What is this Thai game hen doing with my Wyandottes?

[mopalia]

I have 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes and last week a Thai gamehen showed up. She hung around outside the chicken fence, obviously looking for a home. After a week, I had her vetted; no lice, mites or intestinal parasites, so she was invited in with the others. We've had the usual pecking order squabbles and they won't let her into the coop, but that's as expected. But today while I was hanging out in the run, the newcomer started a very odd thing - she ran at the other hens full face on and tucked herself down and ran UNDER them, one at a time. She did it to all of them for several minutes. The Wyandottes were totally confused. Is this some sort of submission ritual?

 

[NewBoots]

No idea myself but how fascinating!

 

[CindyinSD]

Never heard of such a thing, but I've never had game hens. I'd have been dying of giggles. Is anyone nearby missing a chicken?

 

[CindyinSD]

I do have a couple SLWs... they can be cranky. Hope your new gal can integrate with them. (I'm still cracking up--try to get a video... please?)

 

[mopalia]

I do have a couple SLWs... they can be cranky. Hope your new gal can integrate with them. (I'm still cracking up--try to get a video... please?)

I"m always pleased to hear people talk about their bad-tempered SLWs. I had no ides what to expect, they're my first chickens. Like I should have started with a Toyota but accidentally got a Maserati. What crabby birds! They hate me, except that I bring food. Poor Thai hen.

 

[mopalia]

Never heard of such a thing, but I've never had game hens. I'd have been dying of giggles. Is anyone nearby missing a chicken?

Forgive my language, but I just stood there dumbfounded, thinking WTF!!!!!

 

[mopalia]

Never heard of such a thing, but I've never had game hens. I'd have been dying of giggles. Is anyone nearby missing a chicken?

It'ws not the kind of neighborhood where the residents are chatty. There was a semi-feral flock a few blocks away for a while, but it disappeared - maybe it's back. But since it's a game hen, I'm concerned that someone is raising fighters. In that case, no one would admit it, and I don't want to send her back!

 

[CindyinSD]

It'ws not the kind of neighborhood where the residents are chatty. There was a semi-feral flock a few blocks away for a while, but it disappeared - maybe it's back. But since it's a game hen, I'm concerned that someone is raising fighters. In that case, no one would admit it, and I don't want to send her back!

Well if someone lost a bird it's for them to come looking. Best of luck with her--she sounds spunky at least! If you have a dog crate, you might consider crating her while you're not around or sleeping, just to make sure they don't hurt her. Ideally you would put her (crated) in with them--coop and/or run, but do crate her if at all possible. Hopefully after a couple weeks they'll be used to her and she won't need that extra protection.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It'ws not the kind of neighborhood where the residents are chatty. There was a semi-feral flock a few blocks away for a while, but it disappeared - maybe it's back. But since it's a game hen, I'm concerned that someone is raising fighters. In that case, no one would admit it, and I don't want to send her back!

Not everyone with gamehens is raising fighting birds, just a friendly fyi

 

[centrarchid]

Video clip?