INTRODUCTION
The history surrounding chicken intelligence is relatively new. Researchers have primarily focused on the cognitive abilities of mammals such as dolphins and chimpanzees. However , recent studies within the last few years by Siobhan Abeyesinghe, Rosa Rugani, and Giorgio Vallortigara have shed light on the intelligence of chickens.
These studies are important because they raise awareness on the intelligence and cognitive abilities of chickens.
These animals are emotional, individualistic, and intelligent, capable of feeling emotion and pain. If chickens are intelligent and socially aware it raises ethical questions about their treatment in factory farms. Carl Safina’s book raises questions about human’s continuous denial of animal intelligence: “Why do human egos seem so threatened by the thought that other animals think and feel? Is it because acknowledging the mind of another makes it harder to abuse them?” (269). Humans often view chickens as unintelligent animals, however this paper will attempt to make people aware of chicken’s intelligence which will lead to the questioning of their treatment in factories.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2019 there were approximately 69 billion chickens slaughtered 2019 .Chickens also known as Gallus gallus domesticus have long been depicted as unintelligent and clueless animals. However, recent studies show that chickens are indeed cognitively intelligent and exhibit self-control, numerical abilities, and object permanence. In this literature review I will present recent research that shows the intelligence and cognitive abilities of chickens. The goal of this paper is to help break the barrier that humans have created between themselves and animals. In the TIME article by Jeffrey Kluger, he states ‘Our dodge-a not reasonable one-has always been that animals are ours to do as we please simply because they don’t suffer the way we do. They don’t think, not in any meaningful way… But one by one, the berms we’ve built between ourselves and the beast are being washed away” (10). In many ways chickens have the same basic and fundamental cognitive abilities that are present in humans and primates.
Photo by Farm Sanctuary
CHICKEN INTELLIGENCE AND FACTORY FARMING
LITERATURE REVIEW
“Can domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus show self-control?” is a 2005 research article published by the head author, Siobhan Abeyesinghe, that showed that chickens have self control. In the experiment the researchers created an apparatus with two colored keys to simulate two choices. For the first choice the chickens had a 2 to 3 second delay for a small amount of food, however if the chickens pecked the second key they had a 22 second delay for a higher reward called the “jackpot”. Abeyesinghe found that the chickens frequently pecked the second key, which offered a higher reward. This suggests that the chickens showed signs of significant and pronounced self-control.
Self control is an important aspect of cognition and intelligence. According to Abeyesinghe “Self-control can be broadly defined as the ability to resist immediate gratification for a later benefit and may be associated with the development of self-awareness” (2). In the study the chickens were able to distinguish between different future outcomes, which suggest they are capable of basic reason and logic. In addition, they are able to anticipate the future because they expect that they will be rewarded more food if they wait. In addition to having self control researchers have also found that chickens have numerical abilities or the ability to perform basic math.
“Arithmetic in newborn chicks” is a research article published by Rosa Rugani which concluded that chicks can perform basic arithmetic. In the experiment the researchers put five objects, Kinder Surprise eggs, behind opaque screens while the chick was watching. Three objects were placed behind the right opaque screen and the remaining 2 were behind the left opaque screen. After the objects were placed, the chick was released and the researchers found that they were more likely to look behind the screen with 3 objects. The researchers then conducted another experiment where they transferred the object from one screen to another in front of the chick. When the chick was released it still looked behind the screen with more objects. This required the young chicks to have some concept of addition and subtraction because they were able to trace the amount of objects transferred and consistently chose the screen with more objects. Rugani performed the same experiment on 19 different chicks 20 times and the chicks frequently chose to look behind the screen with more objects. Rosa concluded that the “results suggest impressive proto-arithmetic capacities in the young and relatively inexperienced chicks of this precocial species” (1).
This source relates to the following source because Giorgio Vallortigara is a contributing author for both research articles. Rosa Rugani includes Vallortigara in the references at the end of the article. Similarly both explore the idea of object permanence in baby chickens, which will be the main topic we explore next.
“Intuitive physical reasoning about occluded objects by inexperienced chicks'' by Giorgio Vallortigara and Cinzia Chiandetti concluded that chickens understand and comprehend the concept of object permanence, which shows signs of cognition and intelligence. Vallortigara describes the concept of object permanence as the ability to understand that objects exist even when they cannot be seen. In the experiment an object, a small red plastic cylinder, was placed behind either one of two opaque screens. After the object was hidden behind one of the opaque screens the chick was allowed to look for the object, which was one behind of the two screens. According to Vallortigara the “chicks consistently chose the screen of slant/height/width compatible with the presence of the object” (1). His study concluded that “chicks show object permanence conception and inferences about object physical properties of imprinting objects and occluding screens at a very precocial age, when their chances to have learnt object properties are, if any, extremely reduced” (5). The chick’s ability to understand object permanence is significant because human babies exhibit this object behavior after about 14 weeks of age.
Discussion of Philosophical/Ethical Questions
In conclusion, chickens are much more cognitively aware and intelligent than humans perceive them to be. These studies reviewed in this literature review are important because it will raise awareness and may lead to more humane treatment of chickens in factory farms. Humans often regard themselves as a higher status compared to animals, in many ways they have created an artificial boundary between themselves and animals. Dr. Richard Ryder describes this way of thinking as “speciesism”, which is the prejudice against other species that are not human. This way of thinking is limited because according to Ryder, scientific evidence shows that animals experience pain because they have similar nervous systems and biochemicals compared to us. Overall, my hope is that you will reconsider your views on chickens and perceive them as intelligent animals capable of emotion and cognitive skills similar to mammals and even humans.
Definition of the Problem
Although it is evident that chickens show signs of cognition and intelligence they have been victims of a number of issues including slaughter, abnormal growth, overcrowding, and battery cages. All of these issues stem from a major issue that chickens face today, known as factory farming. According to the ASPCA factory farms describe an “industrial facility that raises large numbers of farm animals in intensive confinement where their movement is extremely inhibited.” Factory farming is a system designed to maximize profits, with no sentiment towards the well being of chickens and other animals. It is estimated by the USDA that in 2018 over 9 billion chickens were slaughtered in the United States alone. Many times these chickens are placed into overcrowded and stressful environments. According to Farm Sanctuary, an organization which advocates for farm animals, as many as 20,000 chickens are packed into a tight space. In their short life span chickens in factory farms live in a space smaller than an 8.5 by 11 piece of paper. This limited space and overcrowding in cages often causes broken bones.
“The Problem of Broken Bones during the Handling of Laying Hens - A Review” is a literature review published by Poultry Science. The author, Toby G Knowles, is a Professor of Farming and Food Science at Bristol University. In the article, Knowles reviews the issue of broken bones prior to chickens being slaughtered. The author claims that the number of broken bones in live birds prior to slaughter is “unacceptably high”. Knowles concludes that the number of broken bones can be reduced if factory farms better designed the housing system and the physical environment.
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Another issue surrounding factory farming is the abnormal and unnatural growth that chickens experience. Broiler chickens, another name for a chicken raised for meat production, are genetically modified so that their growth rate is faster. According to World Animal Protection chickens in factory farms can gain approximately 50 grams per day. This dramatic growth rate can have severe consequences on the chicken’s health. For example, many times chickens experience health issues related to the lungs, heart, and legs.
Photo by Joel Sartor for National Geographic Photo Ark
Another article titled, “The Relationship between Physical Activity and Leg Health in the Broiler Chicken” is a study published by the British Poultry Science. The author, Louise Sherlock, discusses the relationship between physical activity and leg health in the broiler chicken. In the article, he concludes that the increased growth rate that broiler chickens experience leads to significant leg health.
SOLUTION
Social media is a viable platform to raise awareness on the treatment of chickens and other animals in factory farms. The image on the left is an infographic posted on Twitter which includes statistics and issues about the treatment of chickens in factory farms. The purpose of the infographic is to raise awareness about the unethical treatment of chickens. Social media is an effective way to raise awareness and spread knowledge about issues that often don’t not receive much attention. Another way to help is by supporting the organizations mentioned previously. Organizations such as Farm Sanctuary and AWI rescues and advocates for chickens and other farm animals.
infographic
Although this Advocacy Essay focuses on chicken factory farms, this is a system that plagues many animals such as cows, pigs, turkeys, and fish. It not only affects the animals but it also affects the environment. A simple solution proposed by the AWI (Animal Welfare Institute) is to simply eat less meat and eggs. The ASPCA is currently working on a solution by cooperating with companies that encourage higher-welfare practices. In addition, they propose companies to obtain a certificate that requires adequate space, natural lighting, and the enrichment of birds.
A possible solution proposed by the ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is to support higher welfare eggs and meat. Higher welfare meat ensures that the chickens are given enough space and their environment encourages natural behavior unlike the conditions in factory farms. Oftentimes these foods are associated with small family farmers, which are more likely to raise their chickens at a higher standard.
Another possible solution is to spread awareness and become a well-informed individual. According to AWI factory farms have a significant effect on the environment, with 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions being attributed to animal agriculture. It is also important to hold large companies accountable for the mistreatment of chickens and other factory farms. The organization Mercy For Animals carries out undercover investigations into factory farms, and found that Costco and KFC exploit the treatment of chickens and other animals to increase production. In addition, it is important to be aware of the labels on meats and eggs. Oftentimes the labels inform the consumer about how the factory farms animals are treated and it is important to choose the right animal welfare certifications.
Although these are all notable and promising solutions, the best solution right now is to support legislation at the local, state, and federal level that opposes the expansion of factory farming. According to the ASPCA there are no federal laws that regulate and protect farm animals. Despite this it is important to know that there has been significant progress within the last few years. For example, a major milestone that Farm Sanctuary achieved was the passing of Prop 2 in California on November 2, 2008, which bans confinement systems such as battery cages, veal crates, and gestation crates. Farm Sanctuary is an organization that is leading the fight against factory farming, and advocating for farm animals such as chickens. Their goal is “combat the abuses of factory farming, advocate for institutional reforms, and encourage a new awareness and understanding of farm animals and the benefits of cruelty-free, plant-based living.” In a more recent case, Farm Sanctuary and AWI sued the USDA on August 13, 2020 for “refusing to protect birds from systemic mistreatment and callous abuse, which results in the sale of “adulterated” (damaged or contaminated) products that violate the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA).” The lawsuit is an ongoing investigation but it is a step in the right direction to place restrictions on factory farming.
WORKS CITED
Abeyesinghe, S. M., Nicol, C. J., Hartnell, S. J., & Wathes, C. M. (2005). Can domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus, show self-control? Animal Behaviour,70 (1), 1-11.
Chiandetti, Cinzia, and Giorgio Vallortigara. “Intuitive physical reasoning about occluded objects by inexperienced chicks.” Proceedings. Biological sciences vol. 278,1718 (2011): 2621-7. doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.2381
Kluger, Jeffrey. "Animals Have Brains, but Do They Have Minds? Intelligence." The Animal Mind: What They're Thinking and Feeling, and How to Understand Them. Time Home Entertainment, 2014. Print.
Rugani, Rosa et al. “Arithmetic in newborn chicks.” Proceedings. Biological sciences vol. 276,1666 (2009): 2451-60. doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0044
Vallortigara, Giorgio. “Comparative cognition of number and space: the case of geometry and of the mental number line.” Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences vol. 373,1740 (2017): 20170120. doi:10.1098/rstb.2017.0120
Safina, Carl. Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel. First edition. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2015. Print.
Knowles, Toby. “The Problem of Broken Bones during the Handling of Laying Hens–a Review.” Poultry Science, vol. 77, no. 12, 1998, pp. 1798–1802.
Olkowski, Andrzej. “Pathophysiology of Heart Failure in Broiler Chickens: Structural, Biochemical, and Molecular Characteristics.” Poultry Science, vol. 86, no. 5, 2007, pp. 999–1005., doi:10.1093/ps/86.5.999.
Sherlock, L. “The Relationship between Physical Activity and Leg Health in the Broiler Chicken.” British Poultry Science, vol. 51, no. 1, 2010, pp. 22–30., doi:10.1080/00071660903460637. \