When people tour Farm Sanctuary, they are often most intrigued by the traits and behaviors of chickens (Gallus gallus). Perhaps because the word “chicken” so commonly refers to a processed food commodity rather than a living being, people can be surprised by chickens’ strong personalities, their ability to form friendships, and their capacity for curiosity—including a deep fascination with many of the humans who visit our farms.

Descendants of birds who survived the cataclysm that extinguished the dinosaurs, domestic chickens now outnumber any other bird on Earth. Over the past century, in particular, humans have overbred and overfed commercial chickens, twisting the bird’s natural evolution.

Still, a few moments in the farmyard dust with a hen usually reveal the bird’s predisposition for nurturing and vigilance, as well as her distinctive brand of dignity.