Chickens forming a bond

[Col1948]

I couldn't think of a proper subject title so I'll try and explain.

I first got 3 hens from a farm, after homing them for 3 days in the coop I let them free range in my back garden, they were fine together a mini flock.
then after a few weeks I went back to the same farm and bought 2 more, I isolated them but in view of the original 3, then introduced them and let the usual pecking order begin, cut the story short 1 of the originals hens died so leaving 2 plus the new 2, they were all fine now together.

So just to back track slightly lets say the 2 originals are A+B and the 2 newer ones are C+D.
Over the last month or two I've noticed that A+C and B+D have seemed to pair up, they still go around altogether but at times they pair off and forage and often see them wondering around in pairs then form a flock again.

Also A+C are the same breed (Marans) where as B+D are different breeds, so do they recognise themselves as the same breed or is that just a coincidence?
I hope this makes sense lol.

 

[Willowspirit]

I think they recognize the same breed/color. My Wyandottes seem to hang out with their same color (i.e. gold or silver laced) even as they are the same flock. By that I mean raised together. You theory is mine as well.

 

[Chickassan]

They sure do recognise those of their own breed. They may remember each other from the farm you got them from as well.
They have astounding memory for faces that have been in their flock.

 

[Col1948]

Well this puzzles me a bit, I purposely went to the same farm thinking that they will know each other, but as you know when introducing new members to the flock causes the pecking order to be established.
So when I introduced them I understand the original ones were there first and had to let the new girls know their place.
I've read on other threads where if for example a chicken gets sick and is isolated for a week or more then reintroduced the flock see her as a new member and the pecking order starts again, so how can they recognise each other from the farm and this was after more than a week, in fact it was over a month before I got them?

 

[Chickassan]

Lol, when a chicken gets sick and you isolate they write them off as dead.
Sick chickens are dead chickens without us.
It has got to be baffling.

Well this puzzles me a bit, I purposely went to the same farm thinking that they will know each other, but as you know when introducing new members to the flock causes the pecking order to be established.
So when I introduced them I understand the original ones were there first and had to let the new girls know their place.
I've read on other threads where if for example a chicken gets sick and is isolated for a week or more then reintroduced the flock see her as a new member and the pecking order starts again, so how can they recognise each other from the farm and this was after more than a week, in fact it was over a month before I got them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Possibly they paired up due to breed, or possibly they just like the other same breed chicken a bit better than the others.

Just as the pecking order can change over time, you may also find pairs of friends having falling outs, or finding a new "best friend" in the flock.

 

[Col1948]

I think sometimes I/we tend to think of them in Human terms and forget they are chickens.

 

[Willowspirit]

Possibly they paired up due to breed, or possibly they just like the other same breed chicken a bit better than the others.

Just as the pecking order can change over time, you may also find pairs of friends having falling outs, or finding a new "best friend" in the flock.

You don't think of this as amazingly human?