Speckledhen's Ivy-stuffed with grapes and smiling!

[jojo54]

you are all an inspiration to me and make me proud to be a loving chicken mama. Reading about your love and caring always makes me strive to be like you.

 

[Cetawin]

jojo that is such a kind thing to say.

 

[joletabey]

I cannot look at grapes now without thinking of Ivy-

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Just yesterday I was sitting on my front steps feeding my crew grapes and I found myself sitting with Cannonball on my knee, Thor standing between my knees and as I was feeding them the grapes, I was telling them about Ivy.

There were three main feathered ones there that seemed to be hanging on every word I said... Thor, Cannonball and Ruby. They had their heads cocked looking at me while I spoke to them about Ivy and how she loved the grapes I fed her too. It was really sweet, I swear they understood because I they looked a little sad at one point. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me but it was as if they were saddened by the fact this unknown grape eating sweet girl was dying and they knew it upset me.

Ya gotta love chickens...you cannot help it if you take a few minutes to get to know one.

 

[Serrin]

Chickens, I have come to learn, are far more sensitive to our moods and frame of mind than the average person gives them credit for Cetwin. Or at least the average person who does NOT have chickens and therefore, doesn't know better. My older girls especially are very attuned to my state of mind.

When I worry over Abby and her egg laying problems, the other girls will come in closer as if to share in the emotion of love and concern for Abby.

When FussyButt was jumped and terrorized by three of my boys the other day, the other big girls came screaming to her defence. And when I picked up FussyButt, and took her back to the peace and quiet of the coop, all the rest of the big girls fell in line behind me. They had to make sure that Fussy was going to be ok. I closed the door behind me and we big girls had a long talk about the "boys" and what we should do about them. And I swear to you all, that those girls arranged themselves on the platform above the nest boxes in such a way that I knew I had the attention of each and every one of them.

Do they understand specific words? I think they do...at least a few...certainly as much as any dog. When I catch mine in the flower beds where they don't belong, I can get the big girls to leave with just one word: OUT! Of course the youngsters haven't been around long enough to pick up on all of these words yet, but they're starting to get the idea!

But even if they don't understand all of the words we use, they most assuredly understand the emotion and tone of voice behind them. They know the difference between sternness, exacerbation, joy, love, caring, and admonitions. And I know they know the difference between when I laugh and when I cry. Yes, chickens are far more sensitive than most people give them credit for.

 

[ozark hen]

two wonderful post above

 

[joletabey]

I agree- I have a couple of new rooster stories, but the one here concerns Luke and Ultrasuede being upset if I slip up and use bad language. I am a fairly soft voiced person, so most of the animals know that if I shout or scream, it's dead serious business. A few days ago I was changing water in the run, and had taken the 3 gallon hanging container in to scrub it out and refill it. Got to the run, slipped, and dropped the whole thing all over my feet. A VERY naughty word escaped my lips ( at the top of my lungs, no less) Luke and Ultrasuede stood extremely straight, gave me a startled look, and set up the alarm call for about 5 minutes- I am not sure if they were just trusting me that something horrible was going on and they were telling the world, or if I was getting scolded for the naughty word- but they sure caught that I was upset.

 

[speckledhen]

Ivy is now munching on some organic white grapes, on sale for less than the regular ones. She ate the last of Cetawin's bunch yesterday. The other ailing women (as well as Roosevelt) are reaping the benefits, too, LOL.

 

[schellie69]

I know chickens understand words. When I caught my girls looking my way while I was sitting on my patio and when they thought I was not looking they sneak their heads into the garden to snatch a few leaves when I yell no girls the ones that are in the garden stop and look my way and only the ones eating out of the garden look. So yes they know what they are not supposed to do. But they will try any way got to love chickens.

 

[Cetawin]

LMAO Beth that was the "What the hell is Mom doing lying down in the run?" "I don't know but she ain't happy" "Think we should try to help her?" "Naaaa best to stay away from her right now I think" "Are you sure?" "Yeah she is making me nervous thrashing around and yelling" "Yeah did you hear what she said?" "Did you see who knocked her down?" "No humans are strange and they walk funny too" conversation.

Cyn, I bet the other women are loving them grapes too. awwwwwww


Roo stories are the best...Thor fetches his women for me. When they wander into the woodline or too close to the road I say "Thor! Go get those women and bring them back" and I point to them...he charges over there and brings them back. He understands when I say "Thor what is that?" and point too.