Brains like a chicken. Almost every person who has heard this statement at least once, voluntarily or involuntarily, wondered: does a chicken have brains?
"Digging" as it should in this matter, scientists have found out quite interesting facts that can change a person's attitude towards such a seemingly stupid creature.
The role of the chicken brain
The brain of a chicken, together with the spinal cord, nerve processes and fibers, represents the nervous system of a winged individual. Consists of the cerebellum, forebrain, midbrain and diencephalon. The hemispheres are responsible for the orientation of the bird in space and the realization of its instincts. The cerebellum controls the coordination of movements.
There are no convolutions in the small hemispheres of the brain, which is the reason to think that the brains of chickens are something insignificant and insignificant. It took more than a century for scientists to figure out what goes on in the head of chickens in order to come to stunning conclusions.
Chicken Brain: Signaling System
There are about 24 complex signals in the chicken repertoire, each of which is used in accordance withwith the situation. To confirm their suspicions, in the 1990s, scientists conducted the following experiment: they installed audio recording devices and high-resolution television screens around the cages with domestic birds in order to identify the meaning of chicken speech sounds. Thus, a virtual reality was created for the birds, in which the latter had to contact with various individuals: a running fox, a flying hawk, a relative rooster.
In the course of the experiment, it was found that a chicken does not need to show a predator to get a certain reaction. It is enough for her to hear another bird's warning signal for the chicken's brain to draw an image of the corresponding object, prompting her to perform a certain action (for example, to run to the feeder or escape from a predator).
Selective tactics
In the process of trying to answer the question "do chickens have brains", the researchers found that domestic birds send signals depending on who is next to them. For example, a rooster will raise the alarm in the event of a threat if females are nearby, whereas with a competing relative, he will remain silent. Female hens also behave selectively: they will raise the alarm if a brood of young animals is nearby.
Consequently, the sounds made by chickens are not based on primitive “I want to eat” or “I'm scared”; the bird delves into the meaning of current events, responds to them not reflexively, but with the help of well-thought-out actions. The presence of a system of conscious signals in chicken communication indicates the complexity and development of their thought process.
From here, one interesting question can be asked: if the brain of a chicken is able to share information about ongoing events, can a bird use such information in a distorted form, to its advantage?
Peck order
Chickens have a certain hierarchical system called "pecking order". The bird defends its dominant position in its community, rewarding lower-ranking relatives with blows with its beak, which decide on actions that do not correspond to their status.
In each group of chickens there is an alpha male, constantly confirming his dominance in all sorts of ways. It is he who arranges the main dance if he finds a tidbit, and warns the others when danger approaches. What about the rest of the males? After all, they cannot assume the same functions, so as not to incur the wrath of the leader rooster. But chicken brains are given to domestic birds for a reason!
Cunning among chickens
A number of complex experiments revealed that the quality of cunning is present in the chicken environment. For example: in order to attract a lady, the alpha male arranges a demonstration dance with complex elements and makes certain inviting sounds. Roosters occupying a lower hierarchical position use a hidden tactic: in the dance they perform only the motor part, moreover, completely silently, which does not give rise to aggressive attacks from the alphamale.
It is known that chickens are very fond of hiding among thickets and tall grass, which is especially true in the event of an approaching threat. Males have been observed to trumpet danger while in the bushes, while their rival calmly walks around the open area in full view of the approaching predator. Thus, the cunning rooster achieves two goals at once: protecting his female and getting rid of his rival. This type of behavior in science is called "risk compensation" and is also characteristic of a person who assumes more responsibility in the presence of "extenuating" circumstances. For example, a driver wearing a seat belt presses harder on the gas pedal.
Empathy
Chickens know how to empathize. This fact was proved by one experiment in which hens and their brood participated. The young animals received safe and painless blows with a jet of air that only ruffled the plumage, and perceived this action as a threat. There were all signs of stress: a drop in temperature, a rapid heartbeat.
Mothers, watching the reaction of the chicks, began to experience the same stress, expressing it with anxiety and clucking, although they themselves did not feel the shocks of the air and saw that nothing threatened the chicks. Therefore, we can assume that chickens are able to put themselves in the place of relatives. This specific behavioral trait, empathy, has previously been attributed to a number of species, including crows and squirrels (and, of course, humans).
Chickensable to think
Probably, rationality is inherent in the animal world to a somewhat greater extent than previously thought. Chickens could have inherited their cognitive gift from a wild relative, the Bankivian jungle chicken, an inhabitant of the South Asian forests. In conditions of high competition within the flock and many external threats, the bird's mind had to develop in coming up with various rescue strategies and instant response to the situation. All these traits are inherited by domesticated chickens.
Scientists are only at the beginning of the path of comprehending the true essence of the type of mind characteristic of chickens. But one fact is already beyond any doubt: common sayings like "chicken brains", "stupid as a chicken" no longer make any sense.
