Affectionate Chicken Normal Behavior?

I had a chick that I raised from a egg who would actively get out of her cage to be with me. She would leave all of her friends walk over to me and fly up on my shoulder. We would literally go on walks with each other and she would walk behind me and whoever a dog would walk by she would fly up onto my shoulder for safety. She was the sweetest little chicken I have ever had.
I thought it was the norm because I spent so much time with her when she had PAsty Butt. But when I brought 3 pullets home and it happened again it seems this is a thing with hens. They get REALLY attached and affectionate. They ignore other family members so neither of them is affectionate with anyone else. I feel really lucky to have two that are so darn sweet!
 
Oh how sweet they both sound!! I've had several super attached hens, too, and a roo if you can imagine! The first hen came into our hearts along with her 5 sisters, all of whom were Barred Rocks, sweet & happy to be around us. But this little lady, Madam Beandu, would scream bloody murder in her excitement to see me! We supervise free range them & when feeding them lettuce, she woul jump on my lap to eat, not wanting to be on the ground with the others. I always tried to be even about distribution of treats but did sneak her extra bits when no one was looking!

When she died, another hen, the saucy (Pick Pocket) Pico, who had been more on the stand offish side, stepped in and suddenly welcomed my cuddles & attention. When she passed, her sister, the equally saucy (Don't Touch Me) Pico became Cuddle Bug Pico.

The rest of the girls were happy to be around us but didn't step in when there cuddle vacancy opened. Instead, they turned into mean buddies when we got 4 new pullets to help fill in the flock. But all 4 of the new girls bonded with us, 2 of whom loved to climb on us like we were their own personal jungle gyms! One even got her name, Anushka Babushka, because of her tendancy to climb into my lap, jump onto my shoulder & maneuver herself behind the back of my neck, under my hair & snuggle me! When I called her, she would scooch out just by my ear & chirp softly!

Ahh chickens... there's nothing better!
 
:hugsDearest BarredRockMom,
Thank you for such a thorough and delightful explanation of your experiences with your girls! I loved the way you explained the relationships! While reading my head was saying, “Yes, Yes”, because I had experienced something similar. My eyes teared up at your losses because I have yet to get to that stage of our relationships. I can’t imagine my two affectionate hens not being out there to greet me when I come outside. I’m also glad to learn we aren’t alone ending up with mean buddies after introducing new pullets. I had to add an entire new wing to the coop because they just wouldn’t get along.
It’s something special when you go out late at night to close the coop door and the special one comes off her perch to greet you as if to ask, “Where have you been all day?” She behaves differently and likes to snuggle. She will find her way under my jacket to get as close as possible.
Yes, there are some very special ones out there that make me certain they are worth all that I have invested in them. They are so much more than just chickens! thank you again for your post!
 
Oh yes, they are such special & delightful creatures. Chickens are completely oblivious to how much delight and enrichment they bring to life. That is part of their mission, I think.

I am glad that you have not known the loss of your little darlings...any of them. It is the worst thing... However, being a loving Chicken parent is SO rewarding. All of the chicken chores are done with a lighter heart, simply because you know that you will see their little faces.

Something to think about:. Record their names & "birthdays" (when they came to live with you), take pictures and keep an album for each one. Some day, long from now, when it is time for any one to pass on, you will be there to comfort them as they move on. You will tell them how very much you love them, that they should not be afraid, that you would help them to heal if you could but that all you can do is comfort them. You will cry, it will feel like your heart is being ripped apart & you will mourn.

I suggest making a special graveyard for your friends. And when they are no longer in need of their feathers, perhaps remove some to keep in memory of them. I use a small pill bottle or Ziploc, mark their names, birthdays & dates of passing. I write it on my calendar and remember them each year. Of course, I think of them all of the time anyway.

And though I don't have any cuddle bugs in my flock at present, I know that they love me & know that I love and will protect them. That is all that I can ask of them.

And just so that you know, my biddies came around. After a particularly hard week, I lost my sh*t & gave them a piece of my mind. No screaming but I was really pi**ed off at them treating the new girls like pecking bags! I VERY sternly explained that this was MY house and that they lived here as part of MY family. They were told that all chickens didn't have it as good as they did, that when mean chickens couldn't get along that some chicken parents killed them. And that if the little ones had to leave, that would probably happen to them. They likely didn't care but I DID and that they were going to get along OR ELSE. I kissed the little ones goodnight, scolded the biddies to think it over and be the sweet girls that I knew they could be and encouraged peace.

Darned if they didn't tow the line after that! And I kissed them goodnight every night after that until each one left this earth. I was proud of them then & I am proud of them now.
 
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I've had lots of affectionate chickens over the years. But the one who really made an impression on me was a big white and black mix breed rooster I had when I was a small child. He was my best buddy and confidant for years. He followed me around like a puppy. He would even come inside, sit in my lap and watch cartoons with me. He was such a darling! :love
I believe he's the reason I still have such an affection for roosters :)
 
Nope. You’re just a chicken whisperer :). I’ve got a RIR pullet who jumps into my lap as soon as I get settled in the chicken coop lawn chair (yes, I have a chair so I can have coddling time with my Bickies). She then stretches her neck out so she can rest her chin on my shoulder and will peck-scrape at me and start scratching in my lap if I don’t pet her.

My old (6+ years) Barred Rock will also still come over and jump into my lap, then proceed to peck everyone else off so she can have alone time with me.

Sylvia, my Silver Laced Polish, also likes to sit in my lap and settle in for some bonding time.

One of my Easter Eggers will jump into my lap and tuck her head under my arm and take a nap, and my Buff Orpington roo likes to stand on my back when I’m bent over and will sometimes settle on my shoulder for a rest.

But then it also depends on the chickens, too. My Wyandottes aren’t as cuddly even though all the babies were raised together and held/handled constantly.

Either way, this is one of the things I love so much about chickens. They’re basically tiny, modern-day velociraptors who often act like cats :wee.
 

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