Losing your favorite?

[NHMountainMan]

It seems like almost every day I log in to see someone post about losing their favorite chicken.

Do you think that the traits that make them your favorite: coming to you, sitting on your lap, eating from your hand etc - could dull their natural instincts and make them more prone to predation? Are we taming them to death?

 

[FortCluck]

Here's my favorite girl Eve that passed away, she's an olive egger. She passed from reproductive issues that couldn't be fixed. She was the flock leader and very watchful of her flock before I got the boys.

I haven't lost any besides chicks to predators because I have my big boys guarding the girls. The chicks I lost were before the boys too so I think they're doing their job.

I think some chickens feel too comfortable in their surroundings, which makes them more susceptible to predators.

I have two Polish that sleep in trees and in the woods some nights and they always come back. They're not tame I can't even get close to them. They just do their own thing and I think it honestly works for them.

I'm someone who fully believes in having a good rooster (a big one) to keep watch. I have seen it work with my own eyes.

 

[sorce]

Love this line of thought, but I think it's more likely that they all become our favorite when we lose them.

Seriously though...

You're right.

That one that mindlessly looks for us is an easy target.

Sorce

 

[NHMountainMan]

Love this line of thought, but I think it's more likely that they all become our favorite when we lose them.

Seriously though...

You're right.

That one that mindlessly looks for us is an easy target.

Sorce

I was wondering if there was recall bias or survivorship bias in the statements of "losing the favorite" statements that get posted. thanks for your thoughts on the risk to our friendliest chickens.

 

[cmom]

It seems like almost every day I log in to see someone post about losing their favorite chicken.

Do you think that the traits that make them your favorite: coming to you, sitting on your lap, eating from your hand etc - could dull their natural instincts and make them more prone to predation? Are we taming them to death?

I don't think so. There will be predators that will still get them. I had 2 White Leghorn hens. No matter what coop and pen I put them in they always could find a way to get out and eventually they disappeared. With one I found no trace but with the other I found feathers behind the coops. I'm pretty sure coyotes got them because we have a lot of them and I see them most nights on my game cameras. My Gladys was taken during the day by a fox which I took care of. She had special needs, she was a cross beak. She would come when called and loved to be held. She was 3 years old when the fox killed her. I always knew it was a risk to let her out. When she would see me she would be in her pen pacing back and forth along the fence until I would let her out. Fox are sneaky.

 

[Folly's place]

I think that there are behaviors that make some birds easier targets for predation. The less wary individuals, the hens who freeze in place rather than flying up and away, and the roosters who face danger, are most likely the first to go.
But, predators are good at what they do, so luck, being in a safer spot, and then again luck, all are involved.
It helps to be large rather than small if it's a raptor!
I haven't seen any advantage to one feather color over another here. My white Chanties have done fine in situations when 'camo' colored birds are taken.
Experience pays off for the survivors, and for broody raised birds, and birds in a mixed flock, rather than flocks of juveniles raised with no adults. Until a bad event occurs, and those juveniles get smarter.
Mary

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I haven't lost any to predators or illness yet, however, I have one that likes to jump in my lap and visit every day. She snuggles, however, she is usually the first to alert to the local raptors flying about and bold enough to chest bump the rooster. So, I don't think friendliness or fondness makes them more vulnerable to risks.

 

[Waves]

but I think it's more likely that they all become our favorite when we lose them.

i totally agree..even when we try to treat the disease of one of them, we create a special, strong, relationship...maybe she isn't our favorite (i haven't favorites in my flock, i love them in different ways but with same affection), but a strange connection is built from us to her, and it's made of hours, minutes, seconds, being together, it's made of hope and sadness. and the shock for the loss and predation or a very quick death do the same connection..
This, in my experience

 

[Losobug]

None of my favorites were ever taken by a predator. When we first got chickens 7 years ago my favorite girl Snowy, a silver laced Wyandotte was the prettiest sweetest of all my girls. She broke a leg off of a perch , I guess. I struggled with trying to save that poor girl for months but unfortunately she died. Then we got a few more chickens a couple years later. I added beautiful brahmas. My favorite was a light Brahma named Curly, because she had curly feathers on her rump. 2 years old, I go out to let them out in the morning, there's my Curly dead flat on the floor. No sickness prior. It's the course of being my fav. I don't tell the girls who my favorite is anymore I even try to refrain from naming, just refer to them by the beautiful colors..lol..even my kids noticed it was dangerous to be my favorite chicken.

 

[NHMountainMan]

I’m new to the world of chickens this year - and heard all about "you don't name your food" and don't choose favorites. There are multigenerational lifelong farmers in my wife's family that get a kick out of correcting this city boy. They were all surprised that I had no problem processing those headed to the freezer.
Despite that - I have a favorite. A red sex link my wife named Ginger. From 2 days old she's been the first to eat out of my hand, comes running as soon as step outside, and either follows me or the dog around as I'm doing morning chores. Never thought I'd get attached - but I have.
But from the start, I've wondered if running to meet me, or worse, thinking nothing of walking up to a 125lb dog, would make her more vulnerable. Seems like a lot of mixed opinions on the subject.