DID YOU KNOW? Chickens have exceptional eyesight and they see the world in colour, just like we do. DID YOU KNOW? The gizzard performs a similar role in chickens to what teeth do in other animals. It uses a muscular action to break down grains and seeds with the help of small stones and grit that chickens swallow for this purpose. CHICKEN CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOURS Understanding chicken behaviour and characteristics will make it easier to take care of your home flock. Knowing how to recognise unusual behaviour can also help you pick up any issues with health or living conditions before they become serious. Diet Chickens are not vegetarians, as is often assumed. They are in fact omnivores, and in the wild are very happy to eat lizards, small snakes or young mice as well as seeds and insects. Social behaviour Have you ever wondered where the term ‘pecking order’ came from? Chickens! They are social animals, but within a well-defined hierarchy that is quickly established when new birds are housed together. You’ll notice this most at feeding time, where the top hens will eat first, chasing off the lower-ranked and younger birds. Only when the top hens have eaten their fill will the lower-ranked birds be allowed to eat. They’re also very loyal, and can and do develop long-lasting bonds with each other. Sets of BFFs (best friends forever) can be found in backyard flocks. Intelligence Chickens are quite smart and have great memories. They can distinguish between over 100 different faces of people or animals. PART 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 8 | THE CHOOK BOOK