It’s hard being a teenager. I can remember those years. They were difficult. New found freedom was met with the thoughts that I knew everything and somehow at the same time, unbeknownst to me, really knew nothing about being a grown-up. Plagued by braces and over sized glasses, it was a miracle that I survived. I never really thought that chickens would have awkward teenage moments, but Dottie Speckles is playing the teenager role to a tee.
She pushes her boundaries. She often does not know her limits with the other girls. She is assertive and tries to boss them around. Most times, she is completely unaware of her position in the middle of the pecking order. She talks back to the other girls too, especially when they are all after the same treat. If she was a real teenage daughter, she would be the one, breaking curfew, sneaking out wearing make-up and meeting up with her boyfriend. Thank goodness I do not have any roosters.
She stays up past her bedtime. As the others are sleeping on the roost, I find that she waits for me to tell her gently to get out of the nesting boxes when sleeping. Fifi, her sibling, only took three nights to learn to sleep on the roosts. Dottie Speckles, on the other hand, just can’t seem to get it. As I open the nesting box door, there she is in the middle box. She gently gets up, complaining all the way, and finds herself a place on the roost. Sometimes she goes on her own and other times, I have to gently pet her and nudge her along. She can still be heard complaining back to me even after I close the nesting boxes for the night.
She picks fights with her siblings. I don’t know why, but sometimes, she will run up to the other girls for no reason and just peck on them. Not hard, but it makes me wonder, why she does that? Goodness, is it just girls being girls. Has she yet to accept her role in the flock? Is this just teenage strife that needs to be lifted off her chest?
She loves sleep. In the afternoon, Dottie Speckles loves to nap sitting on the log in the run. There she roosts peacefully as the world continues. Time passes her by. She is my only chicken that enjoys napping.
She thinks that laying an egg makes her a full grown adult. Oh, yes, she is laying an egg almost daily now. They are still small, somewhere between a Silkie size egg and a standard’s egg. I think that this egg laying was what created this teenager stage.
Even after all is said and done, I must say that Dottie Speckles is a good girl. She listens and is quite sweet. Next to the Silkies, she is the softest. Her feathers are incredibly soft and silky. They remind me of my daughter’s hair after it has been washed and dried and is silky smooth from the cream rinse and brushing. She is also docile. She has never attempted to peck at me and always comes when I call her. I am proud to say that she is one of my girls. I just can’t wait for her to outgrow these teenage years, that is, if chickens even have them!
Photo Credits: Tilly’s Nest
7 thoughts on “Teenage Drama”
oh so cute, I love it. I love seeing all of their personalities develope. We are having fun coming up with names that fit their budding personalities.
such an awesome post! i have this little tiny white cochin who is always trying to boss everyone around. it is pretty funny. just courious my chickens aren't laying yet, but I have two cochin chickens….i think they might be bantams. what size egg do you think they will lay? you think they will be similar to the silikies eggs?
Thanks the cake chick! I can't wait to see more of the names you have come up with! Hoping you made out okay in Irene too.
Hi Georgia! Thank you 🙂 I can see her now, that little white one of yours. The chickens will start laying anytime between 20 weeks and 6 months of age. They all start in their own time. At 20 weeks, be sure to start feeding them a layer feed and also providing them with oyster shells.
Cochins will lay a medium brown size egg, but are not known to be great egg layers. They typically lay about 2 eggs per week. I bet the size will be somewhere between a Silkie egg and a standard's egg. Oh, do let me know when they start laying! I can't wait to hear all about it.
Here is a great link for more info on the Cochin breed:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Cochin-B30.aspx
Hope this helps~ Melissa
Your story reminded me of the first time the goddessess met Doris, the Coronation Sussex. Little Faverolle Nike 3 weeks old ran up to Doris ten times her size and chest bumped her. Doris looked down at her like she was a bug. She's so good though and didn't hurt her. They are almost 20 weeks now and are always chest bumping each other but not Doris.
thank you so much for your help! my little snowball is so cute and very sweet! I am starting layered feed this next week and because of where I live there are shells thoughout the sand. I wonder if that is good enough? Thanks again for all your help and I will be letting the whole world know when my girls start to lay lol.
So cute rugosarosefarm!
You are very welcome, Georgia. I would probably just add some oyster shells to a small feeder and make it available to them. If they need it, they will eat it. That way, you can be sure they have enough to lay beautiful eggs with thick shells.