Time to crack down on chicken abuse - Christian Science Monitor editorial

By Paul Shapiro Mon Jun 6, 4:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Few feathers fly when scientists announce new discoveries regarding the intelligence of animals and how our underestimation of their mental faculties couldn't be more outdated.

While terms like "bird-brained" have become part of our lexicon, it now seems that being compared to birds should be considered a compliment.

Unfortunately, even with our newfound respect for avian intelligence, we have yet to translate that recognition of animal cognition into the most elemental legal protections for the bird we use most intensively for commercial purposes: the domesticated chicken.

With nearly 9 billion raised for food each year in the US, chickens are the most numerous birds on the face of the planet. And they're undoubtedly the most abused.

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