We marvel about magpies having the capacity to recognise themselves in a mirror, crows rivalling seven-year-old humans in their reasoning abilities and African grey parrots counting or categorising objects by colour and shape. Yet when it comes to the humble domesticated chicken, the kinds we exploit for meat and eggs, we seem completely oblivious to their complex cognitive abilities.
Perhaps the reason for this is that it’s easier to justify eating ‘dumb’ animals who think and feel nothing –relieving the discomfort a person may feel when their behaviour (eating animals) does not align with their values or beliefs (being an animal lover). But there’s plenty of research out there demonstrating our clucky friends are far smarter than we’d like to think.