By Virginia Selley May 13, 2013
Until we got chickens I never understood them...
Yes, this is about chickens but it is also about relationships. I do try to adapt what I learn daily into all areas of life so it limits the repeat performances of those lessons.
You have to earn the trust of chickens. They are naturally standoffish. You also have to have a no-nonsense way of behaving with them. They will try your resolve. Once the ground rules are set though, you can move forward in the joy of being with them, and they with you.
I figured it's more about respect than dominance.
One chicken, who's name is Velociraptor, tries my very limit of patients. She's the BOSS of the girls. I am an un-trusted interloper. It has taken me ages to get her trust. She knows my boundaries (now), and I know her's. I really can't say if we'll ever be close or friends like some of the other ladies, but at least we have come to some sort of respect for each other. When we breach the treaty of space and behavior we both know it. However, if she pushes me too far, she'll lose. She knows this. I respect her job as leader. We have a mutual respect.
We all need someone to help us along the way. She watches over the other hens. If their is danger she will let them know. She will let me know.
Chickens have a social network not unlike people. Their principals are fairly simple and the dynamics are far reaching in the flock. There's the overseer; the Boss. The Alarm; lets everyone know what's going on. The Food Finder; Lets other hens know where a nice stash of goodies were found. The Lookout; Keeps an eye out for Danger! Then there's The Snoop, who tattles about things which are happening.
While none of those titles seem very great, we have all experienced people of the same kind... Learning how to work within personal relationships can be very vital to health and happiness.
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