Jealousy and Odd Behavior

[ChickenLeo]

I have 12 pullets, I can't remember exactly how old they are, (9 or 10 weeks, I think). There are 4 each of Barred Rock, Buff Orpington and Rhode Island Red. All of the BRs are friendly, the BOs to a lesser degree and the RIRs to an even lesser extent. Question is this: When I pick up any other bird, regardless of breed, there is one BR that gets extremely jealous. She jumps up and down on my foot, squawks and runs any other bird that comes near me off (not too aggressively, she just lets it be known that they are too close). Has anyone else had a similar experience with a jealous bird?
Last night, I went to close them up, went into the coop and picked each one up, one at a time. When my BR realized I was holding another one, she jumped/flew up and landed on my arm. I had to grab up and pet the others with her nestled in the crook of my elbow, because if I let her any closer to them, she would push them out of my hands. Anytime I pet her, she makes very contented and soft cooing noises. I am a first time chicken owner, so I don't know if this type of thing is normal or not.
None of our animals are normal, so it wouldn't surprise me if it is bizarre behavior. A couple of the chickens like to ride our dog around the yard when we let them out to free range. Our black lab/german shepherd mix obliges and will walk around until it is time for them to get down, at which time she "drops them off" back at the run. If she is out in the coop with me and the chickens get into an "argument" she has picked them up and separated them before...and they just go limp and wait for her to put them down(never a scratch or feather out of place). The ones she has picked up and moved are the ones that like to go dog-back riding on her around the yard. Do I just have a bizarre little side-show developing?

 

[sheena6292]

oh gosh.

okay well I would say umm

I want to come to your house. Yeah that sounds different.

 

[sheena6292]

Posted twice for some reason. Sorry

 

[chickenlady08]

I have 4 BRs as well. Two are extremely friendly and 1 is so and the other is extremely stand offish. I have 4 Delawares and same as the BR. One of the Delaware is Nellie and the other my son named Small Friend AKA French Fry. Nellie is bigger than small friend and if I am sitting down rubbing on any of the other chickens she hops right on my back if I am leaning over and if not she will jump in my lap and try to push the other hen down. I was weeding one nite and not even touching any hens but I was leaned over and she jumped on my back and sat down. My son took pictures because it was so funny. It is amazing how friendly some chickens are and what they will do.

 

[RL]

I think you have the makings of a great youtub movie there. I only have two BR hens that are very friendly, but not to the extent as yours. The smallest of my BR's is the Alfa hen and the only time she will chase the others away from me is when I have a shovel in my hand. She has to be right in front of the shovel to get first pick of any bug that gets dug up and I mean she is right in front of the shovel. Her head will be on the shovel and will scrach at the ground as I bring up the dirt. It is not easy to dig a hole in the yard, not with 25 chickens all trying to be the first to get at the plug of dirt that gets brought up. My other BR hen could care less about anything really, she will just sit back and watch everyone and just waits for me or my Roo to give her something.

 

[gryeyes]

*I* think it's wonderful! None of mine demonstrate the same degree of "jealousy" as yours, but my adolescent BR is turning out to be the most "pick me up" ish. Bernadette, the Cuckoo Marans, will hop in my lap or fly up my shoulder (scared the heck out of me the first time she went for my shoulder!) but nobody wants to be handled as much as Betsy wants to be. A few of the girls often squat for some pats on the back, though.

 

[ChickenLeo]

Yeah, I need to get my camcorder and hope that they will perform for me. As a first time chicken owner, I am having a great time with it and can't think of any hobby I have every had that has completely captured me like this has. I think it may be that so much is incorporated; building, being outdoors, having pets that are also useful and productive (or so we hope) and just being entertained. I told my wife that the next move we make has to be way out of town on some decent acreage, so I can get a rooster or two and have chickens everywhere.