are chickens smart enough to open a latched dog kennel?

[stone_family3]

Went out to the coop and both patches on the metal dog kennel were open and the chicks had escaped. Luckily everyone was alive and it appears they all floated together. Also all the chick food was gone but the layer crumbles we not touched. My 16 week old chickens won't be hurt from eating chick food will they?

 

[stubbornhill]

Not sure what kind of latches you have, but I wouldn't think a chicken could open a latch. Do you have any other kinds of animals? Goats, horses, dogs? My dog loves chicken food and he would surely get into a pen if there was a way for him to unlatch a door.

 

[debid]

Only some of my chickens can figure out how to walk around the opened door to get in! The others walk all of the way around the run and come in on the "open" side.

So, I think undoing a latch is beyond their pea-brain capabilities. But a smart dog, goat, small child, or a raccoon is another story... Just be glad that the feed is all that was missing and if you're positive it was opened rather than left unlatched by mistake, then I'd upgrade your security.

 

[stone_family3]

They are just basic latched. My husband said they might have come lose if the chickens were jumping on top of it. I only have a rabbit in there with them and its pretty predator proof. Tonight I'm going to put a lock on it.

 

[stubbornhill]

Just seems strange that not only was the latch open, but the food was all gone too! Well, I'm guessing that your lock will do the trick if it were the chickens.

 

[stone_family3]

Well I know the older ones will gobble down the chick food so once the door was open they probably ate it

 

[bobbi-j]

A raccoon is certainly smart enough....

 

[stone_family3]

No signs of raccoons or any other predator, also no place for them to get in. I double checked the whole coop this morning. Even so the big guys food is right on the floor with very easy access, no reason to unlatch a cage.

 

[Huskeriowa]

The title of the thread made me laugh just a little. Any thread that starts with 'are chickens smart enough?' should be answered with an abrupt NO! But that is just my opinion. I like my birds but none of them will be given an award for being too smart. Opinionated maybe but not smart.