Myths about Backyard Chickens

There are quite a few misconceptions and myths about backyard chickens. It took the Bearded Rooster three years to talk me into getting chickens mostly because I believed a lot of these myths.  Being a city girl, I had no idea.

So I’m here today to debunk some of those myths. 

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Chickens are Dumb Animals

Myth. Many people think of chickens as just another livestock animal but they are really very intelligent. They can recognize over 100 different faces and even recognize voices.

They also exhibit empathy. When Trudy was attacked by a hawk a few years ago, Trixie would not leave her side. She was protecting Trudy but I also think she wanted to keep her company and let her know everything was going to be okay. It was quite endearing. 

There is also a hierarchy in the chicken world, the pecking order. There will be one top hen unless you have a rooster, and the other chickens respect her. Trudy is at the top of the pecking order even though she is our smallest bird. 

They also know where the treats are kept and frequently come to the backdoor and knock (peck) on it. 

Chickens are Mean

Half-truth. Half myth. Hens can be mean to each other but not really to their caretaker. Now, roosters, on the other hand, can be mean, usually, because they feel threatened. They will spur you and fight to the death to protect their flock. 

If you have small children, you will need to monitor them closely. When playing, the rooster can misinterpret this as an act of aggression. Your birds will start to look at you as an ugly chicken and if you are giving the girls treats, the rooster may be threatened by you. That’s his job! Never let your guard down around a rooster. 

Chickens Carry Mites and Lice

Myth. Chickens don’t carry mice and lice but they can get them from wild birds. However, the mites and lice they get are not the same as the human lice. So if your birds get lice, don’t worry they will not pass them on to you. 

If your birds free-range, at some point you will probably have to treat for mites and lice. We’ve had one case in four years. Not too bad. As a preventative, I started using First Saturday lime. It’s an eco-friendly insect repellent that’s safe for animals and kids. I put it in their dust bath and around the perimeter of the coop. 

I also use Permethrin in the run for fly prevention which is also effective on mites and lice. 

Chickens Don’t Live Very Long

Myth. No one really knows the life expectancy of a chicken. Why the uncertainty in age? Most roosters are dispatched at birth or processed for meat once they reach maturity (18-24 weeks). Egg production farms will cull their chickens when their egg production decreases, usually after the first or second year of life. It’s unfortunate but it’s the way they do business. If the hen isn’t laying eggs, they aren’t making money plus there’s the expense of their feed. Then you have broilers or meat birds, these birds are bred to grow quickly and are processed around 8-10 weeks of age. 

Another threat to their life expectancy is predators. Everything wants to eat your chickens. So make sure your predator proof your coop and run. 

So because of these factors, it’s really hard to get an average lifespan for a chicken, but I would guess 8-10 years if they are healthy and you can keep them from contracting any illness. However, there are lots of people in my chicken group with chickens between 10-15 years of age. 

Chickens are Stinky and Dirty

Two more myths about backyard chickens that I believed were chickens are stinky and dirty. If your chicken stinks, something is wrong. A stinky chicken will attract predators so they will go to great lengths to groom themselves.

We’ve had to occasionally intervene and bathe the girls but not very often. Sometimes their butts will get muddy then poop sticks to them. Trixie had pasty butt as a chick and still tends to have digestive issues with loose stools. I’m not sure if there is a connection there or not because she eats everything!

Also, if your girls have mites or lice, you may see broken feathers on their bottoms where poop can collect or lice eggs on the shaft of the feather. So, if your chicken stinks, you need to investigate and get to the root cause. 

Chickens Poop Everywhere.

Actually, this one is true. If you let your chickens free-range, you will have poop on your sidewalks, patio, outdoor furniture, and of course the yard. We use a doggie pooper scooper and compost or hose off.

Chickens are great to have. Don’t let any myths about backyard chickens keep you from getting some. In addition to fresh eggs, they are great at keeping pests to a minimum. 

For more misconceptions about chickens, check out my previous blog post plus the top questions I get about owning backyard chickens.