Positive behaviour in hens. 1 min 31 sec

Watch these free-range hens enjoying their life on the farm. See how much space they have to display their natural behaviours and roam around.

Some questions to consider while watching:

• Can you make a list of the different behaviours you see?
• Do you think it is important for hens to be able to display these behaviours?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of free-range farming.
• Are you surprised by anything you see?

Watch this determined hen negotiate an obstacle course so she can reach her nest

Hens have strong instincts to make a nest. Watch this clever hen navigate her way through an obstacle course to find a safe place to lay her egg. Nothing will get in her way!

Footage copyright Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) from their film Stimulus Response.

Some questions to consider while watching:

• Why is the hen so determined to find the nest?
• What did she do when she got there?
• What does this show us?
• How important is it for hens to have access to nesting material?
• This hen was filmed at the end of the last century. She had lived before in a barren cage which didn’t have a nest. How do you feel about that?
• Barren cages without nesting areas are now banned in Britain and the EU, but many hens are still kept in cages. How do you feel about this?

Lets ask the animals. 22 min
A classic from the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Discover hens learning from watching television, a pig keeping a “nose” on her offspring and sheep who know that one vehicle sounds different from another. 

Some questions to consider while watching:

• Is there anything that surprises you about farm animals’ intelligence?
• Should this affect how we treat farm animals? Do you think it is fair to keep animals in cages? Should people pay more for their food so that animals can have more freedom?
• How are the animals similar to humans? How are they different?
• Can you think of any other ways that we could test farm animals’ intelligence?

White striping in chickens

A case study to help students to understand the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding and its ethical implications

• Suitable for ages 14+
• We recommend using the PowerPoint presentation as an introduction to white striping.
• This can be used by parents or the student can follow this alone.
• The ‘Does Your Chicken Have White Stripes ’ discussion booklet can then be used by the student. There are separate teachers notes.
• Supermarket worksheet. We do not recommend carrying out the supermarket survey during the current pandemic, but if you buy chicken breasts you can look to see if they have white stripes.