Thugs to Nugs: Uncovering Chilling Facts About Chickens

If you think your baby chicks are perfect little angels, think again. Chickens are omnivores and, in negative situations, will stop at nothing for a meal.

READ MORE: Yelp Elites Claim This is the Best Fried Chicken in Indiana

Chickens have never been my favorite livestock animal. My family had a flock of about 20 or so birds when I was a kid, and it was my job to feed, water, and clean up after them. Additionally, it was my job to collect the eggs from the hens. Some days were easier than others. It's safe to say I got pecked more than a few times, and usually the agressor was a very territorial rooster.

While taking care of those little critters was a lot of work, it was nice to have fresh eggs on hand without having to buy them at the store. Plus, if the flock got too big, we got to have home-made fried chicken, but this was a very rare occasion. As an adult, I've been thinking about getting a couple of chickens for my wife and me to raise at our Gibson County home. If you're also planning to hop on the chicken bandwagon, there are definitely some things you'll want to know.

Chicken 101

Chickens are onminvores, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. According to Grubbly Farms, chickens need a good amount of space so as not to be overcrowded. Below, you'll find their coup size recommendations for different flocks.

•  6 Chickens: 24 sq. ft. coop, 48 sq. ft. minimum run space
• 10 Chickens: 40 sq. ft. coop, 80 sq. ft. minimum run space
• 20 Chickens: 80 sq. ft. coop, 160 sq. ft. minimum run space

When chickens don't have enough space, bad things can happen. In fact, some people fail to realize that when put under stress, chickens can become vicious. This information isn't meant to make you hate chickens or inspire you to treat them poorly; rather, it serves as a preventative measure for new flock keepers.

Are Chickens Cannibals?

I've seen the above question circulating a lot lately. Most recently, I ran across a video of chickens eating a Costco rotisserie chicken, which made me dive even deeper into this rabbit hole. According to Hobby Farms, chickens are not inherently cannibals in the sense that they won't go out of their way to grow up and tear each other to shreds. However, when chickens become overcrowded, overheated, or experience a shortage of food and water, cannibalistic behaviors may rise to the surface.

@charlieschicks Part 2 of chickens eating Costco rotisserie chicken 😂 ##rotisserie##chicken##cannibals##part2##part1##trending##trend##viral##farm##5000##views♬ Joyful - ProSounds

Do Chickens Eat People?

As I dove deeper into the dark side of chickens, I sought answers to the above question in great detail. My journey, of course, led me to Reddit. While I highly doubt chickens will go out of their way to get a taste of some human flesh, in another negative situation, it is very possible these birds would probably eat a person. For example, if an elderly caretaker were to be rendered unconscious after falling in a coup or barn, if there was an open wound, it's very likely the chickens would start pecking.

While researching this topic, I ran across another Reddit thread that raised the question, "How long would it take for around 20 chickens to eat a person?" One commentor noted that a single chicken can eat anywhere from one and a half to two pounds of feed per week. Given that an average human weighs about 150 pounds, the answer to that question appears to be around four weeks. I suppose this is your sign to go check on your elderly neighbors with chickens (kidding, kind of).

Should You Raise Chickens?

Whether you choose to raise a flock of chickens is completely up to you. While the information above might appear freighting, it's important to note we're talking about the rarest of circumstances. Raising chickens can actually be quite rewarding if you're willing to get your hands dirty. That said, it is a lot of work, so if you plan to get a few birds, make sure you have plenty of space, feed, and, of course, patience.