crowless rooster

[diornisextant]

can you give me an example of the tool use you speak of ? this is a kind of pet interest to me . got any video, if it's real too use it could be the first documentation of such .

 

[Redcatcher]

My Malgache cock has easily mastered the well known string-pulling task. I didn't think chickens were capable of this kind of intelligence until I saw him go after another cock that had broken free from his tie cord. The Malgache proceeded to chase him into the woodpile and all that could be seen was his tie cord. The Malgache picked up the end of the tie cord in his beak and proceeded to drag the other cock out of the woodpile by it. He now knows how to pull a small bucket containing a hard boiled into his pen using a string.

 

[diornisextant]

Please record this and send me a copy or post the vid. I want to show it to someone. I hate hearing that chickens are stupid. They have gotten a bad rap based on production types and standard caging culture I think. Most birds are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for and that is science talking not pet pride.

 

[Debbi]

I agree! Chickens have their own rationales for things, but if you watch them, it will soon make sense to you. Case in point; my black male German Shepherd dog is always with me, always. My hens have started to seek me out when they want to lay an egg, and call me to let them into the coop. One hot day, I was sitting on the deck after weeding the garden, and I was pooped. My dog was in the yard near the deck. One of my Marans hens walked up onto the deck telling me she wanted in the coop. Give me 5 minutes old gal, and I'll let you in. Well, evidently, that didn't set well with her, and she walks off the deck, and runs towards the dog like she was going to flog him! What the heck?? The dog starts walking towards the back of the run, with the hen in hot pursuit. She followed him completely around the run, until he came back to the gate, chattering all the way. She was right in his face, and talking to him. She'd walk up to him, talk, then walk to the gate, talk, then run back to him. At the time I thought it rather odd, but when I put 2+2 together, this is what I came up with. Since that dog is always with me, she has associated him to me. Seeing as how I wouldn't get up at that moment, maybe she thought she could convince the dog who she now sees as second in command, to do the deed? I really believe that's what was going on in that little brain of hers, and since then, she has repeated this action. Boy, it's fun watching them and trying to read their minds, but obviously, I've got too much time on my hands these days!

 

[diornisextant]

that as the conclusion I came too as well as I read the account . Not at all outside of the capacity of a bird to make associations and extrapolate possibilities. It's necessary for survival. Teach the dog to let the chicken in the coop and sit back LOL

It is being seen that the arrangement of the brain is far more important than how big it is and birds are the ones teaching us this in labs. They are capable of growing new neurons (so are we ) rearranging vocal communications(so are we) have mastered interspecies communicatiions(as all species have except humans) using tools, making tools, some might even say art is within the realm of their mental capacity when you look at the bower bird display constructions or listen to the vocalizations of the birds of paradise or the mockingbirds. some even seem to mourn the dead. Aren't crows scary now.

 

[Debbi]

I know here it's the Blue Jays that can strike absolute terror into my free range birds, by mimicking a Cooper's Hawk or a Bald Eagle! I have had the pleasure to watch the little devils doing it, and they are quite adept in their mimics.
Wish I could get the dog to let them in, but the gate is bolted with a lynch pin during the day; so unless the dog can stand up 4' and undo that, well...

I have noticed in the last couple of days now, that the hens that free range with a couple of randy roos, would run to either me or the dog for protection from them. If I'm not there, the dog is now considered second in command, and is expected to fulfill my duties in abstencia!

 

[diornisextant]

Ha my new pullets do the same thing . I was wondering how we would build a bond and the rooster was working on it the whole time . Now they chase me around and wait at doors for me too .

 

[Redcatcher]

Please record this and send me a copy or post the vid. I want to show it to someone. I hate hearing that chickens are stupid. They have gotten a bad rap based on production types and standard caging culture I think. Most birds are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for and that is science talking not pet pride.

I could but I have to work on setting up a better test area. My free range chickens will often steal the egg before he has a chance to get it. And he's distracted by the hens and other chickens around him. He's not the most motivated subject, either. A neighbor happened to be over when he pulled the other cock out of the woodpile. He came out with a few expletives since he had never seen anything like it before (and neither had I). He's an old timer who thought chickens were as dumb as rocks.

 

[TREX]

Fascinating thread.I have wondered why someone hasn't worked on this also. Especially since chicken keeping has caught on in suburbia everywhere. Being able to keep a quiet roo (and hens for that matter) would allow suburban chicken owners to be self sustaining because they could raise their own chicks finally instead of having to buy chicks yearly for meat or to replace laying hens that have been lost.I would love to see someone work on this as I do think it would be a very popular option for people stuck in the burbs.

 

[wolfwhyte]

I have a hybrid rooster of Asian decent that has never crowed. In fact, I believe he is completely mute. I have put some eggs in the incubator from his hens and they are fertile. I want to see if it is genetic. If it is, then it can be crossed on to any breed.