I continually marvel at how chickens observe and sometimes follow what we do. On her third day with me, Edith the Cornish Rock chicken hen who was recently salvaged from a trash bag, comes to me when I gesture or call to her. But even more remarkable, Edith climbed her first flight of stairs to join me at the top, but only when I encouraged her to do so. On the other hand, when I did not call or gesture to her to climb the stairs, she remained below.
Luckily I caught this all on video which I share with you here so people don’t think I’m just hallucinating!
Once at the top of the stairs, Edith sat calmly in my lap and pulled at my buttons on my shirt and pecked at the hair on my arm. Her feathers are soft, fluffy and newly grown. She lets out little chirping sounds of contentment every so often. All of this suddenly made me aware that she is really just a baby, exploring a new world where everything, every object, is a new adventure.
I also can see how she yearns to be with others. For the first time I heard a sad call come from her in the yard where she stays temporarily on the side of the house. The vet wants to keep her separated from the other girls for a week. She immediately perks up when she sees me peer out the window at her or come out to check on her. I think she’s going to be really happy here, especially when she is allowed to be in the company of the others.
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