New York Times Notes the Intelligence of Chickens

Journalist Nicholas D. Kristof penned an eye-opening piece for The New York Times earlier this week about the intelligence of birds and the discretion people should show in supporting the poultry industry. Kristof recalled the geese his family raised on an Oregon farm during his childhood, and how the animals displayed remarkable loyalty and tenderness toward their chosen mates. He brought attention to the myriad studies that have been released that show the intellectual capabilities and adept social proclivities of chickens. While Kristof is a meat-eater, he does note that consumers should consider the well-being of birds, just as they would dogs and cats, and he calls on readers to stop supporting the poultry industry that subjects the animals to inhumane living conditions. “Even when there are no salmonella outbreaks, there are good reasons to keep away from wretched birds raised in factory farms,” he writes.