Chickens could be smarter than human toddlers, a study has suggested.

The Happy Egg Company carried out a review which found that chickens have the ability to out-perform young children at numeracy and logic.

According to the findings, a chicken's ability with numbers appears almost as soon as it is hatched, and unlike humans they do not need to be taught to count.

Within just a few hours, chicks can tell the difference between different figures and can also keep track of numbers up to five.

Chickens can also keep track of objects and individuals that fall out of their sight. This is something that human babies do not develop until they are around 1-year-old.

The Happy Egg Company is now using the findings in new outdoor play areas designs for their chickens, which will ensure that all the animals are mentally and physically stimulated.

Steve Horton, Marketing Director at the Happy Egg Company, said: "We know playtime is an integral role to the emotional and physical development of children - and it's no different for hens.

"We've already developed a range of activities for our farms but we want to take this further and introduce new forms of hen-tertainment for our flocks."

Christine Nicol, Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Bristol, co-wrote the review.

She said: "Chickens may not be about to make a significant mathematical, scientific or literary contribution to the world, but the study shows that chickens have the capacity to master skills and develop abilities that a human child can take months and years to accomplish."

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