Although we have several chickens in our flock (all with their own stories) the one I am asked the most often about is: Charlie.
When Charlie was born, her deformed feet (curled and webbed) pretty much assured that she was not going to have a happy and long life. I took a chance and brought her home. With my son’s assistance, I performed surgery to release the webbing, splinted her toes to straighten them out and then I gave her chicken physical therapy (up on the roost, off of the roost, up on the roost, etc.) Charlie ended up living as a pet in our house for 6 months (I know, I know) and became as much a member of our family as anyone else. If someone was watching TV, Charlie would be there sitting on a shoulder watching the show along with all of us. Charlie loved the Super Bowl and in particular, she loved those little bagel pizzas that always seem to come with the game.
As Charlie got older, I set up a nest near my desk and she would spend hours, sitting in her nest watching me type (which is why when she pecked a letter off of Marc’s keypad, I was convinced she was simply trying to emulate “mom”.)
Eventually I transitioned Charlie to the outside coop – a bittersweet experience at best. I missed my Charlie.
I had read an article somewhere that stated chickens do not have long term memory. Chickens, it continued, only have the capacity to remember things for, at most, 2 weeks. If this is the case, no one has told Charlie.
When we leave the back door open, Charlie will pop in, quick as a bunny, to trot over to Pippin’s dog food dish where she knows (remembers) that there is food there that she likes.
When I’m in the back yard, as soon as she hears (remembers) my voice she runs over to me.
And at dinner, Charlie always stays around my chair at the outdoor table. (of course to be honest, I think that this one is more because I slip her treats than it is that she is remembering something.)
I’ve seen our other chickens “remember” things. Most impressively, in the Spring when they are released from staying in the coop in the winter, I’ll see them immediately go over to the exact place where we’ve kept water or food for them in the past. Conditioning or memory, I couldn’t tell you.
In the end, I don’t suppose it matters, but I’d like to think that Charlie will always remember she is a member of our family flock, because I know I always will.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
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