Chickens can recognize more than 100 faces from their species. Who knew their memories could rival that of elephants?

Chickens can recognize more than 100 faces from their species. Who knew their memories could rival that of elephants? 

They tell each other what they see. More than 24 vocalisations are used by chickens to communicate. These include warning friends about predators and letting mothers know if they're okay.

Chickens are equipped with pain receptors that allow them to feel distress and pain. Imagine their pain when they are forced to endure brutal mutilations, such as the cutting of their sensitive beaks with an infra red laser. This is without any painkillers. 

Hens protect their young against predators. 

Chickens love to run and jump, and billions of them live in sheds that have less space than an A4 sheet of paper. 

Like us, chickens have dreams. They may experience rapid eye movement (REM) in their sleep. This could indicate that their minds are wandering away from the factory farms, where they are held. 

They eat grass like spaghetti. You read that correctly! 

Wild chickens only lay approximately 10 to 15 eggs per year during the breeding season. Many hens that are raised by the egg industry to produce eggs daily often have painful reproductive disorders and exhaustion after only a few years. 

Research shows that chickens are smarter than toddlers. Hens can demonstrate mathematical reasoning, self control and even structural engineering. 

Chickens know who is boss. Like us, chickens form social structures called "pecking orders", which are used to identify where they stand on the ladder. Their social hierarchy collapses when they are packed into intensive farms with tens to thousands of birds. This is when feather-pecking, cannibalism and stress begin. 

The origins of chickens are from tropical rainforests where they have evolved over millions of years. Artificial farm pastures can leave hens feeling vulnerable. 

The origins of chickens are from tropical rainforests where they have evolved over millions of years. Artificial farm pastures can leave hens feeling vulnerable. 

Research shows that chickens can survive predator attacks 90% of the time if they are in their natural environment. 

T.rex is the closest living relative of chickens. Although not as frightening, the T. rex is close living relatives! 

To attract hens, roosters will perform a dance called "tidbitting". This involves moving their heads up or down and making a specific type of call. Large wattles are thought to attract female hens. 

Chickens have an ability to understand object permanence. This means that even if an object is hidden it remains. This ability is not available to children younger than five years old. 

Mother hens speak to their unborn children, and they chirp through their shells. Factory-farmed chicks don't get to meet their parents, as they are removed as soon as they're laid. 

They can use the sun to navigate, which allows them to find food and water as well as knowing when it is. However, many chickens that are raised to eat meat and eggs will not see the sun through their dark sheds. 

Chickens love to take dust baths and can become very frustrated at factory farms if they aren’t able clean themselves properly. Bathing is a great way to keep your feathers insulated and prevent parasites. 

Wild chickens can survive in their natural environment for up to five to eleven years. Chickens that are raised for meat are usually killed at 41 days of age. For "free-range" birds this time period is 56 days. Usually, male chicks that are born to the egg industry are killed right away.