Oyster Cracker and Sunshine are my two Buff Orpingtons.  They have been together since they were one day old and have been inseperable ever since.  They truly are best friends and do everything together.  They eat, drink, sleep, scratch and dust bathe together.  They are never apart except for when they lay their eggs and even then, they always go in multiple times to check on each other.  They seem to be coaching each other with the process and sometimes, even impatiently wondering, “Are you done yet, I really want you to play with me!”

These two girls are the sweetest chickens around.  They are incredibly mild mannered.  Our huge super sized chicken, Oyster Cracker’s personality reminds me of a golden retriever.  I guess they both do in a way.  They love treats.  They love to sit on my lap and enjoy a good rub.  They love to nuzzle into the crick of my neck inhaling deeply all the while.  Oyster Cracker always sound like she has nasal congestion!

They are also my best egg layers.  These two lay everyday.  I can only recall a day or two when they have missed laying one of their edible art pieces!  Oyster Cracker’s eggs are huge.  Probably because she is so huge herself.  She is like a chicken and a half.  Sunshine’s eggs are normal sized, as she is the size of a typical chicken.

They both sit right under Tilly in the pecking order.  I rarely see them have to assert their place in the flock like Tilly does.  Most of the others, just accept these two in their ranks.  I have never seen them peck the other girls, just an occasional squawk.  They also enjoy sleeping next to each other at night.  No matter how hot it is outside, they sleep with their wings touching.

Without a doubt, these two girls are best friends.  I have seen this incredible bond develop only between these two over the past year.  Incredibly, chickens are capable of friendships.  I do not need any scientific evidence to prove this.  At least in my flock, these two girls have given me all the proof I will ever need.

Photo Credits:  Tilly’s Nest