Strangely Smart Chicken?

[Strato]

I recently added a new member to the flock, a gorgeous little Blue Lemon Modern Game hen. (Her name is Laverne.) Until now we have only had rather large and beach-ball shaped chickens (Mostly Orpingtons) and I have never owned a Game Hen and the contrast is quite extreme. I know the bar is pretty low, but she seems very smart for a chicken! She seems to know her name, because she answers me when I call her. But the thing that really shocked me was what happened tonight.

Because she's still not used to the rest of the hens (I don't actually know if she's ever seen such big chickens before), she tends to hang out alone in an unused old run most of the day. This is fine except that run is not predator-proof, especially at night, so I've been coming in at dusk to pick her up and take her to the secure coop with the other girls overnight.

Well, tonight I forgot to go right at dusk and it was already dark by the time I set out, headlamp on, expecting her to be trying to roost up high in a bush or tree (as our other hens have occasionally done when they didn't get in the coop.) Instead, I found her sitting right on our back steps, right by the back door. I swear it's like she was expecting and trusting me to look for her and made sure to put herself right where I'd find her. Are all Modern Game hens this clever? She's the only one I've ever had so I have no source for comparison, but I was so touched that she waited for me.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I recently added a new member to the flock, a gorgeous little Blue Lemon Modern Game hen. (Her name is Laverne.) Until now we have only had rather large and beach-ball shaped chickens (Mostly Orpingtons) and I have never owned a Game Hen and the contrast is quite extreme. I know the bar is pretty low, but she seems very smart for a chicken! She seems to know her name, because she answers me when I call her. But the thing that really shocked me was what happened tonight.

Because she's still not used to the rest of the hens (I don't actually know if she's ever seen such big chickens before), she tends to hang out alone in an unused old run most of the day. This is fine except that run is not predator-proof, especially at night, so I've been coming in at dusk to pick her up and take her to the secure coop with the other girls overnight.

Well, tonight I forgot to go right at dusk and it was already dark by the time I set out, headlamp on, expecting her to be trying to roost up high in a bush or tree (as our other hens have occasionally done when they didn't get in the coop.) Instead, I found her sitting right on our back steps, right by the back door. I swear it's like she was expecting and trusting me to look for her and made sure to put herself right where I'd find her. Are all Modern Game hens this clever? She's the only one I've ever had so I have no source for comparison, but I was so touched that she waited for me.

I have no experience with modern game hens, but sounds like she is pretty smart to me!

 

[aart]

Adding single bird to a flock can be tricky.
She's bonded to you because the other birds have not accepted her into the coop.
Most birds know where the food bringer lives

 

[centrarchid]

I recently added a new member to the flock, a gorgeous little Blue Lemon Modern Game hen. (Her name is Laverne.) Until now we have only had rather large and beach-ball shaped chickens (Mostly Orpingtons) and I have never owned a Game Hen and the contrast is quite extreme. I know the bar is pretty low, but she seems very smart for a chicken! She seems to know her name, because she answers me when I call her. But the thing that really shocked me was what happened tonight.

Because she's still not used to the rest of the hens (I don't actually know if she's ever seen such big chickens before), she tends to hang out alone in an unused old run most of the day. This is fine except that run is not predator-proof, especially at night, so I've been coming in at dusk to pick her up and take her to the secure coop with the other girls overnight.

Well, tonight I forgot to go right at dusk and it was already dark by the time I set out, headlamp on, expecting her to be trying to roost up high in a bush or tree (as our other hens have occasionally done when they didn't get in the coop.) Instead, I found her sitting right on our back steps, right by the back door. I swear it's like she was expecting and trusting me to look for her and made sure to put herself right where I'd find her. Are all Modern Game hens this clever? She's the only one I've ever had so I have no source for comparison, but I was so touched that she waited for me.

I think some chickens are reasoning as you suspect. I have an Aseel cockerel that comes around house to find me in evening if access to his pen is obstructed. Some of my tamer game hens do similar when either in lay or broody and cannot get to nest because a door is closed.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

What a sweet story!
Maybe you can find similar sized birds for her to help with the integration.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I recently added a new member to the flock, a gorgeous little Blue Lemon Modern Game hen. (Her name is Laverne.) Until now we have only had rather large and beach-ball shaped chickens (Mostly Orpingtons)

I don't have any game chickens, but you made me laugh,. (Beach ball shaped chickens).

My Barred Rocks make me smile when they run. GC