Empathy in chickens

Empathy in chickens is the ability of a chicken to understand and share the feelings of another chicken. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's (BBSRC) Animal Welfare Initiative defines and recognizes that "...hens possess a fundamental capacity to empathise..."[1][2] These empathetic responses in animals are well documented and are usually discussed along with issues related to cognition. The difference between animal cognition and animal emotion is recognized by ethicists.[3] The specific emotional attribute of empathy in chickens has not been only investigated in terms of its existence but it has applications that have resulted in the designed reduction of stress in farm-raised poultry.[4][example needed]

  1. ^ "Chickens are capable of feeling empathy, scientists believe – Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. 9 Mar 2011. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Witty2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Wilson, Scott. "Animals and Ethics". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 5m2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).