can chickens do a chicken head count?

[cluckingheck]

Copper (runs up from no where): I knew it! I knew she was your favorite!

and burt’s just:

 

[cluckingheck]

Irrelevant but I love how curious cows are!!

definitely, they’re just as curious as chickens. though, i was a little worried they would’ve tried trampling the chickens

 

[Tandrae87]

Haha! Great post, I have wondered the same thing. I only have 4 hens but when I am outside with them while they free range I constantly see my rooster halfway between both groups of ladies and if anyone ends up out of sight he gets all tall and important looking and checks on them.

 

[Molly Mojo]

and burt’s just:
View attachment 2315949

Burt better play those cards right.

 

[Sahraschweiss]

I have found a few articles about chickens and counting. Here's an easy article describing some of the research.
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170110-despite-what-you-might-think-chickens-are-not-stupid

 

[Sammy1122]

I doubt they ”count” but chickens ingenerel defiantly know when a member of the flock is missing.I have never seen a rooster go looking for a hen unless he hears her calling out for help and/Or cackling.

 

[Sahraschweiss]

I doubt they ”count” but chickens ingenerel defiantly know when a member of the flock is missing.I have never seen a rooster go looking for a hen unless he hears her calling out for help and/Or cackling.

I agree. Counting as in assigning a value within a sequence is doubtful. However, I think they can understand more and less, as well as who is missing.

 

[cluckingheck]

I agree. Counting as in assigning a value within a sequence is doubtful. However, I think they can understand more and less, as well as who is missing.

yeah, i wasn’t meaning it as literal counting— more as being able to see if everyone’s there or who isn’t

 

[Sahraschweiss]

yeah, i wasn’t meaning it as literal counting— more as being able to see if everyone’s there or who isn’t

Either counting or knowing if someone is missing is still interesting. To know if someone is missing, then the bird would have to have some type of construct of each flock member. Each flock member would have an identity of sorts in that bird's mind. If they can remember a particular bird, or if only one was missing would be fascinating to know. One would mean individual identities with possiblity for empathy, the other would be a much simpler form of cognition.

 

[Sammy1122]

I do believe chickens have real feelings.I have had birds partner up (usually two of the same breed, has happened many times), and when one of the birds has been killed or died the other one has gone into what seem to be a deep depression.