Humans are able to tell if chickens are happy or sad by the sound of their clucks.
Humans know how chickens are feeling by the sound of their clucks
Data shows that a person is able to identify with 69 per cent accuracy whether a cluck has come from a satisfied or disgruntled bird.
Scientists suggest that the findings prove that humans could have an innate ability to tell how an animal feels simply from audio cues.
People are capable of understanding the moods of dogs, chimps and pigs via the sounds they make and the theory has now been extended to poultry.
Experts from the University of Queensland and the University of Lincoln say that their research will "have important implications for the welfare of farmed chickens" as it shows that poultry workers can recognise if birds are distressed or content.
The authors write in the journal Royal Society Open Science: "Importantly, humans could identify reward-related calls, and this ability could enhance the management of farmed chickens to improve their welfare."