Jealous Chicken?

[Geralt4Good]

I have a Buff Orpington hen that has risen to the top of the pecking order (even while being the smallest one her whole life).

She’s so sweet and loves to be picked up. Lately if I have to pick up one of the other hens she will dash over and peck them. No matter what she is doing she will just run full tilt to do it. She’s gotten my hands a couple times but I think those were accidents.

For background they are a flock of 3 Orpingtons and one ISA brown.

Is she jealous of the attention and taking it out on the other hens? Bonus question: why is the smallest hen now the top of the pecking order?

Thanks for any insights!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yes, it is possible that she's jealous. My hen, Sarah, used to get very jealous of the other hens. I didn't even need to be giving them attention and she'd come over and shew them away so she could get all the affection. She loved sitting on my lap while I petted her and would often fall asleep there. If any hen came near, she'd peck them so I didn't give them any attention.

On the bonus question... Size doesn't usually effect where they are in the pecking order. My little bantam flock of five used to bully much larger flocks of standards.
Being the 'human's favorite' has given her an extra boost in confidence that makes it so the others can't 'touch her.' I've seen this with chickens and other animals as well. If they're good with you and can act like they are as good as you, they'll carry that to the pecking order and use it well. (Not all chickens do this as it does depend on their personality as well, but I've seen a lot. Sometimes there are other factors that help them rise in the pecking order that isn't dependent on size.)

 

[texsuze]

Jolene, my BA, was my good buddy but very jealous of her flockmates. I've seen jealous behaviour in chickens, cats, dogs and horses.

RE: pecking order- my EE crossbeak Blanche, contrary to conventional wisdom, has never been pecked on, never at the bottom of the 'pecking order' despite her special-needs status and in fact is always in everyone's business with her bossy attitude

 

[Bsmac]

Yes, it is possible that she's jealous. My hen, Sarah, used to get very jealous of the other hens. I didn't even need to be giving them attention and she'd come over and shew them away so she could get all the affection. She loved sitting on my lap while I petted her and would often fall asleep there. If any hen came near, she'd peck them so I didn't give them any attention.

On the bonus question... Size doesn't usually effect where they are in the pecking order. My little bantam flock of five used to bully much larger flocks of standards.
Being the 'human's favorite' has given her an extra boost in confidence that makes it so the others can't 'touch her.' I've seen this with chickens and other animals as well. If they're good with you and can act like they are as good as you, they'll carry that to the pecking order and use it well. (Not all chickens do this as it does depend on their personality as well, but I've seen a lot. Sometimes there are other factors that help them rise in the pecking order that isn't dependent on size.)

Yes! So very true!!

 

[Rick589]

I also have a BO hen who is my buddy and has been a calm part of a calm flock of BO’s. Recently we had a broody hatch two chicks which are at present about 6 weeks old and once they started to become independent my buddy has taken a decided dislike to them. She doesn’t appear to bother with them when they’re out and about unless I handle one of them and she see it. But, when they go in at night she seems to get particularly aggravated with them to the point of me having to referee bedtime. Should I just not intervene? My thinking is to oversee this drama until the chicks are big enough to defend themselves better. What makes it even a bit worse is that the chicks, one in particular, are showing sign of being friendly to us.

 

[Bsmac]

I also have a BO hen who is my buddy and has been a calm part of a calm flock of BO’s. Recently we had a broody hatch two chicks which are at present about 6 weeks old and once they started to become independent my buddy has taken a decided dislike to them. She doesn’t appear to bother with them when they’re out and about unless I handle one of them and she see it. But, when they go in at night she seems to get particularly aggravated with them to the point of me having to referee bedtime. Should I just not intervene? My thinking is to oversee this drama until the chicks are big enough to defend themselves better. What makes it even a bit worse is that the chicks, one in particular, are showing sign of being friendly to us.

Chicken jealousy is real! I have numerous birds that hop on my lap and it never fails one or more want to come up at the same time with no room! Or you can be petting one of them and after the petting is done another will offer them a peck! Then they want to hop up! A couple birds in particular if they see another bird getting attention will pout for several days or even a week or two! Crazy birds lol! I would likely keep an eye on them as you mentioned then see how it continues to.play out. Good luck!

 

[ChickenChick46]

My bantams are just 3 1/2 weeks old, and I feel like I've got some jealousy going on. They're my first chicks, and I'm showing them a TON of love and attention. There is no bullying or fighting that I've seen, and no evidence of it occurring. But my red cochin is super sweet and if I have the top off the brooder, he/she is quick to fly out of it and land on my shoulder. Immediately following suit is my d'Uccle. He lands right there with the cochin, where they'll bump at one another trying to both stay on my shoulder. Same goes for when I'm sitting in the floor with them. One will hop onto my leg, and the other hops up closer to me. Then the first one moves to be closest to me, and so on. Lol.

 

[Rick589]

Chicken jealousy is real! I have numerous birds that hop on my lap and it never fails one or more want to come up at the same time with no room! Or you can be petting one of them and after the petting is done another will offer them a peck! Then they want to hop up! A couple birds in particular if they see another bird getting attention will pout for several days or even a week or two! Crazy birds lol! I would likely keep an eye on them as you mentioned then see how it continues to.play out. Good luck!

Thank You for the reply. I guess I’m in the middle of a monogamous relationship with my one hen. She actually gave me the cold shoulder the other day after seeing me interact with one of the new peeps.

 

[Rick589]

My bantams are just 3 1/2 weeks old, and I feel like I've got some jealousy going on. They're my first chicks, and I'm showing them a TON of love and attention. There is no bullying or fighting that I've seen, and no evidence of it occurring. But my red cochin is super sweet and if I have the top off the brooder, he/she is quick to fly out of it and land on my shoulder. Immediately following suit is my d'Uccle. He lands right there with the cochin, where they'll bump at one another trying to both stay on my shoulder. Same goes for when I'm sitting in the floor with them. One will hop onto my leg, and the other hops up closer to me. Then the first one moves to be closest to me, and so on. Lol.

Ours used to do that when let out of the brooder but once cut loose they became more aloof, not mean just no longer wanted to be touched except for this one hen. Of course treat time throws them into wild abandon with caution thrown to the wind.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Ours used to do that when let out of the brooder but once cut loose they became more aloof, not mean just no longer wanted to be touched except for this one hen. Of course treat time throws them into wild abandon with caution thrown to the wind.

That's what I'm afraid of, lol. Since they're my first chicks, I am loving how sweet they are right now. I know it's normal and healthy chicken behavior to become more independent and aloof once they go to the coop, but I think I'll miss them, lol.