OK, I'm convinced my chickens are stupid!

[KDK1]

The main door of my coop is hardware cloth with a pop door in it. For the last couple of months, I just open the main door for them to come and go. Today I closed the main door and opened the pop door. While observing the coop-cam on my computer, I noticed them all lined up on the ramp not able to figure out how to get in the coop. Mind you, the ramp dead ends right into the pop door. Yup, they aint none too bright!

 

[NonnasBabies]

One thing I've learned about chickens is that are very much creatures of habit. If you change anything it screws them all up!!

 

[Nikki82]

They weren't trying to figure out how to get into the coop. They were discussing your odd behaviour and how to get you to do what you always do.

 

[Emptywagon2]

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[KDK1]

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Very true... they really get upset when I clean the coop out!

 

[elmo]

If as many things in this world were trying to eat you as are trying to eat chickens, you'd probably be just as nervous about new things.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think they are called birdbrains, not because of their intelligence, but because their brain does not process logic the same way ours does. I kinda look at it like a snake charging you when you surprise it. The snake is not really trying to attack you. It safely came into that area using a certain path so when it is surprised, it instinctively tries to leave by the way it safely came in, even if that is where the danger now is. Their brain just does not process information the same way ours does.

From observing mine in different circumstances, I'm convinced they especially don't get the concept of gate or doorway. That concept really must be foreign to them. Then you add the concept of new! What's a chicken to do????

 

[Katydid2011]

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Agreed! It's not that they're stupid, it's that they're creatures of habit. They'll figure it out soon enough.

 

[Katydid2011]

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X2!

 

[Mahonri]

Yup, they don't call them bird brains for no reason...