A new study carried out by the University of Bristol (United Kingdom) reveals that when chickens see a chicken under stress, they show the physical and psychological symptoms of empathy , that is, the ability to feel affected and share the emotional state of another individual. Specifically, their heart races, the temperature of their eyes decreases, and they change their behavior, increasing their alertness as well as the cries they throw at the chickens, while reducing the time they spend grooming and grooming. feathers with the beak. All of these signs indicate an emotional response.
"Our research addresses the question of whether birds have the ability to show empathetic responses ," says Jo Edgar, co-author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , where they conclude that the response is positive "at least in females. adults ".
