10 Surprising Facts About Chickens

More chickens are raised and killed for food than all other land animals combined.McDonald's alone kills hundreds of millions of chickens each year for its U.S. restaurants. But if more people knew that chickens are complex creatures who feel pain and distress, they might think twice before eating another nugget.

Here are 10 surprising facts about chickens:

1.

Chickens can distinguish between more than 100 faces of their own species. Looks like elephants aren't the only ones who have a great memory.

2.

Chickens know who's boss—they form complex social structures known as "pecking orders," and every chicken knows his or her place on the social ladder.

3.

Chickens have full-color vision—no color-blindness here!

4.

Who likes to sunbathe? Apparently everyone—humans, cats, dogs, and chickens too! You can't blame them, and they don't even need sunscreen.

5.

Chickens are real sleeping beauties—they experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which means they dream just like we do.

6.

Chickens have pain receptors that give them the ability to feel pain and distress. Put yourself in the shoes (or the feathers) of a battery hen—or 452 million of them, which is how many are used for their eggs each year.

7.

Hens defend their young from predators. Looks like calling someone a "chicken" is actually a compliment!

8.

Who needs pepper spray? Chickens have more than 30 types of vocalizations to distinguish between threats.

9.

Chickens are just like human mothers who talk to their babies in the womb—a mother hen begins to teach calls to her chicks before they even hatch.

10.

Last but not least, chickens are adorable—take a look for yourself!

Six Tips for a Pet-Safe Summer

The last days of May signal the unofficial start of summer for folks, young and old, across the country. But with these carefree months of no homework and summer Fridays comes an increased risk for illness or injury for our furry pals.

From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out our top six tips for keeping your animal secure all summer long.

- Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat .
- Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.
- Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
- Be cool near the pool. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or high waters-not all dogs are expert swimmers!
- Never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car! The inside of a car can heat up very quickly-even with a window open.
- Be prepared! From tornadoes to floods, we've seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families these past few weeks. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you're forced from your home in an emergency.

Have a pet-safe summer!