So, this began a few days before, but it's only become blatantly obvious today. I have two chickens in my backyard, one is very young but also shy and insecure around others. The other is almost a year old and will practically jump into my hands when I enter the chicken cage/coop. Recently, whenever I would give the older one (Barbie, long story) attention, the younger one (Cat, seriously just don't ask about the names) would push the older one aside and actually allow me to pet her. Whenever I would go to pet Cat first, she would run to the opposite end of the cage. Funny bird
. Well, just wanted to share this interesting "observation". Thanks for reading!
Huh...
You know I've wondered too...
Allthough I don't see it much when I'm petting my teenagers outside now.. when they were inside in the brooder and now with this next batch of chicks I am still noticing... the 'Look at me' game.
My brooder is clear... so when I'm sitting and turn my attention to the chicks... they see me watching.. and will often all hop to the front and stare at me.. then I noticed.. if I am looking at one little chickie.. another will come and body shove that one out of the way while staring at me.. like "No look at mee!".
Then the other will look pitiful until it notices my attention is back on it... while the other looks pitiful and sad!
Geeeze guys! I only have 2 eyes! I cannot stare at 6 chicks at the same instant.
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So Squishy, when I read this, I seriously imagined you being out in public with a teenage human, petting them like a dog.
But I've definitely got a chicken that does the same thing. We recently took her to my grandma's to get rid of her, but felt bad (mainly my boyfriend) so we brought her back, and now she will actually come over and let us touch her when the other two hens are getting attention. The other day I bent over to check to see if any babies were under the coop and she jumped up on my back and got on my shoulder when I stood up.
If you try to just single her out and mess with her, she'll scream. Seriously sounds like you're trying to kill the poor girl.
Come on, Squishy! It's ok, we all lock up some teenagers every once in a while...
What, only me
? (I'm only kidding,
)
I think once Cat hits that adult age she'll calm down. She's probably still a bit unsure about me, I mean, I didn't even hatch her. But once she knows that I just want to pet her when I start petting Barbie, she goes crazy for attention.
What I do for my babies when they're scared... Of course I did hatch them and did this from day one... LOL!
I sing... Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Who can be scared with little stars and diamonds in the night?
They start cleaning their feathers towards the end of the song... I suppose that means chickies are relaxing?
Course... I don't let other peoples hear me singing
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Either that, or they're just trying to find a way to get away from the noise.
Oh man...I'm being so mean to you tonight.
But I definitely agree, I talk to mine and play with them starting when they're chicks and they (usually) turn out liking to be handled. The hen I mentioned earlier was hand raised, but didn't do any good, she still hates being handled.
I've got one little 1 wk old chick that LOVES being held... more so than any of my Silkies. I have no bloody idea what she is... Faverolle? No one else here does either.. but she is so adorable! Snuggles.. I pick her up and she snuggles right up in my hand and falls asleep
And I'm not going to invite you to come over and hold her
. Well, just wanted to share this interesting "observation". Thanks for reading!
