Chickens have richer emotional lives than commonly recognized. Research on chicken cognition and emotion is transforming welfare science and challenging assumptions about their capacities.
Research on chicken emotional and cognitive capacities has fundamentally challenged the assumption that they are simple creatures with minimal welfare significance. Chickens experience positive and negative emotional states that can be measured through behavioral and physiological indicators. They form expectations, experience frustration, and show empathic responses. This evidence base supports stronger welfare standards for the most numerous land animal on earth — and makes the case that improving chicken welfare is a high-priority ethical obligation.