Can chickens actually taste what they are eating?

[gtaus]

I did a quick Google search and found that "Humans have around 10,000 taste buds, while chickens have a maximum of only around 350 taste buds. ... And in fact, the taste buds of a chicken are located so far back on the tongue that they have more or less swallowed something before they have any idea about what it tastes like." (www.mypetchicken.com)

I see my baby chicks eating sand (as grit) right alongside eating their chick starter. They will also eat bedding, weeds, and other greens I give them. I can't tell if they like something better than the other. So why would you give them something expensive like meal worms? Or even chicken scratch which I hear they also like.

But can chickens really taste what they are eating. or is a meal worm the same as eating sand to them? Does the bedding taste the same as their chick starter feed to the birds? And how do they know the worm in the other chick's mouth is better than the one in their mouth, so they have to chase each other and fight about it?

 

[Chickassan]

They can taste just fine, not as refined as our taste but they're certainly well enough equipped to have liked and disliked tastes.
Also you have to consider the entire beak is a complicated sensory organ in itself.

 

[Biggy]

I am pretty sure they can taste. My chickens are so spoiled they are super picky xD. My chickens are legitimately so spoiled they won't eat veggies unless it has salad dressing! My dog will gobble up things that my chickens turn their nose up at. They stick to worms, cheese, oats, and scratch for treats LOL.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Chicks aren't as discerning but a lot of that is practice at chickening! Also, meal worms are exciting on an instinct level as chickens spend a good part of their day scratching and foraging for worms and bugs!

Mine love rice, oats and fruit but hate strawberries! Who knows why

 

[Chickassan]

Mine like raisins....nothing likes raisins!

Chicks aren't as discerning but a lot of that is practice at chickening! Also, meal worms are exciting on an instinct level as chickens spend a good part of their day scratching and foraging for worms and bugs!

Mine love rice, oats and fruit but hate strawberries! Who knows why

 

[Henriettamom919]

Mine like raisins....nothing likes raisins!

I like raisins

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I like raisins

Me too.... maybe we should stop liking raisins if we really want to be something... I’m kinda okay with being nothing though

 

[Henriettamom919]

Me too.... maybe we should stop liking raisins if we really want to be something... I’m kinda okay with being nothing though

Oh yeah! All the cool kids like raisins

 

[Chickassan]

I do too, not that I ever get to eat them anymore. They've been added to the list of foods I don't get to keep if they see them.
If I want raisins I gotta hide in the house and eat them

I like raisins

.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I read chickens ( maybe birds in general... I can’t recall) have a sorta disconnected sense of taste and smell... so things like meal worms might appeal to their smell as much, or more than taste