Carmen Makes a Friend

So far, Carmen has been tolerated by everyone (except Nellie, but we'll get to that later) but she has nobody that is really her friend. Today I noticed that Carmen was not only allowed to lay in the chicken pile, she wasn't chased, she wasn't pecked (only occasionally by Nellie), and most surprising of all she has a buddy! Usually when free ranging everybody pairs off so that everyone is close but, they always have a buddy who sticks to them. Up until today the pairs were Shirley and Nellie, Dot and June, and then Carmen was not welcomed into the general vicinity. But today Nellie had to flit between groups because Carmen and Shirley were inseparable!

Hopefully now that the boss hen has accepted Carmen, Nellie will have to shape up.

Poor Dot has so many physical problems. I think she has severe scoliosis because her neck is very crooked and wing droops while the other is held high. 

Dot is a sweetheart though - never minds handling or cuddling and coos when you pet her. She is really far behind developmentally - she is just losing the baby feathers around her neck! You can see a little fuzz in the picture below. She is starting to get speckles on her back and tail which is fun to see.

Shirley is a very good leader, in my opinion. She is always on the watch for predators, she doesn't pick on anybody, and she is good at finding spots for dust baths.

Shirley has gotten much more cuddly of late - it used to be she was practically as fond of being held as Nervous Nellie, but now she is much better. Let's hope that's permanent.

Carmen is loud. Not only is she loud, she sounds like a goose. I'm not kidding or exaggerating - I've had people ask me if I had gone completely nuts and bought a goose to accompany my chickens. I am concerned that the poor neighbors don't love her quite as much as I do.

Carmen is quite possibly just as bad as Nellie is when it comes to snuggling. She is fine when you get her, but that's only if you can get her! She is super quick and very decisive (no weak moments of indecision where you can easily grab her).

 Carmen is almost certainly the smartest chicken I have. Shirley is bright too, but Carmen seems to be an intellectual as far as chickens go. Carmen also refrains from panicking in situations where other chickens freak out (mostly referring to how Nellie panics when I come to pick her up - Carmen strategically selects the most secure hiding place in the bushes or the clearest path for escape)

 

Oh, Nellie. What shall I do with her? I love her dearly, I really do, but she is a bully and she spreads panic throughout the flock. She is also very talkative, which doesn't really add anything to her rather negative list of characteristics.

Nervous Nellie isn't actually afraid of me - she is afraid of being picked up by me. So she'll walk right up and peck my feet and stand beside me, but as soon as those terrifying, nightmarish hands stretch into out to mercilessly steal her from her beloved flockmates she is gone.

But everybody thinks she is pretty, so I suppose that is a plus.

June is absolutely brainless. I am sure she has no more than two neurons in that empty skull of hers, because she is entirely without any mental function beyond instinct (and even some of those are less than optimal).

I adore June. She is goofy, likes to be held, and she has a beard. Does it get any better?

But it does! Soon enough June will be laying pretty blue eggs for me! Just another 3 months or so... 

Honestly, June is very fun to watch in the yard. Poor June spent 6 minutes trying to get over a bush branch today. She tried to push it over, tried to fit underneath, tried to fly over (only to hit the bush), and finally, finally she stepped over it. Carmen wouldn't have had to try twice.

Don't forget about the babies! They went out today too of course. They look very similar, but they have more feathers on their backs at the base of their wings. But you won't get to see because I didn't take a photo that shows their new feathers!