Chickens have personalities!

I have learned so many things from having chickens. Some of them seem like 'duh...common sense' others are funny and some are just amazing facts. Oh, the things I didn't know! I learned that eggs aren't always egg shaped, a broody hen can poop a pile the same size as a dog does, and they eat just about anything with their favorite being Styrofoam. So weird. 

On of the things that really surprised me though, is that chickens have personalities. I really didn't expect this. I guess I thought they'd be boring. Cute, but just...boring. Boy was I wrong! Let me introduce you to a few of them:

Sally...the puppy dog. Sally is always right at your feet. Pet me! Pick me up! Feed me! She comes when called and will 'talk' to you with her little muttering noise she makes. Yes, she expects you to have a conversation with her! She also follows daddy around all the time, just like the dogs.

Rusty...Mr Ornery. Cranky and a bit of a tiny little fluffy bully. He's also a butt biter. Do NOT bend down in front of his roost at night because your butt is right in front of him and he will bite it! (picture from when he was a scruffy little baby roo)

Original...Miss Jealous. When feeding the chickens treats, Original will go behind me and pull on my pants leg like she's saying "where's mine?" So of course I have to give her a special pile of treats. It's so darn cute! Every time someone gets a treat she's right there pulling on me, telling me "I want what she has"   

Then there's this crazy little cookie thief! This tiny rooster is called Mini Moo, or MiMoo for short. He comes running when called, but only if you have a cookie. He then steals the cookie and runs away. It has to be a chocolate chip cookie...any other kind and he just looks at you like you're crazy!



Buddy...the morning biter. Buddy is a sweetheart of a rooster, but every morning when I open the Silkie house door he runs out and pecks every other chicken on the head. No idea why, but it only happens first thing in the morning. Other then morning he is a sweetheart and will come when called. 

Q-Tip....the cuddle bug. Q'e (nickname...pronounced cue-eee) is the favorite of all the children that come to visit. She will sit on a lap and suck up the attention all day long. She never fusses unless she has babies, then she only wants to be held for a minute.

Big Boy & Pebbles...the love birds. These 2 were hatched in a group of 4. Of the 3 girls, Big Boy decided he liked Pebbles the most and they have been inseparable since. They free range with the rest of the crew but even after the rest wander away to search for bugs and such, these 2 are always side by side. You just don't see one without the other!

There are lots more, but this post will end up taking a hour to read! I guess I always thought of chickens as being kinda boring...until we got some. Now I know that they have very distinct personalities, habits and even different likes and dislikes. Who knew?

~L

Want information on raising chickens sent right to your email weekly? Click right here to join my list and get new posts sent directly to you the day they're published. You'll also get the free download 25 Ways to save money raising chickens.