You know that moment when you walk out to the coop and every single one of your feathered friends stops what they're doing and just *stares*? The one where they line up on the roost like a tiny, beaked jury, and you get the distinct feeling they've been discussing you while you were asleep? That's the energy of the clip /u/LostSektor shared. We've all been there. It's the quiet before the storm, or, more accurately, the quiet before the coordinated pecking order enforcement.
Let's be honest: chickens are not dumb. They've got a social structure that would make corporate middle management blush, and they *remember* who forgot to refill the scratch grains last Tuesday. What we're seeing here is a classic fowl coup, not the government-overthrowing kind, but the "we're going to stand between you and the back door until you produce mealworms" kind. It's hilarious until you realize you're outnumbered, outflanked, and entirely at the mercy of creatures whose brains are the size of a peanut.
Our take? This is a reminder that keeping chickens is a negotiation, not a dictatorship. You think you're the boss, but the minute you turn your back, they're forming alliances. The practical lesson here is vigilance. If you notice your hens gathering in a tight circle near the feeder, or if the rooster starts giving you a look that says "I've been practicing my kick," it's time to reassess your security protocols. Maybe throw an extra handful of cracked corn their way as a peace offering. It won't stop the rebellion, but it might buy you a day.
If a reader asked us for advice on handling this specific situation, the one where you're clearly being surveilled from the nesting box, we'd say this: don't run. Running triggers their predator-chase instincts, and suddenly you're part of a very undignified game of tag. Walk calmly, maintain eye contact with the alpha hen, and *never* let them see you flinch. And for the love of all that is egg-citing, lock the feed bin. A hungry hen with a grudge is a dangerous thing. They're plotting, sure, but they're also easily bribed. Keep a pocket full of sunflower seeds and you'll live to see tomorrow. Probably.
