Huge light Brahma roosting with bantams?

[MIChickandGuinea]

Hangin' out with all those 'shrimps' makes her feel even LARGER!!
Are they scared of her?

Yup - they think she’s pretty scary!

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Well, here’s a question. How long is chicken memory? Last year we got 8 chicks together, and then a few weeks later, 3 more - including Tillie and one accidental rooster. When we introduced those three to the older girls, they never fit in. They had like their own mini-flock. They stayed together and avoided hanging out with the main group. The rooster was re-homed in December, and Tillie and the other little hen joined in with the main flock a little more, but never completely. But then a few weeks ago, the other hen from that little group was killed by a dog. Tillie seemed OK, tootling around with all the others ladies. But now she’s preferentially staying by the bantams... is she remembering that she’s always been a bit of an outsider with the main flock?

 

[LittleCheepers]

Aw, that’s sad! If she never felt a part of the main flock, maybe she’s hoping to be a part of the bantams since she’s lost her only friend. Poor Tillie! I do hope they accept her as part of their group. No one wants to feel all alone. I hope you’ll let us know what happens!

 

[aart]

But now she’s preferentially staying by the bantams... is she remembering that she’s always been a bit of an outsider with the main flock?

Not so much 'remembering', but just not part of(or very low in) the main flocks pecking order so moved on to another group once her 'flock mates' were gone. Chickens are flock animals, they want to be with other chickens. I've seen a hen rejected by the main flock go hang out with the pullet group. There will always be sub flocks when adding new birds, they can shift and change too. It's hard to not think of them thinking like humans think, but they are birds.

 

[techbsmith]

It's hard to not think of them thinking like humans think, but they are birds.

It's part of what I love about chickens...watching the social dynamics of the birds.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

It's part of what I love about chickens...watching the social dynamics of the birds.

I use time with my chickens as de-stressing time, unwinding time. They are so zen - they are always busy and industrious, but peaceful and unworried as they go about their chicken tasks. I like to sit still and watch them, listen to their contented sounds, and try to remind myself that busy doesn't have to mean frazzled or frenetic.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Well, it appears Tillie has switched flocks. She still forages with the big girls a fair bit when they’re out. But at bedtime, she’s a bantam! I bet she weighs as much as all the bantams combined. Silly girl.