5 Chicken Myths, BUSTED!
Prior to owning your first chickens, you likely have received a lot of unsolicited advice and expert opinions from other people. Some of what you have heard may be myths which, for whatever reason, continue to be passed down even though the information is far from accurate or simply an opinion. Nothing compares to solid research and lived experience with chickens. I highly advise anyone who is new to chickens or who is thinking about getting their first chickens to read ANY beginner chicken book prior to bringing home your first chickens. Don’t rely solely on online sources or word of mouth for your livestock care information. Your local library and agricultural office are also excellent sources of information about chickens. Here are 5 common chicken myths that need to be busted!
Myth 1 Chickens are dumb. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who has owned their own flock can attest to the problem-solving skills that their chickens possess. Chickens organize themselves in a pecking order which is a complex social structure. They can teach one another skills from chicken to chicken and generation to generation. They have a unique set of vocal calls to communicate with each other. Chickens can be trained and taught tricks! Chickens have even been used by the entertainment industry and taught to play tic-tac-toe. Chickens are highly social, trainable, and intelligent animals.
Myth 2 Chickens lay one egg every day. This is patently false. The egg cycle of a hen is typically anywhere between 24-48 but it is also impacted by their exposure to light. A chicken’s laying cycle will naturally wane in the winter as days grow shorter and then it will slowly increase after the winter solstice. Factors like breed, nutrition, age, and health will also impact your chicken’s productivity levels. It is natural to have a few egg-free days in the depths of winter and typically the height of your hen’s productivity will be during the summer months when the days are longer.
Myth 3 Chickens are vegetarians. Your chickens are actually omnivores, meaning they consume both vegetable and animal protein. Chickens eat grasses, grain, seeds, vegetables, as well as protein in the form of insects like grub worms and fly larvae. If they can catch them, your chickens will also consume small rodents like mice.
Myth 4 Chickens smell. Chickens don’t smell and in fact they spend a great deal of time in their day grooming. Chicken droppings smell, as all droppings do, and the myth that chickens smell is actually from owners who do not have successful hygiene and maintenance routines for their chicken areas. Chicken coops, runs, and nesting boxes all need to be cleaned on a regular basis and chicken litter needs to be refreshed according to your chosen method whether that is deep bedding method or spot clean and scoop method. Chickens also need a dust bath so they can practice natural bathing behavior to keep themselves clean and deter pests and parasites. A properly maintained chicken area does not smell.
Myth 5 Roosters are mean. Animals behave out of instinct, not out of emotional retaliation or malice. A rooster is a male, intact livestock animal. A rooster has two roles in your flock, 1) to protect his hens and 2) to service his hens to provide for the next generation of chickens. Roosters need space, adequate hens to mate with, and for their basic needs and behaviors to be respected and understood. While breed and individual rooster temperament will vary, when their basic needs are met and their behaviors are respected, a rooster can be an amazing addition to your flock. It takes time, consistently, kindness, and training to hand tame a rooster but it is absolutely possible. People who perpetuate the myth that all roosters are mean have likely never bothered to research or understand even the basics of what these animals require in order to be content and productive flock members. While some rooster may be a poor match for your flock due to size, poor breeding, or poor treatment, given circumstances where they can thrive, roosters can be peaceful and productive flock members.
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Chuck and the Chicks 