Most folks do not see a chicken like a dog or cat. Most vets take it as an insult if you bring a hen to them for care.
They're wrong, it's our decision whether we treat chickens as productive sources for meat and eggs... or as part of our family.
One of my hens hid her nest of eggs, easy to do because they free range, so I couldn't monitor her or her nest of eggs until I heard the sound of a new chick on my usual morning rounds.
The hatch was terrible, something went wrong, only one chick survived. But it was her baby for a few days and the rest of flock were great with her and the chick.
Last night I waited until the chick and Mama were settled, all seemed well. During the night the chick died. When mama got up for food in the morning it fell out of her feathers dead. Mama hen spent a long time trying to wake the chick and eventually sat over it, to keep it warm I guess. All the while clucking and chattering to her chick.
Hours later she's still staying close to her chick, protecting and clucking (talking) to it. I'll wait until dusk to remove it. I don't have the heart to upset her further, she's not accepting it's dead.
It's not just hormones driving her, chickens do form bonds and have a very rich and complex emotional life. I've been on a steep learning curve for the last 10 years... It has surprised me!
At first I was scared of touching them. Then I wanted to breed meat birds and egg layers. Then I freaked out when any of them got sick. Then I couldn't bear culling egg layers after they got old, I couldn't cull ones that were becoming old and infirm, I wanted to open more space for them to free range for life!!! Lots of anxiety.
I am now at the point where I knew them all individually and maintain a flock of 20+ chickens (including multiple roosters). That was not my intention! but I'm learning everyday how much I really do see and understand their individual quirks and variations in their behaviors, without even realizing it. It's fascinating.
I have discovered a profound respect for my hens and roosters, and this surprises me. I have 20 rescue dogs and cats with various issues to care for plus my real job, so a chicken is not high on my priority list....or so I thought.
It's surprisingly distressing watching a hen try to revive her chick that died in the night while sheltering within her feathers. I'd love to give her a cuddle, she won't have any of that human nonsense!
They're wrong, it's our decision whether we treat chickens as productive sources for meat and eggs... or as part of our family.
One of my hens hid her nest of eggs, easy to do because they free range, so I couldn't monitor her or her nest of eggs until I heard the sound of a new chick on my usual morning rounds.
The hatch was terrible, something went wrong, only one chick survived. But it was her baby for a few days and the rest of flock were great with her and the chick.
Last night I waited until the chick and Mama were settled, all seemed well. During the night the chick died. When mama got up for food in the morning it fell out of her feathers dead. Mama hen spent a long time trying to wake the chick and eventually sat over it, to keep it warm I guess. All the while clucking and chattering to her chick.
Hours later she's still staying close to her chick, protecting and clucking (talking) to it. I'll wait until dusk to remove it. I don't have the heart to upset her further, she's not accepting it's dead.
It's not just hormones driving her, chickens do form bonds and have a very rich and complex emotional life. I've been on a steep learning curve for the last 10 years... It has surprised me!
At first I was scared of touching them. Then I wanted to breed meat birds and egg layers. Then I freaked out when any of them got sick. Then I couldn't bear culling egg layers after they got old, I couldn't cull ones that were becoming old and infirm, I wanted to open more space for them to free range for life!!! Lots of anxiety.
I am now at the point where I knew them all individually and maintain a flock of 20+ chickens (including multiple roosters). That was not my intention! but I'm learning everyday how much I really do see and understand their individual quirks and variations in their behaviors, without even realizing it. It's fascinating.
I have discovered a profound respect for my hens and roosters, and this surprises me. I have 20 rescue dogs and cats with various issues to care for plus my real job, so a chicken is not high on my priority list....or so I thought.
It's surprisingly distressing watching a hen try to revive her chick that died in the night while sheltering within her feathers. I'd love to give her a cuddle, she won't have any of that human nonsense!
Big hug!
Yes they do form bonds. I’ve gotten to the point where I just can’t. When they are old suffering and obviously sick I have to get my adult son who has no attachment to them to do culling. I never had a problem with that as a teen on parents chicken farm. But when they are your own and you raise them from egg to elderly, they are more like pets.
