Rooster vs. Hen

[magicpigeon]

Does anybody know if roosters are more intelligent than hens? From one of my friends who breeds silkies ( :O he has approx 50 now!!!) he reckons that all his roos are smarter than the hens. Of course, they're blind, but as we both major in "blind" chickens...I thought i might as well ask here

Also, from personal experience I noticed that the roosters tend to be braver and almost...friendlier than the hens. Of course, some bite, but they also are the first ones to run towards me for snacks

Any other opinions on that matter? I'd love to know

Thanks

 

[Illia]

All my boys in general are more friendly from the get-go, and are a little more brave than the females. However, measuring intelligence is a little different. It is natural that the male seems this way, as he needs to look out for his girls, so say his hormones. And the girls, so say their instinct, just need to keep to themselves to prevent getting eaten.

I don't think either are smarter than the other. I think intelligence is usually breed and/or strain specific. For example, gamefowl rate above most other breeds, and Cornish X, Production Reds, Commerical Leghorns, and Sex Links likely rank at the lower end due to severe breeding for ONE trait.

Polish, Silkies, Houdans, Sultans, etc I would not consider dumb at all though - People say they are, but people don't make a thought about "blind" vs "dumb"

A crested bird with aided vision is just as smart as the rest of the flock.

 

[chicknmania]

I agree that it is more due to the breed or even the individual, to a point, than either sex. Our alpha roo is extremely intelligent, we think, for a chicken. And the other roosters high on the pecking order all seem to be smart.

But we have a couple of hens who have done some extraordinary things, too, that show they are using those chip-sized brains in some fashion.

 

[heather112588]

I've noticed that alot too! When i first started with chicks (before they were even sexed), the ones that turned out as males were overall more social and friendly. Now, that they are 6 months, i find that they are definetly more clever. I can shoo all 7 chickens off my front porch and it's the males that will find a way back up as soon as i go in the house (even with putting up a gate)

. They fly up and stare through my glass door 24-7 to see what i'm up to

; some of the males have even learned the cat door (though they are currently too big anymore)!!!

 

[clairabean]

My roo is very friendly. But some of my hens are super friendly too...

Hard to say.