Do hens remember their friends and/or pine for them when they're gone?

[kees]

Absolutely! I had a white silkie hen who lost her mates when I didn't know that silkies couldn't stand high temps. The previous year I had turned on the sprinklers each day because I was trying to grow grass. (lol) After this happened, the silkie (my favorite) was forlorn and would hide under the bushes. I'd never seen her act like this. So, I got her a couple of companions and she was much happier.

Suzy

 

[Miss Kitty]

Quote:
Having read this above this is somewhat my problem. I have two Cochin hens same age one yr old and when I got them they were close and like sisters. They have stuck together for a year now. Only this past week I noticed one is getting skinny and not eatting. The other one is gettting bigger and bullying the smaller one. I don't understand why?? They have been close I had to separate the bullyier tonight putting her alone in a dog cage w/roost. Tomorrow I will put the three hens out to roam the yard and if I see the bullying again I might have to give her away. The little one is not eatting she is being intimidated by the bigger one. I can't understand this behavior???