Do chickens miss each other? Mine screams when one is out of the coop?

[chickens45]

I have three 5 week old chicks.. 2 are roosters and one hen, I think.

I sometimes will take each one out separately and hold it and talk to it and walk around the yard carrying it.
I’ve noticed when I take sam the possible hen the roosters start chirping loudly.. they do not like Sam being gone!
Clarence in particular goes nuts and starts squawking super loud. I think Sam and clarence are best friends or something. He screams bloody murder until I put her back in and runs up to greet her lol he will stand there with his head thrown back screaming like he’s dying

My little Roo also chirps loudly but doesn’t get anywhere near as nuts as clarence

I’ve noticed that clarence is the more vocal one, more friendly and more brave.. he will walk right up to me and let me pick him up and he loves when I take him on a field to explore around the house lol he’s very active and curious

he also pecked my tooth today and my lip which bled :/ he didn’t do it to be mean he was just curious I guess. He also managed to climb up on my head and back LOL he’s the wild child

it worries me for when they get older.. I’m afraid clarence is going to be super wild and mean and aggressive . Roo isn’t as aggressive but he’s grumpy and doesn’t like petting

it’s fascinating how chickens have personalities

but do they really miss each other when one is gone? The way clarence Acts he’s definitely missing Sam when she’s gone lol

 

[CindyinSD]

I think they do. Some of my grown hens seem to have particular friends and will look for them if the friend isn't in the coop at dinner/bed time. When I find, catch, return the delinquent, all seems then to be right in the chicken world.

If you want to keep those roos, you might want to consider not giving them so much one-on-one. Many people warn that too much familiarity with a roo can lead to aggressiveness when it matures sexually.

 

[chickens45]

I think they do. Some of my grown hens seem to have particular friends and will look for them if the friend isn't in the coop at dinner/bed time. When I find, catch, return the delinquent, all seems then to be right in the chicken world.

If you want to keep those roos, you might want to consider not giving them so much one-on-one. Many people warn that too much familiarity with a roo can lead to aggressiveness when it matures sexually.

Oh wow.. I thought maybe handling them and petting them would help take them. Why does that make them aggressive?

 

[CindyinSD]

People say the roos see you as a flock member--either a hen or another roo. This seems reasonable, although I'm not sure how we can know what a rooster "perceives". One woman I read about here told how her Brahma rooster jumped on her head and tried to mate it. Imagine that with spurs! For the great majority of roos, you're better off with their respect than their friendship.

If you indeed only have the one girl, You're most likely going to need to rehome one of the males at some point. They will fight and likely injure one another. If you had no females, they would likely be friends, but not with a fair maiden to fight over. The usually cited ratio of females to males is around 10 to 1.

 

[chickens45]

People say the roos see you as a flock member--either a hen or another roo. This seems reasonable, although I'm not sure how we can know what a rooster "perceives". One woman I read about here told how her Brahma rooster jumped on her head and tried to mate it. Imagine that with spurs! For the great majority of roos, you're better off with their respect than their friendship.

If you indeed only have the one girl, You're most likely going to need to rehome one of the males at some point. They will fight and likely injure one another. If you had no females, they would likely be friends, but not with a fair maiden to fight over. The usually cited ratio of females to males is around 10 to 1.

I have an aunt and uncle who said they’d take them if they’re roosters. They have a farm.
At what age will I need to split them up if they’re roosters and one hen? So far they seem to love each other and get along just fine

clarence loves sam so much I’m almost wondering if I should just let my aunt take them all instead of splitting them up. I’m afraid they miss each other.
And then I could try to find actual hens somehow and start over

I’m just attached to the ones I have now lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

he also pecked my tooth today and my lip which bled :/ he didn’t do it to be mean he was just curious I guess. He also managed to climb up on my head and back LOL he’s the wild child

And this is why you shouldn't encourage or allow them to get in your face or on your head/shoulder. Imagine the damage it could do to your eye not out of malice, but curiosity.

 

[CindyinSD]

You'll get attached to new ones, too. The birds will adjust even if they seem to miss one another for a while. If it was females you wanted, maybe your aunt & uncle would trade you some pullets around the same age as your girl? Either that or give them all three birds and start over. It might be hard to integrate new chicks with your older pullet.

BTW, could you post pics--particularly of combs/wattles, saddle feathers (right before the tail) and the tails, also the hackles (the "shawl" of feathers around the neck and shoulders.) If you're not accustomed to chickens (or even if you are), it can be helpful to get other folks' opinion as to the sex of your birds.

Males will sexually mature at around 6 months, while females may take several weeks longer (or more), depending on the breed and the individual. If you decide to add a couple pullets and rehome your roos, I think it would be easier now than later.

If you mean to start over, then the sooner you do, the sooner your new pullets will start laying for you.

But @rosemarythyme is right. Letting them too close to your face is dangerous.

 

[chickens45]

You'll get attached to new ones, too. The birds will adjust even if they seem to miss one another for a while. If it was females you wanted, maybe your aunt & uncle would trade you some pullets around the same age as your girl? Either that or give them all three birds and start over. It might be hard to integrate new chicks with your older pullet.

BTW, could you post pics--particularly of combs/wattles, saddle feathers (right before the tail) and the tails, also the hackles (the "shawl" of feathers around the neck and shoulders.) If you're not accustomed to chickens (or even if you are), it can be helpful to get other folks' opinion as to the sex of your birds.

Males will sexually mature at around 6 months, while females may take several weeks longer (or more), depending on the breed and the individual. If you decide to add a couple pullets and rehome your roos, I think it would be easier now than later.

If you mean to start over, then the sooner you do, the sooner your new pullets will start laying for you.

But @rosemarythyme is right. Letting them too close to your face is dangerous.

Here’s a few photos from last Monday, I think. The two black ones are developing a white fluffy fuzz on their necks now.

the two black ones from what I can tell are roosters and yellow one a possible hen.

Yeah I guess I was thinking they’re still little and cuddly, I didn’t realize they’d go after my face. It was my fault because I was peering into its face and smiling I guess and I was just too close to it.

I like the idea of raising chicks from a baby but I feel like it’s a gamble because you don’t know if you’re getting hens or roosters for sure.

If my aunt or someone else gives me hens that are about ready to lay or laying will they be easy to tame too? And become familiar with me?

 

[chickens45]

And this is why you shouldn't encourage or allow them to get in your face or on your head/shoulder. Imagine the damage it could do to your eye not out of malice, but curiosity.

Yes you are right! I just didn’t realize I guess how much they’ve grown and how curious they are. I will definitely know better from now on for sure lol

 

[neo71665]

Chickens are social animals and have a pecking order or a hierarchy. They will remember that. Honestly I don't think they care if a chicken lower than they are gone but they might try to move up in the hierarchy while one higher is gone.