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Chickens Prefer Foxes: Scientists Find Poultry Favor Good-Looking People

Just in case your New Year’s resolution has not already put you on the defensive . . .  now we are being judged by the chickens. There is an interesting article in National Geographic with some surprising facts about chickens including that chickens favor good looking people over not good looking people.  While it is unlikely that the the idea of fat-shaming poultry will get vegans to change their dietary preferences, it does raise the rather provocative idea of looks being a bona fide occupational criteria.  Could Perdue join Hooters in looking for good-looking employees?  Ok, probably not.
 
There are some other surprising facts in the article.
 
First, hens are “photo-stimulated,” requiring light to produce eggs.
 
Second, hens do not need roosters to lay eggs. They are only needed for eggs that produce chicks.
 
Third, and this one is really wild, the color of chicken eggs coincides with the color of the birds’ earlobes. Thus, white earlobed chickens often make white eggshells while red earlobed chicken produce . . . no not red eggs (which would be really cool) . . . brown eggs.
 
 
However the most surprising fact was this: “A 2002 paper found that chickens have the same preference for certain human faces as do humans, ‘keying in on things like symmetry’ in features—one of the subconscious measures of attractiveness.”
 
Studies showed that chicken responded more to symmetrical faces often associated with better looks.
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Lanxess Showcases Biosecurity in Action at World Pork Expo

Video: Lanxess Showcases Biosecurity in Action at World Pork Expo

At the 2025 World Pork Expo, Dr. Gisele Ravagnani of Lanxess joined Rachel for an engaging booth interview and live demonstration. The session began with a quick overview of Lanxess products and branding, followed by a hands-on outdoor demo in the barn area. Dr. Ravagnani showcased how to properly mix the product and apply it using a hand sprayer, foot bath, and surface treatment. The combination of visuals and real-world application gave producers a clear, practical look at how these solutions can be used on-farm, with Rachel guiding the conversation through educational, hands-on questions.