Today I’m sharing 5 fun facts about chickens. I never knew before I had my own backyard flock what amazing and complex animals chickens are. Owning chickens contains a lifetime of learning. I could study these amazing creatures my whole life and still not know everything there is to know about them.

1) Chickens are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetable matter! Chickens enjoy protein in the form of insects and even the occasional small rodent. They also eat greens, grains, and seeds.

2) Chickens have amazing vision. They have one eye which is monocular and one eye which is binocular. They can see a 300 degree panoramic view. They can also see ultra violet. This excellent vision helps protect them from predators.

3) Chickens have unique sleep abilities and can rest one side of their brain at a time. Each eye is attached to a different side of their brain. It is possible for a chicken to be alert with one open eye while simultaneously resting the other side of their brain with the other eye closed.

4) Chickens can remember 100 faces both animal and human. They know every member of their flock and they remember you and your other pets too! They have the capacity for both short and long term memory.

5) Your lead hen is often the last hen in at night because she waits until the entire flock has roosted before taking her place. She is likely the smartest hen, teaching other chickens her skills through example. She is also often the first to eat in most situations. Chickens have a complex social order and each member of your flock plays an important role.

I hope you enjoyed these chicken facts! Don’t stop here! Keep learning and growing to be the best backyard chicken keeper possible! If you haven’t already, check out our YouTube channel and join our flock!