Showerthought: My neighbor said chickens are just dumb birds with a one-track mind

I was chatting over the fence yesterday and he made that comment about my girls. It really got under my skin because I watch them every day. Just this morning, my Speckled Sussex, Mabel, spent ten minutes carefully showing a new pullet where the best bugs are under the compost. They have little friendships and routines. Has anyone else had to defend their flock's intelligence to someone who just doesn't get it?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixh742mo ago

Read they solve puzzles for treats.

sam_anderson2mo ago

It's the same basic reward system that keeps us scrolling on our phones all day.

ross.river1mo ago

I gotta admit I used to be one of those people who just saw chickens as these dumb pecking machines, you know? But then I got my first flock and watched them learn the layout of the yard, figure out which spots have the best shade at different times of day, and even get upset when I moved their waterer to a new spot. They definitely have their own little personalities and can problem solve way better than I ever gave them credit for. I saw one of mine get stuck behind a garden fence and she actually walked the whole perimeter until she found the gap instead of just panicking. So yeah, I'm with you on defending them now.