When we think about animal intelligence, dolphins, chimps, crows, octopi, even dogs, come to mind. Chickens definitely don’t. Animal intelligence is measured through a few factors. There are the more obvious measures like numerical abilities, communication and logical inference, but there are others that we might take for granted. Visual cognition and spatial recognition look at how well an animal understands object permanence– something humans don’t master until they are about 2 years old. Time perception and future anticipation is considered, but also if the animal is aware of itself as an individual. Can the animal mentally travel back in time using memory? Is it aware of time intervals? Can it consider its future self and exhibit self-control? Then there is social cognition and complexity– putting all of these things together to be part of a complex social group. So where do chickens fall on this scale?
As it turns out, chickens aren’t any dumber than most other animals. Researcher Lori Marino found that though the pool of studies on chickens is small, the results are promising. Chickens demonstrate average levels of visual and spatial capacities, possess some arithmetic abilities, and show self control and self assessment. But where they really shine, is in tasks related to social cognition.
Chickens are highly communicative with at least 24 different vocalisations and numerous visual displays. They use referential communication to refer to things in their environment, and have different calls for different predators. They are even capable of lying, with males sometimes making the call for food even if there isn’t any around to attract females. One study even suggests that hens and chicks might have an empathetic bond. When hens in the experiment witnessed air being puffed on their chicks, the hens themselves displayed signs of distress. They have distinct personalities too, and different mothering styles.
So what does it mean if chickens are more cognitively and emotionally complex than we give them credit for? It might mean that we humans have to consider these complex emotions when we rear them for food. And it definitely means that there should be more work done with chickens to find out.
Marino, L (2017). Thinking chickens: a review of thinking, emotions, and behavior in domestic chickens. Animal Cognition, (20) 2, 127-147. doi:10.1007/s10071-016-1064-4
