey questions asked if I am a bird watcher. I answered that I am not a bird watcher by the definition but I enjoy watching a group of chickens. All these years, I found chickens very similar to humans. I guess it is because there are usually so many of them in one setting and how easy it is to observe the social life of chickens. I was happy to read the Social Life of Chickens.
What if the food chain gets larger and we're no longer on the top of the chains? Will we become "chickens" to aliens that eat us. It might not happen in our lifetime, but I wouldn't be surprised if that ever occurred in the future.
Buffalo, NY allows people raise a couple of chickens in their backyards. We cannot raise roosters for "safety reasons." The city feels roosters are too violent. I don't see that reason at all!
Raychelle, thank you for the City Chicken link! I found the website very interesting! Go for it!
Katherine, Poor cow!!! Poor vegetarian girl! That is a heart wrenching story to read!
After reading this article, it made me feel guilty about the chicken(s) I ate. It made me realize how cruel is it to be raised, fed, fattened and then killed for their meat. Same with cows, which is even more brutal since instead of waiting for them to die, we kill them or otherwise, their meat will be a lot less consumable.
ReplyDeleteI am really considering going vegan. Thanks Anthony for raising that issue.
Cheers,
Valerie
"Someone, who I befriended years ago, told me she was a vegetarian. I asked her what made her become one. She said she lived on a farm with her family. There was a calf born and they both became very close. The calf/cow would follow her to the school bus in front of her home everyday to see her go and would be there in front waiting for her when she gets back. One day, she got home and didn't see the cow. She went looking for him and couldn't find him. Her father told her the cow has been slaughtered. She was so heartbroken and never saw the meat the same way anymore. "
ReplyDelete-Wow! This story is really touching.. I never believed that animals can create a kind of friendship with people such as this. Not until now that I've read this story.
I hope that those people who are non-vegetarians would consider going vegan right now (after reading this post).
ReplyDeleteVegetables (and fruits) are much healthier than meat. Also, isn't it a little disgusting when you think of it? Picture yourself being a farmer. You raise a cow, take care of its needs, only to be taken away to be butchered, and later, to be served as food. Are you willing to eat that meat that probably came from your own cow?
Think about it.
Robert - Solar Pool Covers