Do your chickens "snuggle>"

[Jajika]

Hi Everyone:

I've only been keeping chickens for about 12 years...I think it's about that long.

I've had all kinds of breeds....and hens only.

Like you, I've seen some interesting behavior between them and with me....but this new scenario is a first for me.

I adopted two Americauna's from a breeder in the Bay Area where I live. One sort of red and the other whitish. I call them Thelma and Louise...the redhead being Thelma.

They are not "'siblings" but obviously bonded being brought together. I have a large chicken yard and quarantined them in the small coop for two weeks. I


created a fenced and covered yard attached so they could get some air and have some dirt.

Well, they snuggle. I mean really snuggle. They rub against each other. try to get underneath each other and as close as possible> I've never seen anything like this...ever.

I'm guessing this is not unique. Let me know your experiences...it's a riot.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Mine do this all the time LOL

 

[mortie]

Mine do this when they want to get around someone on the roost. For mine, it's nothing to do with wanting to show affection...just that they want to move along the roost without having to hop down and someone is in the way lol.

 

[kbarnes]

I have a small partridge Cochin that WILL NOT be seperated from my pekin ducks. They do this all the time its cute with the small chicken and massive ducks.

 

[krista74]

I have a cockerel who sleeps next to one particular pullet on the roost every night. He puts his wing over her back to snuggle her into him! It is so sweet.

The other 5 pullets have a particular order that they have to sit on the roost too. Every night you can hear them all quietly clucking to each other as they get into the right order on the perch. If someone gets left out of the line-up, there is a quiet "bok, bok, bok" until everyone physically scoots along to leave a gap in the appropriate place.

Chickens are VERY smart, I'm sure.

Krista

 

[Jajika]

Thanks so much everyone. I figured this couldn't be totally unique to just these two pullets. It's just that I've never seen it before and it is adorable. I find this behavior quite prescient, in that it is behavior that is purposeful. They know each other specifically.

I had to take Louise to the vet for some health issues I couldn't take care of myself. I was worried about Thelma. It actually appeared she was mourning. She kept making noises and looking for Louise. When I returned with Louise, it was so obvious their joy of being reunited.

Yes....we do not give the chickens the respect they deserve.

What a joy.

 

[Nofowlplay]

I have been observing something similar in 2 of my hens. My Ameraucana girl has decided she wants to roost at night with my newish Speckled Sussex girl.
The SS was sleeping alone for several weeks till she decided this. They are close to the same age. The SS has scoots all the way to the end if the roost against the pen wall. The Am will nudge the SS with her head and make peeping sounds. She does not peck her. But she is either being pushy or affectionate. I really can't tell.
In the morning the Am is at one end of the roost and the SS is still in the same spot near the run wall on the other end of the roost. She squawks a little when the am nudges her. But does not become feisty or upset. She just holds her place on the roost. Can someone interpret what they are doing? I would appreciate it!

 

[deacons]

These two are not as "bonded" as the pair you described, but they seemed to be "snuggling" one day while sunbathing.


The Barred Rock in the picture does seem to be the one in my flock that finds close personal relationships the most important- for about 6 months, she and my "head hen" (a Rhode Island Red) were the only two chickens while I was rebuilding the flock, and they are almost always together now (this picture being a rare exception). They are always right next to each other on the roost, and almost always side-by-side while free ranging. I have also seen a few nights where the RIR will put a wing over the BR on the roost, sort of like the rooster behavior someone else described.

 

[Jajika]

My two Ameracauna's literally "nuzzle." They take turns putting their heads under each others bellies, make "booping" sounds and sit very close all the time. They are always together and if one happens to get out of sight for a moment, the other is calling to her.

I've never had this experience before I got these two munchin's, but it is a riot. These are also the two that jump on my back. Never had that before either. They also nuzzle me!!!! It's a riot!!!

 

[Nofowlplay]

My two Ameracauna's literally "nuzzle." They take turns putting their heads under each others bellies, make "booping" sounds and sit very close all the time. They are always together and if one happens to get out of sight for a moment, the other is calling to her. I've never had this experience before I got these two munchin's, but it is a riot. These are also the two that jump on my back. Never had that before either. They also nuzzle me!!!! It's a riot!!!

I am thinking my Ameraucana is a snuggler too. I just wasn't sure what she was up to with the SS and neither did she! She was just trying to be friendly and the SS was freaking out! lol