Do chickens know when you mean business?

[Col1948]

Yesterday I watched the normal to and fro of going in the coop to roost, it happens every evening.
One goes in jumps on the roost, another goes in only to be nudged off by the first one, another hesitating by the door, two more waiting behind to go in.
Then one comes out then they all follow her back to pecking on the grass, back to the coop again, same performance, till eventually they are all in and roosted.

So back to last evening, one went in jumped on to the roost, another goes in and jumped on to the roost, then a third, but the this time one of them nudged her off.
So I went in, and got hold of her and moved her to the end of the roost, but don't know what made me do it but I shouted at her like you would a dog and I said in a stern voice, "NOW STAY," and funny enough she seem to settle down and not move.
As the others went on the roost the one doing the nudging stayed perfectly still, so do they understand some things like dogs?

 

[Shadrach]

Yesterday I watched the normal to and fro of going in the coop to roost, it happens every evening.
One goes in jumps on the roost, another goes in only to be nudged off by the first one, another hesitating by the door, two more waiting behind to go in.
Then one comes out then they all follow her back to pecking on the grass, back to the coop again, same performance, till eventually they are all in and roosted.

So back to last evening, one went in jumped on to the roost, another goes in and jumped on to the roost, then a third, but the this time one of them nudged her off.
So I went in, and got hold of her and moved her to the end of the roost, but don't know what made me do it but I shouted at her like you would a dog and I said in a stern voice, "NOW STAY," and funny enough she seem to settle down and not move.
As the others went on the roost the one doing the nudging stayed perfectly still, so do they understand some things like dogs?

Oh yes. I think many animals pick up on voice tone and body language; they use it between themelves, so why shouldn't they.

 

[aart]

So I went in, and got hold of her and moved her to the end of the roost, but don't know what made me do it but I shouted at her like you would a dog and I said in a stern voice, "NOW STAY," and funny enough she seem to settle down and not move.
As the others went on the roost the one doing the nudging stayed perfectly still, so do they understand some things like dogs?

What a great story....but no, I don't think they will obey like a dog,
but the stern voice my have frozen her out of 'fear'.
I am really enjoying your observations of your new flock....lots of observing is the best way to learn about them.

 

[Col1948]

Thank you, I like to watch them and see the different personalities of each hen.
They know me now and they come running when they see me, or if I'm in the garden and go near them they don't run off, they have been pecking away right next to me sometimes, it's nice.

I have 5 hens and 2 out of the five were laying eggs, but in the last 3-4 days both of them have stopped. Not sure if the other 3 will start or it may be a long wait till Spring, I don't know.

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you, I like to watch them and see the different personalities of each hen.
They know me now and they come running when they see me, or if I'm in the garden and go near them they don't run off, they have been pecking away right next to me sometimes, it's nice.

I have 5 hens and 2 out of the five were laying eggs, but in the last 3-4 days both of them have stopped. Not sure if the other 3 will start or it may be a long wait till Spring, I don't know.

You're becoming a bit of a chicken addict.

 

[Col1948]

I had to sort them out again this evening, the 3 originals kept kicking out the 2 newer girls, so I went in an placed them on the roost and spoke to them sternly, they knew had been told off lol.
I peeked in a few minutes later and they were all in the same positions I placed them in, they are like naughty kids at bed time.

 

[aart]

I peeked in a few minutes later and they were all in the same positions I placed them in, they are like naughty kids at bed time.

So, obviously your voice instills obedience!

 

[Feathers Brady]

Chicken language is usually on they're terms. Id never try and place the girls on the roost. This is where I feel they straighten out the pecking order. I've watched a couple of pecking changes with this same flock and yes, sometimes it's rough to watch but, I think it's a necessary behavior as long as no one is bleeding.
Loud unusual noise will freeze my hens in their tracks.

 

[Col1948]

I have noticed a couple of things in what might be the pecking order, I mentioned in another thread what I thought was the order in the 3 original chickens like 1, 2, & 3.
Someone said the one I thought was number 2 might be number 3 as she was the lowest rank in the original 3, and she was doing the bullying to maintain her position, not wanting to drop lower to one or both of these 2 new girls.

Well in observations I've noticed the 2 new girls seem to be accepted when they are free ranging, they move about with the flock and sit next to high ranking members without being shooed away, and in some case even eating next to chickens 1 & 2 but still number 3 pushes them away when feeding.
Now and again number 1 will shoo them away but not as often as number 3, but as I said if you saw them in the garden together you would never know there was a conflict.

Also number 3 wants all the food, if for example I scatter some food down she rushes to get it and tries to be first, but then I will scatter some in the other direction and she rushes to that.
Like today I cut a water melon up in to 10 pieces, but no mater who went for any piece she wanted that one, she was dizzy trying to have every piece, course chickens 1 & 2 moved her away when she tried it on them.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Going to be the odd one out but they can understand tone and learn words with time. my house pets know their names and no. Not that they listen 100% of the time, but they do understand. If I say Beep he always at least looks up.