Researchers Studying Chickens To Understand What They’re Trying To Say

[@ammitthedevourer7316]

Not to sound like a) a farmer who thinks it's still 1950 or b) an urban vegan who thinks cheese is cow mucus, but this study probably won't be very accurate. There's a lot of situations these chickens won't be exposed to in concrete and chain-link enclosures. Did you know chickens have different calls for land-based and aerial predators? They also love to "chat" while they forage and will even sing when content (kinda like cats purring). The research would also be missing interactions future chicken parents and their chicks. Most of the data you're going to get here is going to be similar to taking strangers in off the street and insisting they talk and establish a social hierarchy (unless these birds were raised closely with their pen-mates). tl;dr: This is a pretty biased observation setup if I've ever seen one...

[@thomastucker5686]

I offered objection above. This isn't bird friendly science, this is production, profit motive only.

[@lt34102]

Studying birds crammed together in a stressful situation will not give any remotely reasonable representation of their "speech". So many natural events in their lives are missing. How do they communicate with the opposite gender? How do they communicate with their offspring? How do they communicate with the flock? It goes on and on. Obviously, all these researchers are interested in is improving meat production by studying the sounds tortured animals make.

[@808headache]

Spot on. It made me so sad to watch, those chickens are not and will never be happy. They need fresh air and sunlight, and dirt to scratch in, not a dark room crammed with thousands of other chickens. Heartbreaking.

[@HotRossBuns]

I would like to cram 200 of those researchers in a warehouse and see what kind of sounds they make.

[@sonofhibbs4425]

AGREED!

[@chernagast6754]

They might try observing the interactions of small flocks in a free range setting for species baseline instead of distress cries from overengineered animals that can barely walk. The chickens I raise had far superior flavor and meat and very happy lives. Ever seen dark meat on a chicken leg? I have. You won't in the supermarket.

[@MrHouse-tz6is]

I really want to be able to talk to my chickens

[@foureyedpossum4613]

I just wanna understand my chickens, i only reconize one sound. Thats the sound the rooster makes before he kicks dirt in my shoe.

[@jendyson6729]

I keep a small flock that roam during the day on three acres. They constantly talk to one another, what they don't do is constantly lie down like these birds are doing. These birds are kept in such an unnatural way that who knows what information could be gleaned from this 'study'.

[@LEGENDGAMING-qb4qv]

i have small chick 4 weeks that understands my words her mother left her on her own when i call her by her name she does a pic pic sound feels like she is saying yes

[@sonofhibbs4425]

My chickens respond to words I say as well.

[@Celicagamer]

My chickens understand they have a name and what it is because they give each other and YOU a name too! Listen closely when they come up to you they will say your name whatever they’ve named you and a low/quiet (ba-dupp) sound. What one chicken calls you the whole flock will call you. It’s universal! My chicken given name is (bu-buuurr?) it goes up like a question. My girls are so cute!

[@thomastucker5686]

@@Celicagamer I love my one girl. She is my buddy and talks to me all the time.

[@chrischris425]

poor chickens.....

[@anthonymatlak7444]

Any research to help provide comfort to confined birds is welcome.

[@thomastucker5686]

They just said, the fans are so loud, they cannot conversate. The stress levels for these birds in this unnatural environment must be extreme. This isn't science for the benefit of the birds, this is for the benefit of production. This distinction will be missed by many.

[@TheChangeling13]

Yeah... that kind of tech is literally pointless. I'm happy that SOMEONE is trying to help improve the quality of life of these chickens at least. Comparing a living, breathing animal to a non-living thing, that's already a red flag, but then they go on to talk about comparing chicken sounds to human speech. Seriously, you don't need all that heavy duty equipment. You're not going to get anywhere with it. You're better off just sitting around with the birds and observing them. That's how scientists in the animal field usually do it. Yeah, they have heavy equipment for certain things, but mostly they learn by watching, waiting, and learning. The animals will teach you how to read them if you take the time to just listen. Any backyard farmer knows this, so all this research tells me is that no one in factory farms really wants to put in the time. I understand there are a lot of birds coming and going and you can't get to know each and every individual, but most chicken language is pretty universal I'm afraid. I don't think I need to say more that hasn't already been said though.

[@glorbojibbins2485]

Just want to say that those chickens dont look well

[@MadDeuceJuice]

It’s part of the process

[@boukjetijhuis6456]

Animal abuse