Why should we give a cluck about chickens?

But chickens are way more intelligent and sensitive than many people think. Here are three things you might not know about chickens:

Clever counters

Chickens are good at maths. Researchers at Italy’s University of Padova worked with newly hatched chicks and found that they could count and do simple arithmetic.

After hatching, the chicks were raised with five objects – small plastic containers from inside ‘Kinder Surprise’ chocolate eggs. After a few days, the scientists took the five objects and, in full view of the chicks, hid three behind one screen and two behind a second screen. They noted the chicks were more likely to approach the screen hiding more of the objects.

Next, they tested the chicks' memory and ability to add and subtract. After the objects were hidden behind the two screens, the scientists began transferring objects between the two screens, in the chicks’ view.

The chicks showed signs of being able to count. They understood how many objects were behind each screen and were more likely to approach the screen with the most objects behind it.

Counting is a skill often linked to animals that are considered more intelligent than chickens like chimpanzees and dogs. Even more surprising is that in some counting tests, chickens have done better than toddlers.

Chickens at high welfare chicken farm (Image Credit: Valerie Kuypers)

Bossy business

Like people, and many other animals, different chickens have different personalities. Some birds are bold and feisty, others are shy and cautious. These personalities are key to helping chickens arrange themselves and their flock into a ‘pecking order’.

A natural chicken flocks consist of approximately 15 birds. The more dominant, bossy birds lead the pecking order. To establish their supremacy, they peck at submissive birds and pluck their feathers. They might also chase them away or steal their food. Submissive birds don’t peck back and often run away.

This may not sound like a nice group to be part of, but it’s their way to keep the flock safe and ensure everybody is looked after.  

Talking points

Chickens are great communicators. They use at least 30 different calls and whistles to talk to each other. It’s usual for them to warn each other about danger and share information about food.

Mother hens are extremely protective of their chicks they call the little ones together, train them to recognise different types of food and warn them about predators. They will even fight predators like cats to protect their offspring

Chickens communicate with their bodies too. For example, if a rooster foraging for food finds something tasty and wants to attract a female, he dances for her.

Many chicken owners are convinced that chickens understand what people are saying too. They report individual chickens coming to them when their names are called and following commands like ‘up’ and ‘down’.

Mother hens are extremely protective of their chicks they call the little ones together, train them to recognise different types of food and warn them about predators