Chickens make the best pets. They’re affectionate, gentle, and quite cuddly. But there is one more thing that makes them better than other pets – they’re clever and intelligent.
People don’t usually talk about the intellect of birds, especially chickens. Most view them as dumb birds, with no talent or skills.
But this article has everything to prove those people wrong.
We know, comparing chickens with dogs might sound absurd, but you can only know about the intellect and brainpower of these birds when we compare them to the species believed to be one of the most responsive and brilliant of all animal breeds – dogs.
So, how exactly clever are chickens compared to dogs? Let’s find out…
How smart are chickens?
You’ve probably heard the term “bird brain,” which is used to describe how foolish and dumb a person is.
This is mainly used because of the small brain size of chickens. However, even with their small-sized brains, chickens possess some unique and interesting traits that make them bright birds:
Delayed satisfaction
Delayed gratification refers to delaying any reward, pleasure, gain, or favor. This characteristic in chickens makes them intelligent birds who don’t expect rewards right at that particular instant. This is because chickens have patience and self-control.
What does that mean?
It means you won’t need to reward your chickens for desirable behaviors, and they won’t be expecting one either. Unlike dogs, who expect rewards for tricks, chickens might even refuse food because they know they’ll get more later. Moreover, dogs can’t really be taught how to resist rewards as much as chickens.
Impressive memory
You might not think chickens are able to recognize other animals or even humans. But here’s where you’re wrong– several studies suggest chickens, just like dogs, can recognize humans from one another, as well as other chickens.
It is said that chickens can recognize up to 100 faces and are also able to associate their negative and positive experiences with those faces. So, if you own chickens, your chickens will most definitely differentiate between you and your family members.
Also, chickens are known to recall and consider their prior experiences and knowledge to solve complex situations and tasks in the present.
Object permanence
This is the understanding of the existence of an object, even if it is taken away. Here’s an example- you show your chicken a cricket ball and then hide it.
The chicken will still understand that the object shown to them exists somewhere, even though they can’t see it. Not even children have this understanding until they’re a little older, but chickens do!
Ability to learn very quickly
Chickens are known to have robust and vast abilities that make them comparable to human toddlers. This is because, just like children, chickens have the ability to learn and grasp things very quickly.
A study by Dr. Christine Nicol in “The Intelligent Hen” stated that chickens could master those skills that can take small children months (and even years!) to accomplish.
Mathematical abilities
Another interesting fact about chickens is they can do simple math. This includes adding and subtracting objects. Chickens can also choose between a greater or lesser number of items.
Personality
Dogs are known to be man’s best companions, mainly due to their loving personalities and ability to form relationships with humans. However, chickens aren’t any different.
Chickens tend to behave differently in front of certain individuals, but if your chicken(s) see you as their owner, they will create a special bond with you.
If an individual is caring towards a chicken, that chicken will most certainly form a special bond with them. Because of their highly social nature, they quickly feel attached to their owners in no time.
They know their names
Yes, you read that right.
Chickens are smart enough to understand their names, just like dogs do. This is why people tend to name their chickens! Chickens respond whenever you call out their names.
Protective nature
Chickens tend to be incredibly protective of their own. This trait adds to their intelligence. Chickens can differentiate between things and have a sense of their belongings. Therefore, just like dogs, chickens will be overprotective not only of their eggs and chicks but also of their owners and family members.
Cunning
Most people view chickens as dumb birds who can easily be fooled. However, studies have shown how cunning chickens can be. Manipulation is a common characteristic in these birds, as they can tactically trick one another to get what they want.
A feature in The Startling Intelligence of the Common Chicken in 2013 talked about how deceptive and clever chickens are, as these birds have unique communication skills they use for their primates.
Ability to make decisions
Chickens are known to understand what is best for them and make decisions for themselves accordingly. Moreover, they watch and learn from others and understand what is right or wrong.
Strong cognitive abilities
A study by the University of Bristol stated how chickens could think and plan. They also apply logic, which means chickens don’t always rely on their instincts.
Chickens use their brains to think logically and to act accordingly. Their conclusions and plans are based on solid cognitive thinking.
This study was supported by an experiment in which appetizing and unappetizing food in different colored bowls were placed. When this food was given to the chicks, the hens were seen to warn these chicks about the food.
These hens helped the chicks decipher which food was palatable and which one wasn’t.
This study shows the chickens’ ability to process information and their surroundings and assess situations carefully. This shows how chickens are smart enough to rely on their senses and use solid cognitive thinking.
Emotional intelligence
Although chickens might not seem to show any emotions, you’d be surprised to know that they have an immense sense of empathy. Besides that, chicks also portray jealousy, which is quite common in most animals kept as pets.
When we talk about emotional intelligence or empathy in animals, we are talking about how a particular animal can connect and share the feelings of other animals. In the study discussed in the previous point, it can be seen how chickens possess a sense of care and protection towards other beings.
One of the reasons why chickens do not show as much empathy as dogs do is that chickens aren’t really exposed to as much human interaction as dogs are.
How smart are dogs?
Let’s now take a look at how intelligent dogs are. Dogs shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to their intellect and astuteness, as they are regarded as one of the brightest companions of man. Usually, dogs are said to have intelligence like that of a two-and-a-half-year-old.
Apart from learning tricks, dogs are also able to understand up to 250 words. This includes commands and the names of other people and objects.
Moreover, dogs are also able to understand human emotions. Dogs can read and react to human emotions by analyzing their body language and expressions. This makes dogs understand and adhere to the commands of their owners quickly.
However, it is also important to note that dogs aren’t the smartest animal out there. Even if chickens aren’t as smart as dogs, numerous other species and mammals are regarded as more intelligent than dogs.
Furthermore, we actually regard canines as the most intelligent human companion out there because of the dog’s ability to partner with humans easily.
Chickens vs. Dogs – Who is smarter?
Although chickens aren’t probably the most intelligent bird in the nest, they are indeed on par with other intelligent species, such as dogs. However, there are no definite conclusions as to if chickens are smarter and more intelligent than dogs.
But, chickens have been able to outperform most dogs and are also believed to possess the cognitive skills and abilities of a 4-year-old toddler!
Cognitive abilities, especially cognitive thinking, are pretty impressive in chickens. They are known to be one of the most brilliant domesticated birds. But, just because a chicken possesses certain skills and traits doesn’t necessarily mean they are more intelligent than dogs. The same goes for dogs if we compare their abilities and characteristics with chickens.
Chickens can learn to adapt pretty quickly. As such, they can even learn how to use a dog door!
However, keeping skills and traits on one side, there might be instances where a dog might outperform a chicken and examples where a chicken might outperform a dog. So, there is no way to decipher which is smarter than which.
If we talk about emotional intelligence in chickens, dogs would obviously be seen to be more emotionally intelligent than chickens. However, dogs are more emotionally intelligent than chickens because of their interaction with humans, and dogs obviously have more interaction with humans than chickens do.