Nurturing or Domineering?

[ChickenRush]

My Australorp, Maryann, can almost always be found with my Polish, Yuli, under her wing while roosting for the night.
Is Maryann being sweet? Or is she making sure Yuli knows who’s boss? None of my other chickens participate in these behaviors. I think it’s adorable, but if it’s an aggressive behavior I want to protect Yuli since she’s so much smaller than Maryann.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My Australorp, Maryann, can almost always be found with my Polish, Yuli, under her wing while roosting for the night.
Is Maryann being sweet? Or is she making sure Yuli knows who’s boss? None of my other chickens participate in these behaviors. I think it’s adorable, but if it’s an aggressive behavior I want to protect Yuli since she’s so much smaller than Maryann.

It’s not exactly the same thing, but my EE insists on crawling under her bestie, a Buff Orpington. If the buff could roll her eyes, I think she would, but she allows it.

Your Australorp’s behavior looks affectionate to me.

 

[ChickenRush]

It’s not exactly the same thing, but my EE insists on crawling under her bestie, a Buff Orpington. If the buff could roll her eyes, I think she would, but she allows it.

Your Australorp’s behavior looks affectionate to me.

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I didn’t think about that. Maybe Yuli is the one initiating the cuddle. Lol It’s certainly NOT cold here in Texas right now, so I know that’s not it. It’s actually hot enough I’m surprised either would tolerate the shared body heat.

 

[FrostRanger]

I wish I got a picture of it but I once caught one of my lakeside eggers Lavender with a flockmate under each wing. Lavender while not the top bird, is basically the flock mom and makes sure everyone is OK. I would lean towards the behavior being affectionate but even if it was dominance as long as no one is getting hurt or is being an incessant bully it's best not to butt in. My guess is like how some people are burrowers when they sleep, so it is with birds. Some birds just like to cuddle