Kozhikode: Cock-a-doodle-do… we are all familiar with this cry of chickens but seldom do we try to understand the emotion behind their cries. A recent study has found that chickens have emotions similar to humans and that these emotions can be read by looking at their faces.

The colour of chickens’ faces show their feelings, the study claims. If a chicken is going through a very sad situation, is feeling depressed or angry, their face will look redder. It will be light pink if they are happy. They experience emotions like happiness, enthusiasm, sadness and fear.

The study was carried out by the research team of INRAE (French National research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment). Sussex breed chickens aged between 63 days to four months were separated and made subject to the study for a period of three weeks. The study took 18,000 pictures and analysed the difference in facial colour.

A change in the blood flow of chickens is what causes the change in face colour. Blood flow increases when there is fear or distress. Researchers also say that blood flow normalises when the chickens are at rest.