The chicken is the largest farm animal of the humankind. Not big in body size, but in production mass. From the middle of the 2nd century onwards, the chicken was used for human needs, especially for ceremonies and cockfights. The chicken was first used economically by the Romans – from the 1st century BC.

The worldwide consumption of chicken meat has tripled between 1960 and 2010 from 2.4 to 11 kg.

Around 1 million chickens are slaughtered in Germany every day (source). A fattened chicken is ready for slaughter in about 33 days. Time and again, the press, research, legislators and animal rights activists discuss the «problem» of male chicks that are useless for production. They are shredded alive or gasified with CO2. The killing of male chicks has already been classified as contrary to animal welfare in Germany. According to the Federal Administrative Court, it is «still» compatible with the Animal Welfare Act. 80 % of the broiler chickens are reared in cages – and have a space of one A4 sheet per animal available.

1 kg of chicken meat corresponds to a CO2 emission of 26 km driving a car, i.e. 3.7 (to the CO2 calculator)

Chickens are still considered to be «unknown». As descendants of the dinosaurs, they were surprisingly rarely chosen as objects of study for behavioral scientists. The Australian researcher Chris Evans has investigated communication among chickens and found out that their cognitive abilities are in no way inferior to those of dogs and cats.

Chickens live in socially stable groups and can recognise each other by their facial characteristics. They have 24 different calls. They are able to solve practical problems. For example, they recognize that hidden objects are present after all – a cognitive achievement that exceeds the ability of small children.

A well-kept domestic chicken can live up to 15 years.

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Post a picture of you and your t-shirt on Instagram with the hashtag #jutaku-animal-trustee. Or introduce us to your chickens, if you have them in your life!