Omlet cube and run

[anamiya]

Does anyone know if and why chickens behave in certain ways at certain times of the day?

 

For example my reletivly new ex-bats have been living together since I got them 3 weeks ago (one from BHWT the other from owners who couldn't cope), the pecking order was established immediatly, they seem to get along together quite well (eating side by side, sleeping right on top of each other, sunbathing together) but in the afternoons, after 4.30pm, Squiffy will jump on to Elsie May's back, Elsie May adopts a still crouching position whilst Squiffy jumps on her. We think it is agression but also wonder if Squiffy is trying to remove the purple feathers from Elsie May (her previous owners sprayed her with purple spay, the other chickens were feather pecking her). Squiffy does not peck at her, she uses her feet as if she was scratching for food.

[Chortle Chook]

This sounds like a chicken submitting to a cockerel but why I don't know. The crouching position that Elsie May is adopting is that of a chicken being mated by a cockerel and the feet paddling sounds like a cockerel trying to get purchase but why 3 girls would be doing this I don't know. I'd imagine it is a dominance thing

[anamiya]

Hi, thanks for your reply, we were watching them earlier and we thought that Elsie May thinks that Squiffy is a cockerel, as she crouches down in front of Squiffy and stickes her bum in her face! Maybe Squiffy thinks she is a cockeral too, she's definitly not causing any damage to Elsie May so we are hoping they figure out soon that they are both girls!

[amycribyn]

I have a great book for you, its all about chicken behaviour and everything else. Its called 'The Chicken a natural history'. I bought it on amazon its a great book, take a peek!

[Chortle Chook]

Do they know they are all girls yet? It struck me that the behavour of your young chooks is really no different from the behaviour often see amongst young heifers in the field