I have a loner in the flock. Her name is Fifi. She is a Silkie Bantam at the bottom of the pecking order. She doesn’t seem to be concerned about power or authority. She is curious, happy, timid and shy and keeps to herself. She sleeps alone in the nesting box. She has a few friends-all Silkies who she hangs out with during the day, but most times, she is exploring life alone.
I find the dynamics of the flock so interesting. I often wonder why things sort themselves out the way they do. I guess with in life, there are those that enjoy holding all the power. They make the decisions. They boss people around. They are controlling. They want and feel a need to be head hen.
Head hens can be very different rulers. Our head hen, Tilly rules with grace and elegance. She is thoughtful and motherly, perhaps this is the personality of her breed shining through. Other head hens can be downright vicious. Not only are they vicious but they teach others to be vicious too by setting examples. They give permission for other birds below them to torment, harm, chase, and feather-pick those lower down on the pecking order, henpecking at it’s finest. Henpecking becomes a norm in the flock an acceptable behavior through the entire pecking order. Nastiest becomes acceptable, the norm. The tone of the flock seems to rely heavily on the personality of the head hen.
For the past few days, I have felt badly for Fifi. Last night I could not sleep, so I got to thinking about why Fifi is the way she is. Then it dawned on me, Dottie Speckles and her were both born and introduced to the flock at the same time.
Dottie Speckles, our Silver Laced Wyandotte, had an insatiable quest to be head of the flock. Her goal was to de-throne sweet Tilly no matter the cost. She was violent. She was malicious. She attacked for no reason. She was relentless. She delighted in pulling out other flock members’ feathers who slept near her under the cover of darkness by the light of the moon. I watched as no one was safe. I believe this is where Fifi learned at a very young age to keep to herself. She was part of the flock but her “head” was not in the game. It reminded me of a nasty school click for only the “cool” girls. After five months, I had witnessed enough. Dottie Speckles was rehomed and over time peace returned to the flock.
Today, I awoke with a clarity. Could Fifi just be brave? I’m beginning to think that she is.
She doesn’t care where she falls in the flock’s pecking order.
She doesn’t care who she sleeps next to at night.
She gets plenty of treats, love and affection without having to be the center of attention.
She leads a drama free life
She has friendships because she wants them, not because she has to to keep her “position” in the flock.
Fifi had to make the choices that were not consistent with the popular road. That must have been difficult for her.
Sometimes, being brave is not an easy thing to do. It can be downright scary at times. No one likes to feel henpecked whether we are chickens or people. I take strength in the realizing the bravery of this hen, the tiniest of our bunch. Sometimes, you just have to stretch your neck out, be brave, and explore the other side of the road. Sometimes, the grass isn’t the only greener thing across the street.
Photo Credit: Tilly’s Nest
9 thoughts on “Henpecked”
I have two silkies. Love them both. Baby moma and Sophie get to roost on the other side of the coop to insure they don't get picked on because even the little bantam rooster does not think they are chickens. I also just rehomed my silver wyandott for the same reason as you and have had several friends do the same with theirs. I think it is just the breed but I don't put up with that in my flock. If you don't get along you get gone.
This is a beautifully written and so true of life. I admire you and your family for noticing and writing about it. It reminds me of my granddaughter, now 15 who has physical disabilities, and how some were so cruel to her, but like Fifi..she learned how to overcome the bullies. Your sweet daughter holding Fifi is so precious. God Bless you all.
I just love this post! Such beautiful insight into both chickens and people. There is so much peace in finding happiness where you are.
Love this sweet thoughtful post. Sweet, too, is your heart for being so in tune with your feathered "kids."
never a truer word was written at such an appropriate time in your life. Love it! Love you!-nan
It's amazing to me how much chickens in a flock and horses in a herd are alike. I love watching the chickens and the horses!
So sweet and lucky hen pecked chicken!! I would love to have a couple of back yard chcikens – if only hubby would let me. Love hearing aobut their personalities!
Thank You for this site. It is very informative, yet I have not read everything.
My 2 chickens were a science experiment as incubated eggs in my daughter's class over 3 years ago. They were side by side all this time & roamed with the wild ones in the bush about half that time. Suddenly the black one (resembles Tilly), lost her feathers got new beautiful ones fast , now after a month of new beauty, she is nesting by the front door & not letting her "leader" the spotted one (resembles Dottie) eat anything, by pecking her comb. The spotted one is now just crouched in a cage I put her in, as if it were the end of the world for her. Looking good, but acting broken. What shall I do, if you have any advice? Thanks, Leigh
Hi Leigh, Oh how sad 🙁
My suggestion would be to increase the flock size. You might consider getting two new hens to add to your existing two. Be sure to quarantine any new birds for at least a month before adding them to you existing birds. Enlarging the flock will hopefully solve your problem.