I love my chickens. Having them has made me an observer of their habits and tendencies, and here are a few interesting things I've noticed.
- Chickens live in fear
"You're chicken!" is a common playground taunt. It means someone runs from everything. Yesterday, Rosie showed her chicken ineptness when a bird was trying to get back to our yard and she stood at the fence, lunging at the disobedient bird. It was so hilarious. I climbed the fence, picked up my terrified bird, and calmly placed her on the ground in our yard after Rosie had left the area.
But yes, chickens' primary motivation is fear. (not faith)
Except for when they are in egg-laying mode. They will crouch for a rooster or their humans when we get near or they hear my voice. It's really sweet, and their feathers are soft for petting. But if they're not in a crouching mood, they will run from anything that moves. - Chickens have a "pecking order"
This means that certain birds are dominant, and lower birds live in fear of the higher birds. The dominant birds get first dibs on food, pecking any lower birds that dare to steal a piece of food while the dominant one is eating. Right now, my silver-laced wyandottes are the most dominant birds in our flock.
Wyandottes get first dibs on the leftover milkshake!
Waiting in line for the nest is like waiting to use the bathroom... the younger chicken is at the mercy of the older, more dominant hen. That younger girl lays lovely olive-colored eggs, though!!
- Chickens are groupies
"Birds of a feather" is a true saying! Part of being a prey animal is the tendency to huddle together. They take dust baths together, lay eggs in the same nest, follow each other to make sure they don't miss out-- and perhaps to snatch a juicy morsel. But when they are being chased, they fan out away from each other as they run, which makes them more difficult to catch.
- Injured birds become a target
The color red is a stimulus to chickens. Waterers usually have red to attract them. A weaker chicken who has exposed blood will literally be pecked to death. They have this nature, because a weaker bird attracts predators and puts the whole flock at risk. So the weaker bird must die. They are always looking out for "old number one" and do not take care of each other. - They purr when they are settling down
Mother hens purr to call chicks under their wings to rest. And when chickens roost at night, they make a high-pitched, soft purring sound as they fall asleep. This is one of my favorite things about them. I can imitate this sound with a rolled "r" and quietly humming a high-ish note (treble clef B). I've put chicks to sleep this way, because I am probably the crazy chicken lady.
As much as I love my chickens and seeing how human/carnal nature parallels theirs, it also brings to mind a sharp contrast of what Christians should be...
"And we know that faith accompanies love. And may it-- the love of our Father just be so great, till faith will just rise and mount up as an eagle, and may they fly away from all the sickness and fears, and scares of this world and be alone with Jesus. And may His power be there to heal them. For we ask it in His Name. Amen."
53-0601 Whatever He Says To You, Do It
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