Is this a guinea or a chicken?

[Chantel1021]

Chickens have a complex social hierarchy called a pecking order. Each chicken has its rank inside of the pecking order, and their rank is determined by how strong they are. To increase their rank, the chicken must start fights more often and pick on the lower-ranking birds. The chick in the post is not expected to get along with the other chickens it was introduced to, as its pecking order rank has to be determined, causing a lot of fighting. That is why it is much better to introduce more than one chick into another flock－there is less stress on the newcomer when there is another chicken introduced along with it (meaning that both of them will be picked on instead of just one getting targeted). It sounds cruel but the pecking order determines who gets the most food, laying spots, water, sunbathing and dust-bathing areas, and so on. The most dominant hens are much less submissive than low-ranking hens (which is why male chickens prefer to breed with low-ranking hens). The pecking order is constantly changing and is never completely settled as chickens weaken or get stronger.

Ahh I see, so that counts even for babies... That sucks :/ But that helps a lot. Thanks for the detailed info!!

 

[Chantel1021]

The first step many keepers do in putting a chick with other chickens is place where it can see and be seen, but not be touched by the other chickens.

That makes sense. Hopefully we'll find someone who is experienced with introducing one to a new flock.

 

[janiedoe]

It actually bonded with us since the second we found it. Since then it just didn't like it when we had to leave it alone for a while. Then it would keep calling for us to open the door. If nobody responds, it would run to find a place to hide and just keep quiet and wait until we come to get it again. But otherwise, when it is with us, it keeps following us around everywhere very closely and chats and purrs non-stop or snuggle up against me. And when it's outside and we're there to keep an eye on it, it happily explores and pecks and scratches the ground.
It just breaks my heart when it keeps calling or waiting for someone to be around before it does anything. So I'd like it to be with others of its kind instead so it can have a better life.

I have an almost 18mo hen who prefers my company and that of my cats to the other chickens. She was raised inside because her mother left her nest. Her's was the only viable egg, so I hatched her inside. I didn't have another broody with chicks small enough to take her, and because she was a winter baby, I couldn't find other chicks to raise with her.
She bonded with me and my indoor cat. She is outdoors with the flock, but she loves to come in and visit. She is the sweetest and friendliest of all my chickens. She is also a loner and doesn't seem to care about any of the other flock members, with the exception of my standard rooster.
If you cannot find a home for your little stray, she will adapt to being an only chicken.

 

[Chantel1021]

I have an almost 18mo hen who prefers my company and that of my cats to the other chickens. She was raised inside because her mother left her nest. Her's was the only viable egg, so I hatched her inside. I didn't have another broody with chicks small enough to take her, and because she was a winter baby, I couldn't find other chicks to raise with her.
She bonded with me and my indoor cat. She is outdoors with the flock, but she loves to come in and visit. She is the sweetest and friendliest of all my chickens. She is also a loner and doesn't seem to care about any of the other flock members, with the exception of my standard rooster.
If you cannot find a home for your little stray, she will adapt to being an only chicken.

Awww what a nice story! It's cute how she's getting along with your cat too. The cats around here aren't that friendly. One almost caught the little baby. I heard it calling for help just in time T_T And I've been scared to leave it outside on its own since. No idea how it managed to survive out there all the time before we found it. It's also in the middle of winter here now...
If we can't find a home and decide to keep it, we'd have to find a way to make the yard safe for it to roam around more freely without worries.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

It actually bonded with us since the second we found it. Since then it just didn't like it when we had to leave it alone for a while. Then it would keep calling for us to open the door. If nobody responds, it would run to find a place to hide and just keep quiet and wait until we come to get it again. But otherwise, when it is with us, it keeps following us around everywhere very closely and chats and purrs non-stop or snuggle up against me. And when it's outside and we're there to keep an eye on it, it happily explores and pecks and scratches the ground.
It just breaks my heart when it keeps calling or waiting for someone to be around before it does anything. So I'd like it to be with others of its kind instead so it can have a better life.

Sorry, I must have read your post wrong, then. That is sweet. I have a Rhode Island Red Bantam hen named Ruby. She loves being with me, especially inside the house. But I have to let her go back to her pen eventually. It is better for her to be outside where she is in better lighting conditions and so on.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I heard it calling for help just in time T_T And I've been scared to leave it outside on its own since.

Could you supervise the chicken when it goes outside? That is the best thing to do.

She bonded with me and my indoor cat.

Ruby is bonded with me, but she runs off my cat when he gets too close to me. She believes he is a threat to me!

 

[janiedoe]

This is BusyBee at around 6 weeks. She would make a beeline to the cat litter box to drop a load. That's not to say she didn't poop on the floor. She did but she liked to poop in the litter too. I think she enjoyed the cat's aggravation. She still goes straight to the cat's box when she comes inside.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

This is BusyBee at around 6 weeks. She would make a beeline to the cat litter box to drop a load. That's not to say she didn't poop on the floor. She did but she liked to poop in the litter too. I think she enjoyed the cat's aggravation. She still goes straight to the cat's box when she comes inside. View attachment 3896284

That is so funny! Ruby does not care where she poops . . .