Flock of a Feather: Budgies, Breakthroughs, and Behaviors–Or

Meet the Budgies (Parakeets).

Dots.

And Bluey.

Bluey is a temporary member of the household, being a friend's bird. That's the Budgies.

On to the chickens. So, yesterday I was changing their feed, but they kept stepping on the feed booster (Made of a couple pieces of cardboard and a plant saucer. Picture below).

I decided to put something on the booster. I put part of a small clay bowl on it, and they crouched, stretched out their necks and trilled loudly. Then they scampered and hid behind the roost. Interesting. I took it out and they loosened up. Then I put it back in and they hid again. Very interesting. That's the break through.

Some developing behaviors: At one week they started to scratch and peck. At 2 weeks, they roosted more

and started to preen. The first time they roosted together, I noticed it was either Honey, Coral, and Ginger that roosted, or Black Pearl, Coral, and Ginger. Rivals for Lead Hen, or normal flock behavior?

One day Black Pearl ran in front of Honey, fluffed herself, and stood tall. Honey fluffed herself and walked away. Black Pearl did the same with Ginger, but Ginger didn't react. She just walked away.

Normal flock behavior, or not?

Good news: the camera's working again! Here's the girls today.