Ever been called a “bird brain” and felt insulted? Well maybe you shouldn’t! Especially if that bird happens to be a chicken. For decades we’ve dismissed these feathered farm animals as simple-minded creatures, but recent science has completely flipped this perception on its head.
The Surprising Intelligence Behind Those Beady Eyes
When most of us think about smart animals, chickens rarely make the list. We usually picture dolphins, chimpanzees, or maybe that clever border collie on YouTube. But it turns out our backyard egg-producers have been quietly outsmarting us all along.
As someone who’s spent way too much time reading research papers about chicken cognition (yes, that’s a real field!), I’m here to share some mind-blowing facts that’ll make you see these birds in a whole new light.
Chicken Smarts: The Evidence Is Clucking Clear
They’ve Got Some Serious Communication Skills
You know how chickens make that “buck-caw!” sound after laying an egg? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Studies have found that chickens can make at least 24 distinct sounds, each tied to specific situations. They have specialized calls for:
- Aerial predators (like hawks)
- Ground predators
- Finding food
- Warning others of danger
- Mating calls
- And many more!
These aren’t just random noises—they’re what scientists call “functionally referential.” In human terms that means chickens have their own vocabulary! When a chicken makes an alarm call other chickens understand what kind of danger is present without having to see it themselves.
Even more impressive? Chickens will tailor their messages depending on who’s listening. A rooster might warn a hen about a predator but stay quiet if his rival is nearby. Talk about strategic communication!
Math Wizards in Feathered Suits
Would you believe me if I told you that chickens can do basic arithmetic? Well, get ready to have your mind blown!
Research from Italy showed that chicks as young as 3-4 days old can perform simple addition and subtraction with numbers under five. For comparison, human children typically can’t do this until they’re 6-7 years old!
The scientists who conducted this research concluded that these baby chickens have “impressive proto-arithmetic capacities” In one experiment, objects were hidden behind obstructions and then shuffled around. The chicks consistently figured out which hiding spot contained more objects—showing they could not only count but also track objects even when they couldn’t see them.
Memory That Would Make an Elephant Jealous
Chickens can recognize and remember up to 100 individual chickens and can recall specific individuals even after months of separation. They also remember human faces and can distinguish between people who’ve treated them well and those who haven’t.
This impressive memory helps them maintain their social structure (yes, the famous “pecking order” is a real thing) and navigate complex relationships within their flock.
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Here’s something that really touched my heart: chickens show empathy. Not just for their babies (which would be impressive enough) but for other adult chickens too.
Studies have shown that mother hens exhibit signs of distress when their chicks appear upset. They’ll stop what they’re doing, increase their distress calls, and become more alert. Scientists call this “emotional contagion,” which is a basic form of empathy.
There are even reports of chickens helping blind hens by following them around to keep them safe and leaving food for them to eat. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like compassion to me!
The Dark Side of Chicken Intelligence: They Can Be Manipulative
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the chicken world. These birds can also be pretty devious when it suits them.
Roosters have been observed making fake “food calls” to attract hens when there’s no food present. Eventually, the hens catch on to this deception and stop responding to that particular rooster’s calls. Sound familiar? We humans aren’t the only ones who get tired of being lied to!
Male chickens will also strategically make alarm calls, sometimes to protect their mates and sometimes to put rivals at risk. They’re more likely to make warning calls if they’re safely hidden under a bush while their competitor is out in the open. This behavior shows they understand risk assessment and can make complex decisions based on multiple factors.
They Dream Just Like Us
Yep, you read that right. Research has confirmed that chickens experience dream states during sleep, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep—just like humans do. During this phase, their brain activity increases, suggesting they’re processing information and potentially experiencing dreams.
What do chickens dream about? We can’t know for sure, but I like to imagine they’re dreaming of finding the perfect dust bath or that particularly delicious worm from yesterday.
Self-Awareness and Self-Control
Scientists have found that chickens show advanced levels of self-assessment and self-control. In one study, chickens were presented with a button that, when pressed, would give them food. If they pressed it immediately, they’d get a small amount of food. But if they waited 20 seconds, they’d get much more.
Remarkably, 90% of the time, the chickens chose to wait for the bigger reward! This demonstrates not only self-control but also an ability to project into the future and make decisions based on anticipated outcomes.
What This All Means for Our Feathered Friends
All this research points to one undeniable conclusion: chickens are way smarter than we’ve given them credit for. They’re capable of complex cognition, emotional responses, strategic thinking, and social dynamics that rival those of many mammals.
This raises some uncomfortable questions about how we treat the billions of chickens raised for food every year. According to the Sentience Institute, 99.9% of chickens raised for meat in the U.S. live their lives in factory farms, often in extremely crowded conditions that prevent them from expressing their natural behaviors.
The evidence of chicken intelligence and sentience has led many animal ethicists and advocates to question these practices. If chickens can feel pain (which science confirms they do), form social bonds, remember individuals, and experience emotions like fear and distress, what does that mean for how we should treat them?
From Bird Brain to Brain Bird: Changing Our Perspective
So next time someone calls you a “chicken” or a “bird brain,” maybe you should thank them! Chickens are proving to be remarkably intelligent creatures with cognitive abilities that would make many mammals jealous.
Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve learned about chicken intelligence:
- They have a vocabulary of at least 24 distinct sounds
- They can do basic math at just a few days old
- They remember up to 100 individual faces
- They show empathy and emotional responses
- They can be deceptive and strategic
- They exhibit self-control and planning
- They dream during sleep
- They can recognize themselves
Pretty impressive for an animal we usually associate with, well… not being very bright!
My Personal Take
I’ve always found it fascinating how we tend to underestimate animals that don’t look or behave like us. Maybe it’s because chickens don’t have expressive faces like dogs, or they can’t mimic our speech like parrots. But behind those beady eyes lies a complex brain capable of some truly remarkable feats.
So next time you see a chicken, remember—there’s a lot more going on in that little head than you might think! And if you’ve got backyard chickens, maybe try teaching them some simple tricks. You might be surprised at how quickly they catch on!
What do you think? Has this changed your perspective on chickens? I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with these surprisingly smart birds in the comments below!
TURKEY VERSUS CHICKEN INTELLIGENCE
The intelligence of turkeys has not received the same amount of investigation as that of chickens. Yet even with the little time dedicated to understanding the cognition of turkeys, we know that they are competent learners who are capable of recalling precise locations even months or years after the initial visit. Recent findings have also helped us to learn more about chicken intelligence and cognition. Like turkeys, hens have remarkable memories and can recall events and objects. In addition to this, they also have the ability to reason and perform basic arithmetic.
THEY’RE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
Chickens are frequently and deliberately mischaracterised but they are complex beings who are capable of a vast array of behaviours and abilities that regularly demonstrate their intelligence. Despite their complex needs and inquisitive minds, they are denied any enrichment inside farms, and are not even permitted to roam, roost and nest — all basic needs for chickens.
Due to their dedicated and caring natures, mother hens are well known for how they nurture and raise their young. Research has demonstrated what those of us who spend time with chickens already know: that they have deep empathy for their chicks, and show just how much they care, even when the young birds are only very mildly stressed.
The Intelligence Of Chickens | Animals Brains #1
FAQ
Are chickens smart?
They are, not that we believe our compassion should be reserved solely for the most intelligent beings. However, despite people readily accepting the intelligence of parrots and corvids, for example, many people still don’t recognise that other birds, including chickens, are smart, too.
Are chickens smarter than pigs?
Pigs are able to solve more complex puzzles than chickens, such as multi-step fence latches. Chickens’ intelligence compared to other animals table. Chickens have more intelligence than most people realize and are as smart as many other animals in many areas of intelligence.
Are dogs smarter than chickens?
Though their intelligence has not been directly compared, individual analysis suggests that both dogs and chickens are highly intelligent creatures capable of emotion, advanced social interaction, and empathy, among many other traditional and nontraditional markers of intelligence.
Are chickens smarter than horses?
Horses are smarter than chickens. Horses can respond to multiple-word commands and remember complex training. Pigs are able to solve more complex puzzles than chickens, such as multi-step fence latches. Chickens’ intelligence compared to other animals table.
Are chickens smarter than ducks?
Chickens have the same intelligence as a duck. Both chickens and ducks can recognize faces, remember details, and be trained to follow simple commands. Wild turkeys might have more intelligence than chickens, but chickens are smarter than domesticated turkeys. Cows show deeper social structures and more complex herd relationships than chickens do.
Are chickens smarter than turkeys?
Wild turkeys might have more intelligence than chickens, but chickens are smarter than domesticated turkeys. Cows show deeper social structures and more complex herd relationships than chickens do. Chickens can perceive time intervals and appear to anticipate future events.
How intelligent are chickens compared to dogs?
Chickens display a range of complex cognitive and social abilities, such as recognizing individuals, complex problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, that are comparable to those of young children or other mammals, though their thought processes differ from dogs’. While dogs excel in tasks like complex command following and are more often trained for various duties, chickens demonstrate high levels of self-awareness, empathy, and social understanding, making a direct comparison of their overall “smartness” challenging.
How long can a chicken remember you?
Facts: Yes, chickens have long-term memory. They can recognize and remember up to 100 faces, including people, other chickens, and even pets. They can also recall specific individuals after being separated for months.
How smart are chickens compared to cats?
Yes, chickens possess a level of intelligence that is comparable to or even exceeds that of cats in several cognitive and emotional capacities, according to scientific research. Studies show chickens have sophisticated abilities such as facial recognition, empathy, complex memory, abstract reasoning, and the ability to plan and delay gratification, skills that are often underestimated and can be on par with young children.