I was thinking something absorbent like those pee pads you train puppies with. Dog crates would drain as they are really just carriers and you could stand it up on bricks in the bath (if you had a bath which I am guessing you don't yet!). But maybe in something else - I use big concrete mixing trays to stand the cat litter trays in and those would be perfect.
My dog crate is elevated and has a place underneath to insert a tray for situations just like this.
 
Having soap boxed this morning I guess that means lots of chicken tax then doesn't it (?)
Goody:celebrateI've got lots of pictures.:wee
So, I head off to do my mid afternoon rounds with the intention of taking a few pics. I get to the front of the house and check the big bush by the bread oven, no chickens. I go over to the bamboo clump, no chickens.
I head up the sheep field track and this is where I found Tribe 3. Yes tribe, not flock!:D
That's Notch, I don't like fish Ribh aka Donk, I don't like chicks Myth and Knock almost under the bush. Knock doesn't like anybody.:rolleyes:
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A bit further up the track on the same West bank I found this lot. You can tell they're a tribe because if they were a flock they would be with Notch and his hens shown in the picture above.:p:lol:
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Treacle is at the top of the bank and he's doing his utmost to get some hens to join him. His mum Mel does and Cillin isn't all that impressed and makes his way up the bank crowing and ground scratching; all fighting talk.
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A fight breaks out, but by this time, Tap has also come to the top of the bank and that is enough to satisfy Treacle.There was just one brief flurry of feet which I didn't get a picture of. Treacle now has two hens close by. Cillin isn't bothered about Tap joining Treacle and Mel does pretty much as she pleases anyway so the fighting talk stopped. View attachment 2486188

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Tap and Mel make their way to the hay rack and Treacle follows after herding me along with him (I was going there anyway but don't tell him).

View attachment 2486191

I cleaned the duck houses out and this means straw on the floor with seeds and bugs. Treacle is delighted and goes into one with the I've found food calls and gestures. Tap investigates. Mel won't be enticed by a few bits of straw and is just out of the picture on the left.
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Here's Mel.View attachment 2486232
All the I've found food calls attracts Jenny and Solomon.
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No way Tap is going to hang around if Jenny is after the bugs and Treacle knows better than to hang around as well, He's had a few pecks from Solomon in the past.
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I finish the ducks houses and head off back down the track. Treacle went into the sheep shed with Tap and Mel.
Tribe 1, Cillin and hes, move down the bank towards Notch and his hens.
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Beautiful photos. I'm so glad you had a lot of tax to pay. :clap
 
So the term I have used my whole life, the one I was taught to use, is incorrect. This is not the first time this has happened.

I will attempt to alter my language and use the proper term. Please feel free to remind me if I do not.

Let's confirm the premise of my original post. It was my point, however unartfully stated, that chickens are social animals and do better with companions as compared to alone. Where you might find the odd instance of a chicken bonding with another creature the best situation is for there to be more than one chicken. (Even if that "friend" chicken is Aurora 😉)
You know I knew what you meant.:love
I make a point of such posts partly to remind people how common usage can eventually become established as fact. I would rather do this with you than many others because you know I mean no malice and you know I rant on a bit and you don't get offended......I hope.
The posts are for everyone who reads this thread, not directed at you by way of correction. Hopefully one day these misconceptions and common knowledge so called facts will fade from the various forums.
The science is mostly availible somewhere. There is nothing new in what I write. The jungle fowl studies and feral chicken studies are out there somewhere. It just seems that net forums are a breeding ground for misinformation.
 
I wish I had thought about this question yesterday while we were in town. Diapers is a great solution! I just posted “ISO baby diapers” in the community FB forum... maybe someone has some leftovers? Hopefully no one will take offense to the post 🙄 it’s like a pack of spoiled 5-7 year olds on there most times. Our store carries the adult incontinence products, but there aren’t enough babies here to stock diapers. I really thought the crate would work fine, and now I feel just awful that she was laying in her pee most of the night.
 

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