Aggression and feather pecking or plucking are the two most common behavioral problems in chickens. They may be related and possibly have similar underlying components, including stress, overcrowding, and competition over resources such as food.
Behavioral symptoms of stress
Avoidance of tasks; poor sleep; problems; difficulty in completing work assignments; fidgeting; tremors; strained face; clenching fists; crying; changes in drinking, eating, or smoking behaviors.
Stress can be defined as the physiological response of a bird to a situation that causes it strain or tension, such as overcrowding, too high or too low temperature and/or humidity, and the inability to hide from real or imagined threats. There are two types of stress – physical and psychological.
Stress in chickens can happen as well as humans. Our hens are just like us and from time to time, they suffer from stress too and this can impact on their general wellbeing too.
In addition, studies have shown that loud noises such as found near airports, rail road tracks or loud hydraulic or pneumatic equipment and machinery close to the chickens leads to lower egg production, stunted growth, higher blood pressure, stress and fatigue in the chickens.
Most hens cope well and snooze through the festivities but some hens do suffer from stress and often the shock of loud explosions can stop them from laying or cause shell deformities. In extreme cases, hens have been known to smother other hens in their panic.
Dr. Michael Appleby, one of the world's leading poultry welfare experts, writes: "Battery cages present inherent animal welfare problems, most notably by their small size and barren conditions. Hens are unable to engage in many of their natural behaviors and endure high levels of stress and frustration.
The molting process can be uncomfortable or even painful as new feathers protrude from the skin, and sensitive chickens may become moody, withdrawn, or even aggressive if they are exceptionally stressed.
Healthy chickens are social, curious and should feel energized to freely move throughout the coop, run or backyard. A lack of movement, low head carriage and overall depressed appearance may be a sign that something is wrong.
Alektorophobia is an intense, uncontrollable fear of chickens. People with alektorophobia have excessive fear and anxiety around roosters or hens. They don't feel fear around any other animal or bird (ornithophobia).
Lavender also increases blood circulation so it's especially beneficial to chickens sitting on eggs who don't get up and move around as much as they should. As the hens sit, they will pick at the lavender and eat some, thereby getting the full benefits. Best use: Add fresh or dried to nesting boxes.
Stress over change or fear of travel, excessive playing, and excitement can cause regurgitation. Regurgitation may also be an expression of sexual behavior. For instance, a bird may regurgitate to a mirror, or a favorite toy, or a favorite person. Regurgitation may also be associated with nesting behavior.
Captive parrots exhibit symptoms very similar to Complex PTSD symptoms in humans, including persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, isolation, and distrust. Many rescued parrots are too traumatized to form relationships with humans or other birds at sanctuaries.
Birds will vocalize if they are frightened, bored, lonely, stressed, or unwell. Pet birds often vocalize when people are talking loudly, vacuuming, chatting on the phone, or playing music. They may see these times as appropriate for vocalizing back as part of normal flock behavior.
A CRY OR SCREECH OF FEAR
You'll often hear this when you pick up a bird which is unaccustomed to being caught, and it may continue until you put her down again. A cry of pain is similar to the alarm call but is usually only a single squawk.
What Does It Mean to Fear Long Words? Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Understanding the phobia can help you overcome it and live a fulfilling life. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary, and ironically, it means the fear of long words.
Lavender has the marvellous ability to calm your chickens! It's a brilliant as a relaxant for your feathered friends - and for you as well! So if your hens are a bit highly strung, place some lavender up into their nesting boxes - it'll help calm their senses and give them a bit of DIY aromatherapy.
If your chicken suddenly lunges at you and attacks, you can be pretty sure that you have an angry bird, but aggression isn't always this obvious. A bird will often puff up their feathers and strut about in a threat display when they see a potential threat, as a way of warding it off.
When chickens are stressed they can go off their feed, lay eggs in strange places, or not lay eggs at all. Generally it is usually a fairly large stressor that will stop some of them laying eggs for a while. The following stressors can all cause a temporary halt in egg laying. New additions to the flock.
Chickens tend to make a purring or trilling sound when they are content. They will also make soft sounds as they go about their daily activities. A sick or depressed chicken will make no noise. Alternatively, a chicken in distress will scream and make significant noise.
Chickens react to horrible experiences the way many other animals do: They can sink into a depression and show signs of fear and distress for a long time afterward. I saw this in a friend's flock after a weasel snuck in and killed nearly all of her two dozen hens. Only three of them escaped to the rafters.
Often, chicken behavior problems are simply a chicken attempting to assert the pecking order or protect the flock. Roosters, in particular, act aggressively because they either perceive you as a threat or want to assert themselves as dominant over you.