The aims of my study can be grouped in three blocks with their corresponding predictions (when possible): 

 

• To test whether variation in group size can cause variation in cognitive performance.                                                                                                              For this, I used a captive population of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), the ancestor of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). Red junglefowl are naturally social and form relatively stable groups of 2-15 individuals in the wild.

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PREDICTION: Chicks from large groups would show better cognitive performance than chicks in small groups.

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• To investigate how variation in group size affects variation in individual cognitive performance.

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PREDICTIONS: If the Social Intelligence Hypothesis is true, chicks in large groups would live in a more socially complex environment than those in small groups.

Alternatively, I predict that cognitive performance in large groups may be impaired by increased rest disturbances, improved by reduced need for vigilance and enhanced or worsened by increased competition. 

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• To explore if there were any long term effects of group size on cognitive performance.                                                                                                              For this, I tested females from my experimental chick groups as adults.