I’m going to amaze you with this scientific chicken fact, as demonstrated by Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe the Buff Orpingtons as they pause from eating a wedge of watermelon to watch me approach.

Chickens use their right eyes for activities involving recognition and identification. “Oh, that’s Amy with her camera.”

They use their left eyes for depth perception and judging distance. “Amy is five feet away and coming closer.”

Like many prey animals their eyes are on the sides of their heads so they have good peripheral vision but a limited range of binocular vision. (Thank you, Grace and Marilyn. Go back to your watermelon picnic on the lawn.)

I read this is in Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, by Gail Damerow. Excellent reading for the would-be or novice chicken keeper.