Researchers at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus have developed an app called Cluckify to decipher the sounds that chickens make and understand their inner lives. The app aims to help chicken owners and farmers connect with their birds on a deeper level by translating the various sounds into emotions and needs that the chickens may be expressing. The app offers interactive games like “Guess the Cluck” to educate and entertain users about the different categories of sounds that chickens make, such as social calls, rooster calls, mother hen calls, and territorial calls.
Suresh Neethirajan, a professor working on the app, believes that understanding how chickens communicate can improve their lives and overall well-being. By interpreting the emotions that the chickens are expressing through their sounds, owners can intervene and make changes to enrich the quality of life for the birds. Neethirajan notes that content chickens are more productive, which can lead to sustainable profitability for farmers. He envisions the technology being used in poultry care in the future, with the possibility of incorporating “chicken translators” in barns to translate the sounds into a dashboard that humans can understand.
The app aims to help individuals, whether they are backyard flock keepers, poultry farmers, or animal enthusiasts, better understand and connect with their chickens on an emotional level. By recognizing the different sounds that chickens make and the emotions behind them, owners can provide a better environment for their birds and improve their overall quality of life. The app offers a unique way for users to interact with their chickens and learn more about their behavior and communication patterns.
Cluckify offers insights into the personalities of chickens and the emotions they express through their sounds, such as contentment, frustration, happiness, and joy. By decoding these emotions, users can take proactive measures to ensure that their chickens are well-cared for and have their needs met. The app also includes various interactive features, such as games and quizzes, to engage users and educate them about the diverse range of sounds that chickens make and what they signify.
Neethirajan emphasizes the importance of understanding how birds communicate and how it can impact their well-being and productivity. By being able to interpret the sounds that chickens make, owners can make informed decisions about how to provide a better environment for their birds and enhance their overall happiness and contentment. The app not only serves as a tool for understanding chicken communication but also as a way to promote sustainable farming practices and improve the relationship between humans and animals.
In summary, the Cluckify app developed by researchers at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus offers a unique way to decipher the sounds that chickens make and understand their emotions and needs. By recognizing the various categories of sounds that chickens produce and the emotions behind them, users can better connect with their birds and provide a more enriching environment for them. The app aims to educate and entertain individuals about chicken communication and behavior while promoting sustainable farming practices and improving the relationship between humans and animals.
