Chickens ‘cleverer than toddlers’

Chickens may be brighter than young children in numeracy and basic skills, according to a new study.

Hens are capable of mathematical reasoning and logic, including numeracy, self-control and even basic structural engineering, following research.

Traits such as these are normally only shown in children above the age of four, but the domesticated birds have an ability to empathise, a sophisticated theory of mind and plan ahead.

“The domesticated chicken is something of a phenomenon,” Christine Nicol, professor of animal welfare at Bristol University, and the head of a study sponsored by the Happy Egg Company.

Ok, when results from studies are produced there are always signs to tell the level of its validity, if for example you have a study about chickens sponsored by an egg company you can tell straight away that the results are a load of biased shite.

How did they conduct this experiment put a chicken in a classroom and leave an equation on the blackboard giving it 10 minutes to see if it could solve it?

The best bit of this story has to be that the study states that chickens can only distinguish numbers up to five, and yet they have an understanding of physics, now if you can only count to five I think a grasp of physics is a bit beyond your skills set.

What we have here then is another entry into the annals of pointless, irrelevant, unnecessary and frankly stupid research.   

Although if the chickens don’t fancy laying eggs or being Sunday lunch anymore, they can always apply for a job at Bristol University, they’ll feel right at home.