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How smart are chickens? With the general increase in popularity in raising backyard chickens in recent years and a spike during COVID, many are finding out that chickens are much more than just egg-layers.

According to an article on aarp.org, “Chickens are intelligent, sociable creatures that can form strong bonds with humans.”

As evidence of chicken intelligence, there are many anecdotes, including this story that was recently posted on the facebook group, Chickens Chickens Chickens by group member Megan Ryan.

“Tonight there was a knock on our front door. My dog went nuts and we were confused on who would be here at 9:45 pm. I opened the door and it was our chicken, Marge. it’s dark here and has been for a good 45 minutes.” 

So, what brought this intrepid chicken to the front door, especially so late at night? In the same post, Ryan relates that Marge likely was looking for help:

“So she must have gotten out of the backyard earlier and couldn’t find her way back to the coop, so she knocked on our freaking front door for help“

Ryan concludes: “I now believe they are smarter than I originally thought.”

The short but funny post has gained the attention of many, receiving over 1,000 likes on Facebook and 108 comments in the first 12 hours after being posted.

Is this chicken extra smart or simply acting on instinct? One comment explained that, rather than “knocking,” if the porch light was on at the time, the chicken might simply have been scratching for bugs.

Still, many others posted other stories about their own and even chickens that weren’t theirs showing up at the door and making their presence known with a “knock” or two. One comment related a story about a chicken pecking at her back door to alert humans about a hawk attacking.

“She saved their lives that day,” noted the poster of the comment.

Regardless of the chicken’s actual intentions, Marge’s human-like behavior undoubtedly caused many to smile upon reading the post.

Said one Facebook member: “I have to say this little story made by day-haven’t laughed out loud in a while! You go Marge!!”