When is International Chicken Day?

International Chicken Day, which is also called International Respect for Chickens Day, is held every year on May 4. The goal of this day is to bring attention to the plight of chickens raised for food and encourage kind treatment of these amazing birds.

A Brief History of Chickens

Birds that look like chickens come from jungle fowl that lived in Southeast Asia more than 50 million years ago. The chicken was first tamed around 8,000 years ago, also in Southeast Asia. From there, chickens were brought all over the world to be eaten and for fun activities like cockfighting. In the Southern Levant, chickens weren’t commonly used for food until 400–200 BC.

These days, chickens are the most common and widely kept pets in the world. There are more than 25 billion chickens in the world at any given time. Humans consume around 197 million chickens every single day. Because of the high demand, a lot of chickens are raised in factories, which is very bad for their health.

The Origins of International Chicken Day

United Poultry Concerns (UPC), a group that works to promote the kind and respectful treatment of domestic fowl, started International Chicken Day in 2005. Karen Davis, founder of UPC, set up the day to bring attention to the plight of chickens that are raised for food, scientific research, entertainment, and companionship.

The date of May 4th was chosen because it doesn’t conflict with other holidays or observances. UPC encourages people to take positive action for chickens during the entire month of May in honor of International Chicken Day. They provide ideas and resources to help people celebrate chickens and make compassionate choices.

Key Facts About Chickens

• Chickens are very social and curious animals who can recognize over 100 other chicken faces. They communicate through 24 distinct vocalizations.

• Chickens have full spectrum color vision and can see colors similarly to humans. Their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads giving them a panoramic 300° field of vision.

• Chickens are natural foragers who love to scratch peck and take dust baths. When allowed to exhibit natural behaviors they have strong instincts to roost in trees at night.

• Mother hens bond strongly with their chicks and will bravely defend them. Chicks learn many skills and survival tactics from their mothers.

• Chickens experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and dream just like humans do. They enjoy taking dust baths and sunbathing.

Why International Chicken Day Matters

International Chicken Day matters because it draws attention to the suffering chickens endure in modern farming systems. More than 90% of the 25 billion chickens killed for food each year come from factory farms. These chickens face extremely stressful and harmful conditions including:

• Extreme crowding – each chicken may get a space smaller than a sheet of paper. This prevents natural roosting, foraging and socialization.

• Barren environments devoid of natural light, fresh air, vegetation or enrichment. Chickens are unable to dust bathe or forage.

• Selective breeding and growth promoting drugs create chickens who grow unnaturally fast and large. Many suffer leg deformities and chronic pain.

• Rough handling during transport and slaughter. Chickens are shackled upside down on a conveyor belt while fully conscious prior to slaughter.

International Chicken Day promotes raising awareness of these issues and encourages more humane treatment of chickens. The day also celebrates just how remarkable chickens are when treated compassionately.

How to Observe International Chicken Day

There are many ways to honor International Chicken Day and generate more compassion for chickens. Here are some ideas:

• Share information on social media about the intelligence and abilities of chickens, and the suffering they endure in factory farms. Use #InternationalChickenDay to spread the word.

• Hold an educational outreach event in your community to teach others about chickens and conscious consumerism. Hand out UPC’s brochures on chickens.

• Host a vegan potluck or plant-based bake sale fundraiser. Donate funds raised to organizations like UPC who advocate for chickens.

• Petition food companies and restaurants to implement higher welfare standards for chickens in their supply chains.

• Try out delicious plant-based chicken alternatives like seitan, tofu, jackfruit and more. Explore vegan recipes online or in cookbooks.

• Adopt a rescued chicken as a pet. Chickens form wonderful companions when treated kindly, and many need homes.

• Volunteer or visit a farmed animal sanctuary that rescues chickens. Meet the chickens up close and hear their stories.

• Watch documentaries that uncover the reality of factory farming like “Food, Inc.” and “Vegucated”. Share what you learn with your networks.

The Future for Chickens

International Chicken Day represents a meaningful effort to change how our society views and treats chickens. The compassionate vegan movement has been steadily growing, as has advocacy for chickens and other farmed animals. More people than ever before are concerned about the ethics of modern chicken farming. There is also increasing scientific evidence confirming that chickens are intelligent, emotional beings who feel pain and fear just as humans do.

As more individuals choose plant-based lifestyles and products, corporations are starting to listen. Some companies have committed to phasing out the cruelest confinement practices for chickens and are diversifying into plant-based options. However, there is still an enormous amount of work to be done before chickens are afforded the respect and care they deserve. Observing International Chicken Day each year provides hope for a future where compassion prevails over cruelty and exploitation. The lives of billions of chickens hang in the balance.