Cannibal chickens: Urban legend?

[snopes]

Teasing people is naughty. You shouldn't mention chicken cannibals if you don't explain them.

But that's what an earlier chicken story did because the (apologetic) reporter ran afowl - OK, afoul - of a rule that says you shouldn't bring up a topic you can't explain.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2...cal/news03.txt

[rhiandmoi]

I had a reply, and then the computer ate it. So to summarize, chickens can be aggressive and it is a chicken by chicken situation. Some breeds are more prone to aggression and cannibalism than others, and some situations are more likely to induce cannibalism, but you can't say "backyard chickens would never turn cannibalistic" because some chickens are just aggressive little buggers and will start a cannibalism riot in their flock even if their flock is just them and one other chicken.

[RichardM]

Chickens are birds. Birds of many types eat meat. I have seen chickens pecking on the dead carcass of something in my grandmother's chicken coop. But it was 50 years ago and I don't remember whether it was a dead chicken or not.

[Muck]

There's a good reason why chickens in factory type egg production have their beaks clipped. Packed in three to a cage they're pretty cranky (wouldn't you be?). They're prone to pecking each other, and the weak ones get culled by their cage mates. But cannibalism? I'm not so sure about that.

[snapdragonfly]

Chickens will eat anything edible.

In nature, they eat grasses, seeds, fruits if they find them, and bugs. Lots and lots of bugs.

In the backyard, if they are lucky enough to get table scraps in addition to their Layena pellets and scratch, they will eagerly scarf down on pretty much anything. Breads, fruit, vegetables, eggs (oh yes, and eggshells which they need if you don't give them oyster shells, although some say it can cause them to become egg eaters - never did with me) and meat.

Any kind of meat.

Leftover chicken is their favorite.

mmmm.

~ as far as behavioral cannibalism, as opposed to just the practical matter of "hey, this looks tasty", yes they will peck when they are crowded and for various other reasons. Once a chicken starts getting pecked, often the others will gang up on it until it's dead. Then once it's dead, well...it's meat, isn't it?

They do not normally commit cannibalism, they would prefer to have plenty of room to run around and just scratch at the grass and bugs, but it certainly happens all the time for many reasons.

[LtColCarter]

My grandmother threw table scraps out to the chickens all the time, and I remember as a little kid being grossed out when she threw them leftover chicken!

[Barns & No Bull]

Originally Posted by rhiandmoi

So to summarize, chickens can be aggressive and it is a chicken by chicken situation.

Anyone need a new signature quote?

Originally Posted by RichardM

Chickens are birds.

Chickens have breasts. Doesn't that make them mammals?

[Seraphina]

Chooks will certainly eat anything and in out place the dogs have a strong competition for their bones

[snapdragonfly]

Originally Posted by Seraphina

Chooks will certainly eat anything and in out place the dogs have a strong competition for their bones

CHOOKS! I love how Aussies call them chooks.

[inkrose115]

Originally Posted by Muck

There's a good reason why chickens in factory type egg production have their beaks clipped. Packed in three to a cage they're pretty cranky (wouldn't you be?). They're prone to pecking each other, and the weak ones get culled by their cage mates. But cannibalism? I'm not so sure about that.

Bella is pretty irritable and she rules the whole apartment. I can't imagine the ensuing carnage...

I know that parrots need to be fed good protein sources especially when molting. For example as long as it is non-dairy some cheeses and even yogurts are great food-sources, as are well-cooked meats including chicken. And bones and marrow (a parrot's beak can crack a cooked chicken bone fast) are good for the larger breeds. Not to mention they need eggshells crushed into their food or a cuttlebone. If some chickens were desperate for the vitamins and minerals they needed why wouldn't they take what they could get?

Not to mention making eggs takes a LOT out of bird's bodies. Even birds like chickens which seem better able to do it. Parrots can becoming chronic egg-layers (fertile and non-fertile eggs) which is a huge problem once it starts. Now, this puts them at high risk (unlike chickens) but I could see why chickens would need to beef up.
ETA: Stress can make animals do weird things.