EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ANIMALS
Chickens have a good memory
Chickens have a very well-developed ability to remember. They can recognize up to 30 other hens while chicks can remember their mother's appearance three days after hatching. Interestingly, their facial recognition abilities extend beyond their species as young chicks also quickly learn and later recognize human faces. When researchers introduced newly hatched chicks to a virtual human face in 2015, the chicks reacted very sensitively to changing characteristics, such as when the age or gender characteristics of the face changed. When put to the test, the chicks also demonstrated their skill in remembering previous experiences and making decisions based on those experiences. Scientists studied "episodic memories" in young chicks and adult chickens by feeding them two different types of food. One type of food was "devalued" because it was given to the chickens before the experiment. When they were later given a feeder with the old meal and the new meal, the chickens consistently showed a preference for the new, better food. They remembered what they learned and made a decision based on those memories.
Goats know their names
It's natural to name your goats, but will they really recognize that the name belongs to them? Goats are highly intelligent and can be trained to recognize and respond to their names. The names of the goats should be distinct from each other and clear enough to be picked out from the sentence. Although dogs are often considered one of the smartest pets because they can be trained to do many tricks as well as respond to their own names, goats are also quite intelligent and can be trained to do most, if not all, of the tricks that dogs do. Scientists have also tested goats to determine their intelligence. Before they were domesticated, goats had to have a good memory and quick reactions to find food and avoid predators. They developed a good ability to learn and their domesticated offspring still retain many of these traits. A few years ago, Queen Mary University of London conducted research on the intelligence of goats. They had the goats solve a puzzle with their teeth in order to get a reward in the form of food. Nine of the twelve goats were able to solve the puzzle after several attempts, and all were able to solve it again 10 months later. This has shown that goats are efficient at solving problems and have a good memory. So while your goat may not always come when called, it can still recognize its name. Diligent training and positive reinforcement can encourage your goats to come when called, as well as learn a variety of other tricks.
Chickens are omnivores
The word "omnivore" comes from the Latin words "omni", which means "everything" and "vorare", which means "devour". Although some commercial egg producers claim that their laying hens are plant-fed, the hens are omnivores. This means that they can (and should!) eat a diet that contains both plant and animal proteins. Left to their own devices, chickens will just as happily eat grass, weeds, plants, flowers, grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and berries as they will eat any bugs and insects, larvae, spiders, worms, grubs, and even small rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, and frogs that they can catch. Yes, chickens are excellent hunters. While some carnivores only eat the fresh meat they kill, and some like hyenas and other vultures mostly eat carrion, chickens will eat both. Therefore, it is very important to note that the quality of life of laying hens used for industrial purposes is extremely unsatisfactory and inhumane, given that they are denied two very important existential rights: the right to freedom and the right to hunt and feed following their nature.
Geese are excellent flyers
Although geese are often victims of the food industry and as such are often neglected in society, the truth is quite different. Geese are social creatures, and their famous group flights are more than a practical way to save energy. Flying together strengthens social bonds among flock members. They blow their horns and communicate during flight, creating a sense of unity and cooperation. Geese flying in formation is an exceptional example of teamwork and aerodynamic efficiency. The classic V formation reduces air resistance, allowing birds to conserve energy during their long journeys. The leading goose bears the brunt of the wind resistance, creating lift for the rest of the flock. This arrangement allows the geese to cover long distances with less effort, which would be a challenge for a solitary bird.
Cows can live up to 25 years
Cows are highly intelligent and social animals. They have been shown to have strong memories and can recognize individual faces, both of other cows and humans, and research on this topic shows that they are also capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and happiness. Cows are social animals and form close bonds with other members of their herd, often grooming each other and even sleeping close together they have been known to mourn the loss of a herd member and can become stressed when separated from their companions.
The natural lifespan of a cow is 15-20 years. However, in the dairy and meat industries, cows are often subjected to inhumane living conditions and are slaughtered much earlier than their natural lifespan. Dairy cows are usually slaughtered when they are about six years old, while beef cows are slaughtered when they are between 1 to 2 years old. The dairy industry rarely allows cows to live past age five, and they are sent to slaughter soon after their production levels drop.
Cows raised for meat and dairy are often subjected to cruel treatment, including repeated impregnation, forced overproduction of milk, restrictive confinement, and poor nutrition. Industrial-scale dairy farms separate mother cows from their calves, often within hours of birth. Because they cannot produce milk, these dairy farms often send male calves to slaughter. This cycle of birth, traumatic separation, and killing continues throughout a dairy cow’s life until she is “spent” - no longer able to produce milk - and she is sent to slaughter.
Dairy barns are often crowded and filthy, and cramped conditions prevent cows from grazing or even walking any meaningful distance, instead forcing them to spend their time standing or lying down. Beef cattle are often raised in feedlots, which confine large numbers of cattle in a very small space, forcing them to live in conditions that become filthy and polluted from their excrement. It is important to note that the information provided here is a generalization, and there are certainly exceptions to these practices. However, the meat and dairy industries often prioritize profit over animal welfare, leading to inhumane living conditions and shortened lifespans for cows.
Rabbits use a ‘‘secret code'' to communicate
In the enchanting world of rabbits, there is more to their twitchy noses and ears than meets the eye. These fluffy creatures have a hidden talent - a secret code for communication. Researchers have found that rabbits use subtle variations in the positioning and movement of their whiskers, ears, and body to communicate complex messages within a group. Rabbits tighten their facial muscles and change their body position when they are worried; signs you wouldn't notice if you weren't paying attention to them. This is one of the main reasons why they are often misunderstood and do not receive adequate care. The next time you catch a group of rabbits engaged in secret conversation, remember, that the secret code is unfolding before your very eyes in the rabbit realm.
Chickens can do math
Chickens, believe it or not, can perform fundamental arithmetic! In 2014, psychologists at the University of Padova in Italy conducted a study that discovered young chicks could count in minute increments. Three pieces of food were placed behind one screen and two pieces of food were placed behind the other. When allowed to get the food, the tiny chicks consistently picked the screen with three rewards over the one with two. This demonstrated that the chicks comprehended the distinction between "less" and "more." The researchers then went further, asking the chicks to solve some simple equations. For example, they would start putting four pieces of food behind the right screen and only one behind the left. Before releasing the chicks, the researchers relocated two pieces from the right and placed them behind the left. When the chicks were set free, they always went to the left screen. In other words, they may do the following calculations: 4-2=2 and 1+2=3.
Finally, it was shown that chicks employ what is known as a "mental number line," which means that they assume smaller values on the left and bigger values on the right (Rugani et al, 2015). In that study, chicks learned to find food behind a five-dot screen. This screen was in the center of the room in front of them. During the exam, chicks were allowed to choose between two displays to the left and right of them. When both display featured two dots, the chicken chose the left one. When both displays showed 8 dots, the chicken chose the right one. As a result, they predicted a lower number on the left side and a higher number on the right, implying that they indeed use a “mental number line.”
