What is the smartest breed of chicken?

[Gonzo]

So, I was bringing some of my hens in the front yard this morning for some free ranging and grass eating time... I had them blocked off along one side by a fence... I put my 4 week old golden comets out there to play and meet the girls. I had a lawn chair out their to watch them. As I was gathering up the girls I noticed the 2 babies would be out of the enclosed area, hoping around in the front yard.. so I'd put them back, we did this a few times, I'd sit there and watch them, and they'd stay put, but as soon as I'd go around back to grab a hen, they'd be in the yard! So I hid around the side of the house to see what they were doing. They peeked their heads through the fence and saw me!

so I had to go in the house and watch from a window! Got there just in time to see their fuzzy little butts squeeze through the fence! I could'nt believe it! Pretty smart for a month old chick! I don't remember any of my others doing anything like that! So I'm thinking sex-links are pretty smart!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I'll bet that was a riot to watch.

Sometimes I don't think we give chickens the credit they deserve.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

You are to them mama hen and when mama's not looking, they're being naughty!

 

[pulletkeeper]

I have been contemplating letting the babies (born 3/5) out in their outside run and I think you have convinced me to do so for at least a little while.

I love watching them inside the coop rooting around but it will be interesting to see their behavior outside. Yours misbehaving when your back is turned is just hilarious!!

 

[Gonzo]

It's funny! I have almost 40 chickens I've had since they were day olds, and none have ever done anything like this before! They're sweet little birds! Love their personalities!

 

[sianara]

In my experience it's been my Golden Campine Monique. Even with a clipped wing she finds a way out of their fenced yard/wood (that reminds me I've got to put netting up in a particular area again now that the snow is done...). She jumps up onto the top of the fenced off compost area in their yard then she jumps up to the top of the bantams (next yard over) fence, walks all around the edge of the fencing, over the top of the duck run (clickity clackity) down to the roof of the old duck house and finally out into the freedom of the back yard.

Over the years she has from time to time slept outside in freezing rain, snow, heavy rains AND 20 degree temps and still survived. Last fall I was aggravated she hadn't gone to roost with the rest of them so I decided to just let her sleep outside. As I was going into my house, I heard a loud screech and looked over just in time to see her come tumbling out of a tree and run screeching across the top of the duck run. So I quickly walked over and opened her coop door just in time for her to run/jump like crazy inside and jump on the roost. THEN I heard a "whooo- whooo- whooo"

Last night I heard her on the other side of the big backyard scratching and talking to herself. I yelled to her that if she didn't get over to the coop I was locking her out and I SWEAR she came running over just in time to make it into the coop.

She is one smart chicken even at FIVE years old!

 

[maizie]

I have a RIR hen named Prissy.
She had a sister who died last year and is the only RIR hen I have so she is lonely. All my hens stay in their own groups-Black Stars, Wyandottes, Barred Rocks...
I let Prissy come inside to lay her egg next to my husband's desk (

) and feed her grapes and blueberries sometimes since she is a loner until my new RIR chicks grow up enough for her to have her own feathered friends.
I think the chickens that survive the first two years of life are very smart and the less smart get eaten by something.

Chicks that know when you are out of sight are pretty darn smart-like circus chicks!

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:
Thats Funny!

 

[arabianequine]

I have buff orps and RIRs and some Turkeys and one duck I have only had the duck for a day and not impressed with the water issue and it is kinda messy in the house here.

Anyways I do have one arucana/americana mix and she is the smartest by far....then would be my buff orp girl. The buff orp roos are just mean there is 2 and one needs to go.