More intelligent or less dim?

[fiberart57]

Chickens, I have found out, are not very smart. However, I've noticed that my EE, Stormy, might have an IQ in double digits instead of single like the other five.

On Wednesday, I was out until after dark and returned to find that the wind had blown the door to their run closed. Normally they're out roaming they put themselves to bed at night if I get in late. Then, when I get home I go in and tell them that they're wonderful and wish them good night while closing them in.

So on the tragic ( according to the girls) night in question, I came home and Stormy was the only one smart enough to get up high to roost by sitting on a table that the rest can get on as well. The others were huddled in the basement well, whimpering with misery. I put them to bed by carrying them and placing them on the roost and they were fine in the morning.

When Stormy was a fluffy baby I watched her remove two peices of wood chips from the waterer by picking them up in her beak and setting them down on the ground. So this made me wonder if she's just a bit brighter than the others.

Does anyone have a chicken that they think is particulary clever? As far as a chicken, I mean. I'm not going to enroll Stormy in college or anything, I have no illusions about chicken intelligence.

 

[LarryPQ]

I have one that knows to push the door in. And she chases the baby because she KNOWS there is food on him somewhere.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

I have five girls and my two RSL's and one of my EE's is very smart.

I have one EE that isn't super bright and one Black Minorca that is super skittish and might be bright but she is so flighty it's hard to tell.

 

[LarryPQ]

I have a polish my DH was convinced was "challenged". Then I gave her a haircut. Problem solved.

 

[azygous]

Actually, didn't you know that chickens are really little, tiny people trapped in feather-suits?

Of my ten chickens, my one five year old Araucana Michelle responds to her name, and will come running, really RUNNING, when I call her. That is, most of the time. She ignores me if she happens to have discovered some bugs.

And my Wyandotte rooster Stan has surprised me lately when I scream at him to knock off bothering the Brahmas, who detest him, by actually stopping in his tracks and turning around to go bother some one else instead. He's responded often enough that I know he understands .

People don't give chickens enough credit for smarts. I have to admit that sometimes they really surprise me.