How long does a chicken remember their chicken flock friend - especially after being separated?

[Leilukka]

On the 13th I sold a few Easter Eggers to a friend. She told me that there is room for one more and wants to purchase another chicken from the flock. This chicken was flockmates with the few Easter Eggers. I worry that the three might gain up on her really badly if there is too much time in between. My friend has not set a day yet on adopting this one chicken. How long will the other 3 remember their old flockmate for? Will they forget her soon?

I guess my simple question is - how long is too long?

Thank you!

 

[azygous]

There are two factors in play. First is memory of the individual. Studies have shown that chickens can remember faces, not just their flock and brooder mates, but human, dog, and cat faces up to and beyond one year.

The second more important factor, though, is flock rank. That is always in flux, and even an absence of a chicken from the flock for one day will stir up the ranking of all the chickens in the flock so that the return of that individual, while they are remembered vividly, is cause for readjusting the ranks of members. This can be barely noticeable to us humans or it can result in a physical argument where everyone settles where they stand in relation to one another.

 

[Loving my girls]

My girls definitely know I am the one who feeds them

 

[Leilukka]

There are two factors in play. First is memory of the individual. Studies have shown that chickens can remember faces, not just their flock and brooder mates, but human, dog, and cat faces up to and beyond one year.

The second more important factor, though, is flock rank. That is always in flux, and even an absence of a chicken from the flock for one day will stir up the ranking of all the chickens in the flock so that the return of that individual, while they are remembered vividly, is cause for readjusting the ranks of members. This can be barely noticeable to us humans or it can result in a physical argument where everyone settles where they stand in relation to one another.

Thank you.