What the Chicken Knows

A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird

By: Sy Montgomery

Narrated by: Sy Montgomery

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A charming and eye-opening exploration of the special relationship between humans and chickens from Sy Montgomery, “one of our finest chroniclers of the natural world” (The New York Times).

For more than two decades, Sy Montgomery—whose The Soul of an Octopus was a National Book Award finalist—has kept a flock of chickens in her backyard. Each chicken has an individual personality (outgoing or shy, loud or quiet, reckless or cautious) and connects with Sy in her own way.

In this short, delightful book, Sy takes us inside the flock and reveals all the things that make chickens such remarkable creatures: only hours after leaving the egg, they are able to walk, run, and peck; relationships are important to them and the average chicken can recognize more than one hundred other chickens; they remember the past and anticipate the future; and they communicate specific information through at least twenty-four distinct calls. Visitors to her home are astonished by all this, but for Sy what’s more astonishing is how little most people know about chickens, especially considering there are about twenty percent more chickens on earth than people.

With a winning combination of personal narrative and science, What the Chicken Knows is exactly the kind of book that has made Sy Montgomery such a beloved and popular author.

Critic reviews

"Sy Montgomery is so joyful and enthusiastic while describing her adventures with her flock of chickens that listeners will want to stroke a hen and pick up a rooster just to participate in her positive view of the world. Montgomery is keenly observant and curious. She calls her chickens “the ladies,” and she recognizes each hen’s individual call and personality. She also cites studies demonstrating chicken intelligence but notes they will also mercilessly peck at an injured member of their flock. Montgomery’s desire to restore the natural landscape can collide with her love for her chickens whenever a repopulated critter kills one. Her mixed emotions are obvious: She can’t bring herself to be angry at a natural predator, yet she feels forlorn."

The relationship she developed with her chickens.

I wished I had read this book before we raised chickens. Makes me wish he a was PM

FUN

Very interesting storey ; just too short for full price. The small private chicken yard was enchanting

Real stories

Amazing insight inside a chicken’s world. Useful ideas for improving your relationship with your chickens as they arrive as chicks and into their maturity,

The story teller

I really enjoyed listening to this story it felt like I was living inside the story. I also learned something new that I did not know about chickens. I’m looking forward to getting some chickens one day soon.

Compassion for chickens

The great compassion the author has for chickens. It makes me want to get my own flock

Love the journey

As a chicken lover and nee to it, this is a must listen. Good job

A little over the top

I guess I was supposed to catch the author’s passion for chickens. I have chickens and find them entertaining, but I don’t get obsessed. My chickens don’t let me cuddle or pet them. I’ve raised many chickens, all from tiny hatchlings. From the start they never let me get near them. Just once I’d enjoy a relationship with a chicken but nothing in this book seemed to address this problem.

A peek into the coop!

Loved it! Enjoyable from start to finish. Hope I can have a similar relationship with my peeps

sweet but disappointing

The story was flat expected a little more about chicken behavior read like children's story. I have read many of Sy 's books this one was a little disapointing.

Cutesy stories about chickens.

Not for anyone interested in a deeper drive into chicken life or behavior. Cute stories about chickens in the neighborhood with some anecdotal claims about chicken intelligence and instinct. Feel good and motherly, not informative and nothing new if you’ve ever kept chickens yourself.