The study, “Pecking up Optimism: Learning Opportunities Improve Mood for Sanctuary-Living Cornish Cross Chickens,” conducted by Sasha Prasad-Shreckengast, Jenna Holakovsky, and Lauri Torgerson-White, is Farm Sanctuary’s first published peer-reviewed research carried out at the sanctuary. Funding was generously provided by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Between October 2021 and August 2022, the moods (or long-term emotional state) of rescued Cornish Cross chickens living at Farm Sanctuary were measured through what are known as “judgment bias tests.” First, we taught chickens that a black bowl always had a reward and a white bowl was always empty (or vice versa). Then, we observed their behavior when presented with a novel gray bowl. Those birds who approached the gray bowl quickly were considered optimistic, while those slow to approach were described as pessimistic.

Using these behavior observations, we recorded how their moods changed when they learned to solve a task, specifically one that allowed them to control their access to a reward. For comparison, a control group was offered no learning opportunities.

Our findings revealed that much like humans who enjoy learning new things, Cornish Cross chickens presented with learning opportunities experienced increased optimism! Understanding what influences mood can help us determine what sorts of environments are conducive to supporting the well-being of chickens, who are among the most abused individuals exploited in agriculture.

Nearly all chickens raised for meat in the U.S. factory farming system are Cornish Cross birds. White Rock and Cornish chickens were intentionally crossed to create a breed that grows unnaturally large and fast, maximizing the industry’s profit. Due to their weight, some birds cannot stand or walk—and those who survive to reach “market weight” are slaughtered at around 6-7 weeks of age. Not only do they suffer physically in this system, but these intelligent, socially complex birds who are aware of their environments are denied the chance to engage in their most natural behaviors, resulting in psychological suffering as well. 

“While the small sample size requires us to remain cautious in our interpretations, these results suggest that to experience positive welfare, chickens might need to be given the ability to learn and to control aspects of their environment—in this case, access to rewards,” wrote Sasha Prasad-Shreckengast, lead author of the study and Farm Sanctuary’s Senior Manager of Research & Sanctuary Animal Welfare.

While we found that chickens exhibited increased optimism when offered learning opportunities overall, one chicken stood out from the flock and offered an example of how unique and individualistic each bird can be.

Yoshi actually showed increased pessimism when given the chance to learn a new way to access a reward.

We believe that Yoshi had figured out an easier way to access the reward: by hopping over a screen set in place by the researchers. Though she gave her best effort to reach the treats this way, she was turned away. Therefore, it seems possible that Yoshi’s increased pessimism could be linked to frustration because she is no longer able to outsmart the experiment.

The publishing of “Pecking up Optimism” through open access means that this vital research “won’t sit in an ivory tower,” says Prasad-Shreckengast. Farm Sanctuary aims to get this research in front of all who need it.

Nine billion chickens are slaughtered for meat each year in the United States. Nearly all spend their short lives crowded in unnatural and stressful factory farms.

Still, these billions of chickens and other birds considered “poultry” (such as turkeys, ducks, and geese) are denied the most basic protections of the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act—an omission widely criticized by animal advocates.

“Most industrial chicken farms provide limited opportunities to learn and control one’s environment,” says Prasad-Shreckengast. “This study highlights the emotional and cognitive capacities of an understudied, yet widely exploited breed and further highlights ways animal agriculture may fail to provide positive welfare.”

Furthermore, this new research shows how we can improve the lives of chickens living in sanctuaries as our movement strives to provide the best and most natural lives possible to rescued farm animals.

“Adult animals in human care should be given the chance to make choices for themselves in their best interest. Part of providing true sanctuary is allowing individuals to live their fullest and most natural lives possible,” says Kayla Perry, Sanctuary Animal Welfare Coordinator at Farm Sanctuary. “Offering challenges and learning opportunities safely allows animals to have more autonomy in their lives—along with, according to these findings, increased optimism! I’m happy to see the results of this study and am excited to utilize them to offer our rescued birds more learning opportunities and control over the way they receive food, engage in health care, and interact with their environment.”

Click here to read our full study in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

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