Summary: New research suggests that upon hatching, chicks are four years ahead of human newborns in terms of their powers of logic and reason.
A chicken’s brain is about the size of a human thumb. But according to a new study, it packs some rapid-fire responses. The research suggests that upon hatching, chicks are four years ahead of human newborns in terms of their powers of logic and reason. Commissioned by a company that sells chicken eggs for profit, the point of the research is to ensure that chickens, like toddlers, are provided engaging environments.
If this sounds like lunacy, consider the source: The study was funded by the Happy Egg Company, Britain’s number one free range egg seller. But the research was conducted by reputable Professor of Animal Welfare Christine Nicol of University of Bristol who culled over 20 years of studies to arrive at her conclusions. Said Nicol, “Chickens may not be about to make a significant mathematical, scientific or literary contribution to the world, but they have the capacity to master skills and develop abilities that a human child can take months and years to accomplish.”
Among the key findings from the Intelligent Egg report regarding chick versus humantoddlers’ developmental milestones:
-Chickens have the capacity to outperform toddlers when it comes to numeracy and logic.
-They are also able to exercise greater self-control — choosing to delay a reward for a better one.
-Chickens don’t seem to be “taught” how to count like humans. Instead, they are able to keep track of numbers up to five just hours after hatching.
-Chickens are born with an instinctive ability in physics — preferring to approach objects that they know physically.
-They’re also able to keep track of objects and individuals that fall out of sight — an ability that babies don’t develop until around one year old.
No one is suggesting though that parents adopt chicks rather than bear children. The Happy Hen Co. said it will use this research to “inform future designs for new outdoor play areas that will ensure all of our “girls” are mentally and physically stimulated. If hens are as clever as we believe, we think it’s even more important that we provide them with the environment that reflects — and nurtures — their mental agility.”
Do you find it useful to compare the intelligence of a chicken with your child? Does your toddler exhibit any the chicken’s advanced behaviors?
Photo credit: Flickr
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