# Chickens: Ignorance-fighting opportunity **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675 "2017-05-15T19:33:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/41 "2017-05-16T18:57:26Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > The deal the family made when we decided to get chickens was that we wouldn’t eat them (those specific chickens, we still eat chicken in general). I know their egg laying window is not as large as their lifespan, but in getting them we committed to caring for them even when they weren’t able to produce - like pets. Roosters though, we also agreed that if any happened to be roosters they wouldn’t be allowed to stay with us. We do the same basic thing. Our hens begin their life in our house. They are handled daily, fed live meal-worms as treats from our hands, and are very tame. They move outside once they are big enough and the tameness persists. My gf sometimes sits on a camp chair in the chicken yard and they hop up onto her lap for attention. They normally lay for 5 or so years, then die three to five years later. They get buried in our pet cemetery with full honors. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/42 "2017-05-16T18:59:48Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > The deal the family made when we decided to get chickens was that we wouldn’t eat them (those specific chickens, we still eat chicken in general). I know their egg laying window is not as large as their lifespan, but in getting them we committed to caring for them even when they weren’t able to produce - like pets. Roosters though, we also agreed that if any happened to be roosters they wouldn’t be allowed to stay with us. That’s cool. I figured you wouldn’t eat the hens you got for eggs, just curious about the rooster. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/43 "2017-05-19T22:34:14Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Here you go. > [http://www.northernsun.com/Chicken-Motives-Organic-TShirt-(8359).html](http://www.northernsun.com/Chicken-Motives-Organic-TShirt-%288359%29.html) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/44 "2017-05-20T14:38:49Z")
Not USPS, but we sometimes ship great heaping mounds of chicks. Most often chickens, but sometimes turkeys or ducks. They will be packaged in flat cardboard boxes about 2’ x 3’ x 4" tall with small airholes and 50 or 100 chicks in each box. When we get a shipment it’ll be 50 or 100 boxes of these things, all cheeping & milling around in there. Apparently the trick is the shipper feeds and waters them then gives them some time to shit, then packs them into the boxes with a layer of wood shavings. Since birds innards are designed for throughput, not storage, as long as you don’t feed or water them again they (mostly) won’t poop or pee enroute. Which keeps the stench level down a lot. As long as we get them where they’re going within about 24 hours most of them survive just fine. It’s always funny to go out to the aircraft and there’s a baggage cart sitting there making all that cheep, cheep, cheep noise. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/45 "2017-05-20T15:27:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s always funny to go out to the aircraft and there’s a baggage cart sitting there making all that cheep, cheep, cheep noise. I assume they use a budget airline…🙂 Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/46 "2017-05-20T15:45:19Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Ordering chickens by mail is super fun. They’re all peeping and fluffy and adorable when they arrive, and the post office calls you to tell you to come get your babies…joy! The Post Office calls you?! Like, on the telephone? How does that work? How do they get your number? Is this in a very rural setting without daily delivery? ---
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/47 "2017-05-20T18:09:53Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Do women ovulate if there’s not a man around? There’s your answer. We are basically enjoying a hens period for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/48 "2017-05-20T18:11:18Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > That’s cool. I figured you wouldn’t eat the hens you got for eggs, just curious about the rooster. Thanks! The person who is trained to separate male chicks from female chicks at the chick factory… Earns mega bucks. Its quite a skilled job. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/49 "2017-05-20T18:23:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > People seem bothered by the fact that my African Grey Parrot loves to eat chicken wings. My mother-in-law used to have a parakeet who loved chicken soup. It always seemed vaguely cannibalistic to me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/50 "2017-05-20T18:25:18Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > The person who is trained to separate male chicks from female chicks at the chick factory… > > Earns mega bucks. > > Its quite a skilled job. ISTR Mike Rowe doing this on a “Dirty Jobs” episode. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/51 "2017-05-20T18:30:43Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > 1. I was surprised to learn you can purchase chicks and have them shipped via mail. How, exactly does this work? I have seen how bee queens are packaged and mailed, but baby chickens seems an order of magnitude more difficult. I got mine from [mypetchicken.com](http://mypetchicken.com). They send day old chicks, and even mix and match breeds for you, and only have a minimum of 3 chicks. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/52 "2017-05-20T20:12:42Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > The Post Office calls you?! Like, on the telephone? How does that work? How do they get your number? Is this in a very rural setting without daily delivery? If you ship chick/ducks/any animal; you have to provide numbers and contact information or the transportation company won’t accept. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/53 "2017-05-20T21:13:57Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > In fact, it’s better to have no roosters unless you need them, because they’re loud, they fight, and they don’t provide anything in return for all the food you’re giving them. Isnt this true for men in general? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/54 "2017-05-20T22:47:24Z")
> [@naita](#): > > [Cats, rabbits, camelids.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_ovulation_(animals)) Sorry, missed this response. But induced ovulation, via stimulus, is not the same thing as “having a male around.” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/55 "2017-05-21T03:54:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > … > Apparently the trick is the shipper feeds and waters them then gives them some time to shit, then packs them into the boxes with a layer of wood shavings. Since birds innards are designed for throughput, not storage, as long as you don’t feed or water them again they (mostly) won’t poop **or** pee enroute… [bold added] Not that I would’ve remembered this bit of knowledge otherwise, but don’t all birds (paging **Colibris** ) excrete a special something which is a bit of both and that’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/56 "2017-05-21T04:22:13Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Not that I would’ve remembered this bit of knowledge otherwise, but don’t all birds (paging **Colibris** ) excrete a special something which is a bit of both and that’s that? Birds excrete nitrogenous waste as uric acid, which is semisolid, instead of urea as in mammals, which requires more water to dispose of. Uric acid is the white part of bird droppings. (The dark bit in the middle of a dropping is food residue, the equivalent of feces.) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/57 "2017-05-21T05:30:00Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Sorry, missed this response. > > But induced ovulation, via stimulus, is not the same thing as “having a male around.” In the absence of a male, how do you propose a solitary female camel would ovulate? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/58 "2017-05-21T12:58:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Birds excrete nitrogenous waste as uric acid, which is semisolid, instead of urea as in mammals, which requires more water to dispose of. Uric acid is the white part of bird droppings. (The dark bit in the middle of a dropping is food residue, the equivalent of feces.) I have an African Spur-Thighed tortoise. His diet is very low in protein, so although he excretes his nitrogenous waste as uric acid, there is very little of it. Instead of some pastey white material passed with each elimination, he passes a few small “stones” of material every week or so. He also passes excess water on occasion. Interesting shit! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/59 "2017-05-21T14:43:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > My mother-in-law used to have a parakeet who loved chicken soup. It always seemed vaguely cannibalistic to me. 😉 I throw chicken parts out in the garden with the rest of my compost - the crows eat them instantly. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675/60 "2017-05-21T15:13:59Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > In the absence of a male, how do you propose a solitary female camel would ovulate? [OLD JOKE] (Punchline)…most people just ride the camel into town. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chickens-ignorance-fighting-opportunity/786675.md?page=4)