Do chickens have feelings?
That’s the question posed by Backyard Chickens Magazine and the answer is duh.
They’re emotional wrecks, are chickens. They’re scatty and fearful; they mourn the missing, they cheer when you come around the corner. They’re the most emotional animals I’ve ever interacted with. And they have real, discoverable language for all of it, too.
It’s heartbreaking to watch Sam pecking around the garden and calling to his friends when he finds something tasty.
There’s no one to come.
Posted: April 16th, 2026 under personal.
Comments: 11
Comments
Comment from Anonymous
Time: April 16, 2026, 6:30 pm
🎵Sam takes you down to his coop near the barn
You can see the badgers go by, snuffling in the garden
And you know that he’s just a chicken but that’s why you wanna be there
And so you feed him special bird food that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell him that you have no love to give him
Then he gets you on his wavelength
And you let the chicken talk to you and tell you that you’re crazy
For you’re conversing with a chicken with your mind🎵
I suppose I should apologize to Leonard Cohen who wrote the song Suzanne.
Comment from Mark Matis
Time: April 16, 2026, 7:55 pm
So get him an Indio Gigante to keep him company.
Should be able to keep Mr. Fox under control…
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:15 pm
Here’s a more realistic and practical question.
Do people who don’t know if chickens have feelings have feelings?
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:17 pm
Heck, even cold-blooded crocodiles have feelings. Just look how they grin!
Comment from Bob Mulroy
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:32 pm
Think outside the BAUCKS! He needs a new chicken friend.
Comment from Deborah HH
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:39 pm
I can’t help thinking about a children’s book titled “The Last Chicken.” Written and illustrated by the world’s best chicken artist.
Comment from Bob Mulroy
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:42 pm
OOOOF!
I went and priced those gigantes, and NOPE!
You can get some Brahmas or Jersey Giants for earth prices.
Comment from QuasiModo
Time: April 16, 2026, 8:45 pm
Aww, poor Sam…get him some more friends.
Comment from Mark Matis
Time: April 17, 2026, 12:02 pm
Yeah, Bob Mulroy, but can you imagine an English fox trying to get her OTHER chicken and then running into his Indio Gigante buddy???
Comment from Jon
Time: April 17, 2026, 4:22 pm
I followed an artist recently and they had a campaign against caging chickens. I was curious what your thoughts were, as a chicken connoisseur.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: April 17, 2026, 4:32 pm
I’m certainly all for roomy chicken runs. In fact, I’ve half explored chicken toys – it doesn’t take much to amuse a chicken. But completely free range chickens wouldn’t last long here. Most of the chickens I’ve lost over the years have disappeared while free ranging.
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