A study was conducted by Bristol university in which they played pop, rock, classical or silence in nestboxes and monitored the laying chickens' preferences. They found that the chickens were much more likely to lay in the 'musical boxes', and that they had a slight preference for the classical music.
The general consensus among various research groups is that chickens favor classical music. However, in 2004 a group of researchers in Spain found that laying hens exposed to Mozart's String Quartets K428 and K458 became more fearful than hens in a control group.
Bonding through music
Did you know chickens enjoy music? Whether it's grooving to guitar, strutting to salsa or relaxing to reggae, play some outdoor music and spend time bonding with your flock. Crank tunes during backyard chores or simply play music when enjoying the day with your feathered friends.
Mirrors: Adding reflective objects to the coop will entertain chickens as they watch or chase the dancing lights or interact with their own reflections. Hanging old CDs or small mirrors out of chickens' reach is a good option, or mount a sturdy mirror to a pole or post where they can see it.
``If a chicken is stressed it will go off the lay. ``And classical music definitely has a more calming effect on them than rock music. ''
Chickens do respond to music. Now while your chooks can't actually carry a tune, these fine feathery music lovers have the egg-straordinary capability of appreciating the lilting notes of a pleasing melody! Research has actually shown that chickens enjoy music!
Chickens get angry and frustrated, just like we do. Our 'Chicken Shrink', psychologist Dr Nicola Davies, explores the reasons behind these emotions, how they are displayed, and what solutions are available.
Egg eating, feather pecking, aggression, even depression - standing still staring into space, for example - are all examples of what can happen if chickens can't express natural behaviours(1,2). Providing boredom busters can help lessen the problems.
Hanging an empty plastic bottle with holes poked in it is another free idea. Filled with food, these toys for chickens will encourage them to scratch and peck to get the food to come out. Boxes of shredded paper or leaves with poultry food hidden inside will encourage foraging as well.
Chickens can recognise up to 100 faces
These faces included those of humans! Chickens even remember positive or negative experiences with the faces they recognise and pass that information on to members of their flocks.
Many chicks will need to bond with you before they are okay with being handled, and some chicks will never be okay with being handled. Part of loving an animal is respecting her preference not to be touched. The best way to bond with your chicks is to spend lots of time with them. Always talk to them gently.
There are several benefits of having chickens – they keep the backyard clean by eating bugs, and they produce fresh eggs. They also make great companions because they don't require a lot of attention, but will still follow you around the yard and lay on your lap when you sit down.
Chickens require entertainment as well, not just for their happiness, but for their overall health. A lack of stimulation can lead to physical and behavioral issues for these birds, such as bullying, obesity, and feather pulling.
It's not uncommon to hear a chicken scream when it sees someone it loves. This is actually a sign that it's happy you're there. Your flock may also express their love through coos and other soft noises when they're near you and content.
However, when they spot a treat, they will start to run. Cuddling is one of their favorite activities. In fact, they are known to seek their owners out when they want attention. One of the most child-friendly breeds of chicken, they will tolerate almost anything.
Chickens love to cuddle and they love to get hugs too! I have many chickens that like to sit on my lap and cuddle. Some of them even try to push one chicken off my lap so they can get up and get some cuddling and attention. Now all chickens are like that.
Gather old lemon peels, lime peels, or orange peels. Scatter them around the perimeter of your garden and in between separate plant beds. You can also try spraying the ground with lemon juice or lime juice. Use the juice instead of or in conjunction with the citrus peels.
Like most animals, chickens can get bored. Just because an animal is well fed, has water, and a nice home doesn't mean they can't get bored (just ask my kids…).
Hens should never be fed food scraps that contain anything high in fat or salt, and do not feed them food that is rancid or spoiled. Specific types of food that hens should not be fed include raw potato, avocado, chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus fruits, uncooked rice or uncooked beans [2].
Shiny, kid safe mirrors can interest the birds for a while. Make sure that they won't attack it hard enough to break it. You can coat plastic rings of keys with peanut butter and toss them to the flock, or hang them from a low spot for the birds to peck at. Set up plastic kiddie gyms for the chickens to play with.
Chickens drink little and often and will work it out for themselves. When they're thirsty, they drink. When they need liquid to moisten food so it doesn't form undigestible clumps in the crop, they drink. When they need water to cool down on a hot day, they drink.
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.
Whilst cats and dogs are happy for humans to replace their pack, chickens are not quite the same. They do recognise and bond with their owners, but they will still get lonely without other chickens, which can cause stress and shorten their lifespan as well as affecting egg-laying.
Because chickens are attracted to the color red, many retailers make chicken feeders and waterers red to attract the chickens to them. What is this?