chicken behavior
115 stories filed under chicken behavior on Alektorophobia. The newest of them: “Eye issues in 3 of my 15 hens: fowl pox or something cluck-worse”, “Beak-a-boo: Is That a Hen or a Roo Playing Fowl Tricks on You”, and “The suspense is egg-cruciating: gender reveal at last for this feathered friend”. Oh, three of your fifteen hens with eye issues, that's the kind of fowl play that makes even the bravest chicken tender a little nervous. Is that a hen or a roo? Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every chicken behavior story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Eye issues in 3 of my 15 hens: fowl pox or something cluck-worse
Oh, three of your fifteen hens with eye issues, that's the kind of fowl play that makes even the bravest chicken tender a little nervous. Given that everyone's acting normal, eating fine, and free-ranging without a care, I'd put my money on dry fowl pox rather than something cluck-worse like infectious coryza. The timing fits perfectly with fall molting season, and the fact that you raised them all from chicks with no new birds since March makes a contagious respiratory bug less likely. Fowl pox is frustratingly slow to heal but usually clears up on its own. For more on what's normal and what's not during these feather-losing months, check out our piece on "Is this normal?
Beak-a-boo: Is That a Hen or a Roo Playing Fowl Tricks on You
Is that a hen or a roo? It's the age-old game of fowl identity crisis, and I'm here for it. We've all been there, staring at a fluffy little terror, squinting, wondering if it's going to bless us with eggs or wake the neighborhood at dawn with a triumphant crow. This submission from /u/Flaky_Mention4034 captures that delightful confusion perfectly. It's a cluck-tastic mystery that every chicken keeper faces, and honestly, the suspense is half the fun. If you're currently chickening out on telling them apart, you're not alone. For more feathered friend shenanigans, check out our piece on "New Chick Energy: Cluck-tastic Chaos Hits the Coop", because new chicks never make things simpler, do they?
The suspense is egg-cruciating: gender reveal at last for this feathered friend
The suspense is egg-cruciating, and I'm pecking at my keyboard in anticipation. Our feathered friend from /u/LittleTank4291 is finally getting their gender reveal, and honestly, I'm more nervous than a chicken in a fox den. Will it be a proud rooster crowing at dawn or a sweet hen laying the breakfast gold? Either way, the cluck is out of the bag. This moment is pure fowl play at its finest. If you're still craving more chicken drama, check out our story on the feathery giant giving nightmares, it's a cluck-tastic companion read. So grab your popcorn and prepare for some egg-citing news.
Why Your Chicken's Chest Bone Shouldn't Be This Easy to Find
Oh, a bony chest on a feathered friend is never a good sign, and u/shanimals82 knows it. That second photo shows a plump, healthy hen just weeks ago, but now? That keel bone is way too easy to find, and she looks worse by the day. Weight loss in chickens can point to several culprits: a heavy parasite load, a chronic illness like Marek's disease, or even a simple case of not eating enough. Sometimes it's a molting issue, sometimes it's something more sinister. Whatever it is, this bird needs a vet visit pronto, and maybe a closer look at her diet. If you're suddenly feeling like a cluck-less chicken parent yourself, you're not alone in this feathery panic.
Slinging some TLC: is your chick's hangout height just right
Oh, bless your heart, and your little chick's leg. You're already doing more for that feathered friend than most first-timers would even think to try. That sling idea? Pure cluck-tastic ingenuity. Here's the short answer: yes, you generally want the feet to just barely touch the ground, taking weight off the leg without fully dangling her. If she's alert, eating, and curious, you're already winning the chicken parenthood game. The fact that you're adjusting her food and water station, too? That's some serious TLC. You're learning fast, and honestly, that's half the battle. For more relatable chicken chaos, check out "Morning clucks and toddler commentary: my kind of egg-citing chaos", it's the perfect reminder that we're all just winging it here.
Odard the rooster is getting cocky: and we've got little kids to protect
Odard the rooster is getting cocky, and with little kids to protect, that's a problem that's both egg-citing and terrifying. Our reader's Rhode Island Red has jumped at her twice, no spurs yet, no injuries, but the fear is real. We get it. You love the guy, he's beautiful, he's sweet to his hens, but you can't afford a dangerous bird. Chasing him around to prove you're not scared? That just ended in a frantic game of fowl hide-and-seek. Don't stew him yet. There are ways to curb this behavior before it escalates, and we've got the cluck-tastic advice to share.
Connie's gone from clucky to sleepy and we're already clucking worried
I'm already clucking worried about Connie, and it's only day one. This hen went from normal to barely awake overnight, and that's the kind of fast progression that makes any chicken keeper's heart sink. She's still eating and will rouse for noise, but the image of her dozing off with her beak in the water says it all. I've isolated her from the flock, and the wetness below her vent hints at diarrhea, though she hasn't pooped since. No hard crop, no egg binding, and her pale comb is normal for a six-month-old. The first cold front just hit Florida, which doesn't help.
Puffy gets three meals a day and still acts like I'm the enemy
Puffy gets three meals a day and still acts like I'm the enemy. I get it, some relationships are just built on mutual suspicion, and apparently, that's the foundation of this one. You'd think a full bowl of feed would earn a little gratitude, maybe a polite cluck or two. Nope. Just that side-eye that says, "I know what you're up to." It's almost impressive, the dedication to holding a grudge over absolutely nothing. But honestly, that's the charm of chickens, right? They keep us humble and slightly paranoid. If you're looking for more feathered drama, our piece on "Quail eggs: nature's tiniest game of fowl hide-and-seek" captures that same spirit of playful chaos. Puffy may not trust me, but I respect the commitment.
My chicken's giving me the cold shoulder: and the cold weather's got me worried
Oh, the classic chicken cold shoulder, and I mean that literally and emotionally. One of your new feathered friends has decided the run is her preferred nighttime hangout, and with temperatures dropping to 0°C, that's more than a little fowl play. You've just moved in, these girls were established long before you arrived, and now this rebel is breaking all the rules. It's enough to make anyone feel like the awkward new roommate who doesn't know the house quirks yet. Before you panic, know that chickens sometimes pull these stunts for surprisingly simple reasons, bullying, a drafty coop, or just being a dramatic diva.
This mystery chick thinks you're a perch: should you be worried or flattered
A one-month-old mystery chick decided your lap was the perfect perch, and now you're left wondering if this is love or a setup for some serious fowl play. I've never had a chicken warm up to me that fast, so I'd say you've been officially adopted. This is actually pretty normal behavior for a young bird seeking comfort and warmth, he's not plotting your doom, he's just cozy. Will he outgrow it? Maybe, but then again, maybe you've got a lifelong cuddler on your hands. For more tales of unexpected chicken antics, check out "Puffy gets three meals a day and still acts like I'm the enemy", because sometimes our feathered friends keep us guessing.
When your new chick loses her head, the older hens might be the ones to blame
Oh, fowl play indeed, and not the fun kind. Finding your new chick decapitated in the center of a covered pen is the stuff of nightmares, and I feel that horror right in my bones. You're smart to rule out raccoons or hawks; those predators usually leave a messier scene or a missing body. Could the older girls have done this? Unfortunately, yes. Hens can be brutal when they decide a newcomer doesn't belong, and pecking can escalate to deadly levels, especially in tight quarters. It's a grim reminder that flock integration is no joke. For more on mysterious chicken sounds that make you question your sanity, check out "When your hen's 'barking' sounds more like a sneeze, is it asthma or just fowl play."
Hen with the reddest face: could she actually be a he
So, Helen's mom is convinced one of her new hens is actually a rooster, and honestly, I'm here for this little identity crisis. The lady in question has the reddest face in the flock, and apparently, she might have been caught crowing. That's a pretty solid piece of evidence. A hen can have a bright red comb and wattles, sure, but when you add a crow to the mix, the math starts looking a little fowl. I think mom might be right. It happens more often than you'd think, you raise a batch of chicks thinking you've got a peaceful all-girl band, and then one starts showing off.
My porch hen trained herself to clear six-foot fences
One of my girls is so committed to her porch-chair egg-laying addiction that she's basically turned my fence-raising efforts into an Olympic training program. I thought I was outsmarting her by gradually making the enclosure taller. Instead, I accidentally created a six-foot-jumping champion who sees barriers as a fun challenge. That's some serious fowl dedication. It's equal parts impressive and terrifying, especially when you remember this is a chicken, not a kangaroo. Her determination is honestly cluck-tastic, even if it means my porch will never be egg-strictly off-limits. For more feathered friend drama, check out our article on when your chicken starts quacking, it's not fowl play, just pure egg-citement.
When your chicken starts quacking, it's not fowl play: it's just egg-citement
When your chicken starts quacking instead of clucking, it's easy to assume some serious fowl play is afoot. But relax, it's just egg-citement! Our feathered friends are full of surprises, and as /u/TransitionOk6281 points out, a little vocal confusion is part of the charm. We've all been there, side-eyeing our flock and wondering if they're plotting something. Spoiler: they're probably just thrilled about that tasty bug they found. This playful quirk reminds us why we love these goofy birds, even when they ruffle our feathers. For more cluck-tastic moments, check out our piece on "Cyrus is clucking us a good morning tune and we're honestly egg-cited." It proves chickens really know how to make noise.
Crowing or just clucking? Help me ID my teenage flock
So you've got a teenage flock that's part crow, part cluck, and all confusion. I've been there, standing in the yard, squinting at a lanky adolescent chicken, wondering if I'm about to get an alarm clock or just another layer. It's the awkward phase of fowl life, and identifying those gangly birds is part art, part sheer guesswork. This Redditor's plea is so relatable it hurts. Whether you're dealing with a wannabe rooster or a hen who's just practicing her morning announcements, the struggle is real. If you need more cluck-tastic camaraderie, check out "This Redditor's chicken story is the cluck-tastic content you didn't know you needed" for another round of feathered solidarity.
When your feathered friends decide your shoulders are prime real estate
So your shoulders have become prime chicken real estate. I feel this on a spiritual level, there's something both flattering and absolutely terrifying about being chosen as the designated perch. One minute you're standing still, the next you're hosting a feathered friend who clearly thinks you're a tree. It's the kind of fowl play that makes you laugh nervously while praying they don't decide to test their balance mid-step. For anyone who's ever wondered if this is normal or just another chapter in the cluck-tastic chaos of chicken keeping, you're in good company. If you need more reassurance, our piece on "Your Speckled Sussex Is Doing Something Weird" might help you sleep better.
Your Speckled Sussex Is Doing Something Weird: Is It Normal or Time to Panic
Oh, a Speckled Sussex doing something *new*, that's the kind of egg-citing mystery that keeps us all on our toes, isn't it? You know your feathered friend better than anyone, so when she starts acting weird, your brain immediately jumps to panic mode. Is this just a quirky crop adjustment, or is something more sinister clucking under the surface? I've been there, staring at a hen and wondering if I'm overreacting or under-reacting. The good news is, you're not alone in this fowl play. It might be nothing, but it's always better to check. Speaking of strange chicken moments, our piece on a rooster's wheezing mid-molt explores similar déjà vu with gapeworm, worth a peek if you're feeling nervous.
Is your hen's new noise a secret egg song or a distress call
Oh, the classic "what in the cluck-tastic is that noise?" moment. Your seven-month-old hen has you on high alert, and honestly, we get it. That sudden shift from happy-go-lucky to mysterious nesting sounds can ruffle anyone's feathers. The noise around the four-second mark is the real puzzle here. Is it a proud egg song debut or a secret distress call? At her age, she's right on track for laying, so nesting behavior checks out. But a brand-new sound? That's enough to make even the bravest chicken keeper wonder if there's some fowl play afoot. If you're diving deeper into chicken communication, our piece on "Three Gentlemen and Their Roosters: Our Roo Squad Crushes" explores similar feathered mysteries.
Rhode Island Red or Fowl Play? Why Nugget and Emerald Look So Different
So Nugget and Emerald are both supposed to be Rhode Island Reds, yet one looks like she's been dipped in green feathers and the other is built like a tiny barn fortress. I love this mystery because it perfectly captures the glorious chaos of chicken keeping. My money's on Emerald being a mix or a color variant, especially since Odard the rooster shares her shimmer. Sometimes breeds just throw curveballs, and that's the cluck-tastic fun of it. As for the laying pause? Totally normal. Six months is young, and a sudden stop often means stress, a molt, or just them being dramatic divas. For more feathered friend detective work, check out "She's got a burning chicken question", it's full of that same relatable fowl play.
These three senior hens are still clucking strong after twelve years together
Fourteen and a half years old and still clucking strong, Heckle, Ginger, and Daisy are basically the golden girls of the coop. I love that one of them suddenly started cawing like a rooster this year, despite never having one around. Maybe she's just found her voice in retirement. These three musketeers have been together since March 2012, always chattering, always pecking, always attached at the hip. They stopped laying eggs eight years ago, but who cares? They've earned their "me time" with treats and warm tail-feather soaks. After losing others between 7 and 12 years, these ladies are defying all odds. How much longer will they keep going? Honestly, I'm just grateful for every clucky morning.
This tiny hen's egg-citing new spot is pure fowl play
Well, look at that, a tiny hen has claimed the coziest spot in the house, and honestly, I can't blame her. If I were a feathered friend with zero respect for personal space, I'd probably do the same thing. This little lady's new hangout is pure fowl play, and it's the kind of cluck-tastic chaos that makes you wonder who really runs the place. It's egg-citing to see chickens getting creative with their real estate choices. And if you think this is wild, just wait until you read about those teenage rooster hormones turning a backyard into a fowl-play zone, apparently, the drama never ends with these birds.
My hen's gone bald and I'm not egg-sactly sure why
My hen's gone bald, and honestly, I feel her pain, losing feathers is ruff. But before you start panicking and buying tiny wigs, let's cluck about what might be going on. Molting is the usual suspect, especially this time of year, when hens shed their old plumage like we ditch last season's sweaters. But if she's patchy and pecked, you might have a case of fowl play on your hands, bullies in the flock love a good feather-plucking session. Parasites are another sneaky culprit, making your girl look like she's been through a windstorm. It's egg-citing to solve these mysteries, and we've got your back. Check out "My Ladies Have Swollen Ankles and I'm Totally Chickening Out" for more flock health wisdom.
Can my free-range chicken survive a pitbull in Velociraptor mode
Oh, the age-old dance of dog vs. chicken, and this time the dog's in full Velociraptor mode. I feel this struggle in my bones. You've got a young pitbull who's gone from feral to somewhat tame, but still gets startled and turns into a chaos tornado. Meanwhile, your poor free-range chicken is exiled from the backyard, only to face a new threat from stray cats. It's a fowl play nightmare. The good news? Your older dogs already get along with her, so the pecking order isn't impossible. Slow, supervised introductions might work, but don't rush it. If you're looking for more detective work on chicken behavior, check out "Is my fluffy friend a roo or just a bossy pullet?" for some cluck-tastic insights.
Craigslist Chicken Rescue Takes a Sketchy, Feather-Less Turn
Well, cluck me sideways, this Craigslist chicken rescue took a decidedly fowl turn. Four hens and a rooster, a sketchy seller who went silent at the mention of other birds, and a feathered friend who arrived looking like a plucked, lethargic mess. Now we've got suspected lice, egg cases on vents, and one hen with a swollen bottom that screams egg-bound. The missing pupil is a genuine head-scratcher, though a birth defect or old injury sounds plausible. I'm not here to judge the impulse buy, we've all been there, but quarantine was a smart, egg-cellent move. The Premo Guard spray should help, but a vet visit might be the real lifesaver here.