Are Chickens Smart?

[Mattemma]

I have been putting my RSL hen into a pet carrier at night due to fighting issues,and her pooping on everyones eggs. Spiteful young lady she is.

Anyway, I went to get her last night and she wasn't in the chicken shed with the others.Figured she was under a table in the yard,or maybe the hawk got her. I was headed to the house to get a flash light and decided to look in the carrier. Well she was in there! She got through the fence and walked into the garage.Normally I close the garage door,but yesterday I left it open. I think she was trying to get in the day before too,but I had the door closed. She remembers the carrier and now seems to prefer it over the nest box. If I had room in the chicken shed I would put the carrier in there for her.

I did not think chickens remember much,but somehow she knows to roost in the carrier that is in the garage.My little witchy girl.

 

[cravenchx]

I believe you answered your own question!

 

[m_shuman]

I had a rooster that would free range with the other chickens in the yard and in the evening he would put himself in the 10x10 dog kennel where I kept him seperate from the flock. When it comes to bed time it seems they know where to go!

 

[aoxa]

I believe they are more intelligent than they let on

 

[JakRat]

I don't know about smart, but they certainly are manipulative!!! Wait so yeah they are smart

 

[RoosterRidge]

Quote:
X2 They have great memories and when I open my back door they all come running for their treats of the day... When I don't let them out to free range when they think it's time I swear I hear them saying (Let us out Lady)... Sounds crazy I know but they also know when they are doing something they shouldn't...

 

[mamaKate]

Smart is kind of relative. They do remember and strongly follow conditioned patterns. They know the difference between a familiar person/cat/ dog and a stranger. They can learn their names. They can learn to seek out their caretaker to solve a problem--btw, my son's tarantula can do that last one.

 

[JodyJo]

they recognize my car when I get home at night and they know what a silver pie tin is used for as well...
they may not be "smart" per se, but they have great memories!

 

[speckledhen]

They are smarter than some folks give them credit for, I think, but mostly, they are creatures of habit.

 

[Mum]

Any living thing which can worm its way into my heart of stone is smart: my chickens are incredibly smart