We arose early this AM, 6 or so, and ran down to see how the flocks were faring. The big pen was doing okay. All the new hens were milling around, the big ones (current residents) were chasing the new, smaller ones around, but not inflicting much harm, just being bossy.We did a head count, and.... Wild Thing was missing! That's impossible! Nothing gets in the pen; nothings gets out of the pen. We looked in the coop, high and low, in the tree, in the bush, in the compost box, in the corners, on top of the ladder, under the nest boxes...no Wild Thing. We were flummoxed. Until Pat saw her wandering around outside, trying to get back into her old pen! We had misunderstood her standoffishness. Thinking she was lonely, we moved her to a more social environment. But she was really the top of the pecking order and wanted to stay that way! Even though we had moved 4 bigger chickens into that old pen of hers, we caught her, and just popped her back in her old pen. (Junior's Pen) The chief of the 5 Marys immediately challenged her and they bumped chests for a few minutes - totally hilarious - Wild Thing was smaller but wouldn't give up and puffed herself up as big as she could! The Mary backed down, and Wild Thing is now back in her rightful place. We chicken 'experts' (hear my sarcasm) got that one all wrong! She went right up to the next boxes and laid us an egg. Thank you, WT.
Another day, another drama... Chicken Soap Opera at its best.
Sue
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