Chicken's have an established pecking order within a flock. When they meet a new chicken, they immediately work to establish who's the more dominant hen in the flock. It results in stare-downs, neck feather displays, growling, pecking, and kicking. Usually there is lots of squawking involved, too...
We wondered what a chicken would do if she was introduced to her own reflection... enter, Cottonelle and the bathroom mirror.
We found that there was lots of staring involved, and a bit of feather display and pecking... thankfully, Cottonelle never entered into full-on "must-attack...I'm-the-boss-of-you" mode.
Here's a little history behind Cottonelle, and how she came to be a temporary house-chicken...
We used to have a little itty bitty rooster named Cotton. He had REALLY short legs - so short, in fact, his belly feathers nearly drug on the ground when he walked. We named him after the character named Cotton on King of the Hill (an animated TV show), who has no shins (war injury). When Cottonelle hatched, we noticed that she had REALLY short legs too, so we named her Cottonelle.
Cottonelle had 5 little flock-mates. One of them didn't make it more than a couple of days. As the chicks got a little older and braver, they would escape from the goat yard where their mother was and would wander far, and out of sight from their mother. One day, one of the chicks disappeared, and only four chicks were left.
Cottonelle was the smallest of all the chicks and could escape from the goat yard by herself long after the others got too big (fat) to squeeze out. One day, she wandered all the way up to the house, walked right up to Alan, and cheeped. This was unusual, since the chickens at the barn are fairly "flighty" around us. Alan reached down and picked her up ... clearly, she needed something. Afraid she too would "disappear" since she wandered so far, alone, I decided that she (being as cute as she is) she needed to be added to the flock of chickens in the big chicken yard (where the laying hens, Chainsaw, Dee, Wiley, etc live) instead of being one of the "wild" barn chickens.
I brought in Twinkle Toe's old cage and set Cottonelle up with her new temporary digs, a dish of food and water. She was far too small to introduce to the hens in the hen house just yet, as she wasn't big enough to protect herself from them, and she needed a round of vaccinations, too. So, she's been in the house for about a month. She is quite a nice little house chicken... rarely makes a sound louder than a coo. Since she was raised in the goat yard with Bad Boxcar Betty and Calio-Pea, we're pretty sure she thinks my dogs, Daisy and Farley, are her new goats. Now and then I let her out of the cage so she can flit around the floor. She usually ends up sitting on either Daisy or Farly, keeping her toes warm and grooming their fur.
She also likes to watch Project Runway. *grin*
When she gets old enough to lay eggs, it's very likely that she will lay green shelled eggs... how fun! And she will be living with the rest of the hens, by then...

Sweet! Would love to see pics of her on the dogs!
Posted by: LisaC | February 09, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Oh that is too cute! I can picture her sitting on the dogs warming her toes!
Posted by: Danielle | February 08, 2010 at 12:05 PM
I LOVE reading your stories about the chickens, and ALL of the animals!
I used to dream of being a farm gal, way back when..
Posted by: Vicki R in OH | February 07, 2010 at 04:11 AM
Oh she's such a sweetie! We have a house chicken right now too, taking care of a clutch of 11 chicks. Rosebud is a silkie who has bouts of wry neck from time to time, which I treat with Vitamin E and selenium. She walks backwards when she gets it and I worry about her, so I had her in for treatment and then my eggs in the incubator hatched. I decided to show her the little chicks and she immediately adopted them all. She is a marvelous mom. Maybe I should keep her as an indoor chicken for all my incubated eggs!
Posted by: Claire Moxon | February 06, 2010 at 08:14 PM
She probably thought that was such a good-lookin' pullet that it was a shame to pick a fight with her. Do you giggle when she rides around on the dogs' backs? What a sight! Thanks for the smiles.
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | February 06, 2010 at 06:43 PM
Oops looks like I couldn't spell there, I meant Cottonelle.
Posted by: Ida | February 06, 2010 at 03:31 PM
Oh my Anna Cottenelle is so cute...loved the pictures, especially the one with the neck feathers ruffed out. Hilarious. Thanks for sharing her story and pics.
Posted by: Ida | February 06, 2010 at 03:30 PM
Such cute pictures, loved the story, always fun to read your blog.
Posted by: Rose Kerry | February 06, 2010 at 03:19 PM
I am so glad you told us about Cottonelle! She is just adorable. I think the reflection "experiment" is awesome! It's so funny to think that an animal doesn't really know what they look like...and they have no idea they are seeing themselves...so fun!
I'm so glad you all rescued her from the goats! LOL It's good that she is safe and sound, and I love that she likes the dogs!!!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to you and Cottonelle!!! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | February 06, 2010 at 01:16 PM
What a sweet little story about the cute chick, Cottonelle...how cute that she just walked up to Alan and peeped!! She knew what she wanted, eh?? You'll be interested to know, which you probably already do - we have NO SNOW in Idaho!! What a rip-off!! Love, Jeanne, up north. xoxo
Posted by: Jeanne H | February 06, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Hehe, fun story!
Posted by: Denise (peanutbee) | February 06, 2010 at 09:18 AM
Cottonelle is beautiful, looks like a few of my girls. Love your Dad's comments, lol. I would love to see a pic of them resting on the dog's back, what good puppies!
Thanks for the farm update, it's a snowy day here in PA, eight inches so far.DH had to blow a path to the coop, but the chickens are staying in so far.
Posted by: Sally | February 06, 2010 at 08:15 AM
These pictures are just too cute! She is just looking at how cute she is!
Posted by: Lisa Kind | February 06, 2010 at 08:13 AM
She is adorable! I love the story about her. She looks so cute looking at herself in the mirror. You've got to take a picture of her warming her toes on the dogs :)
Posted by: Michelle | February 06, 2010 at 07:47 AM
Gee, I needed a "chicken" fix! I love hearing about your cluckers and other farm life antics.
Posted by: Janet Sisk | February 06, 2010 at 07:38 AM
Great Story! You are Truely an animal lover. I also love all animals. What a wonderful thing you have done.
Posted by: Connie | February 06, 2010 at 07:05 AM
How funny! What a great story.
Posted by: Lisa | February 06, 2010 at 05:17 AM
take your time before letting her mingle. she is such a beauty. as we used to say bright eyed and letting the world know who is in charge. How much fun you must be haveing with all your chicks.....MaryAnn
Posted by: MaryAnn Grove | February 06, 2010 at 05:01 AM
Cottonelle is adorable. Is she an Americana? We have a couple of Americanas, Betsy and Millicent. Cottonelle looks a lot like Betsy, the lighter one. Millicent is darker. And they do lay pretty green/blue eggs!
Posted by: Cindy Robertson | February 06, 2010 at 04:52 AM
What do her new "goats" think of her sitting on them?! I like her taste in TV shows!
Posted by: Kathy D | February 06, 2010 at 04:41 AM
OH anna! you just crack me up! You and your chickens! That is just so hilarious. Your project runway chick....i think you two are hatchin up a fabulous outfit for cottenelle! ha ha
Posted by: Renee Guggenmos | February 06, 2010 at 12:19 AM
"In with the rest of the chickens by then" ya right. As if THAT will ever happen. You forgot the "special needs" birds like Ilean, and Loli the rabbit.Face it, you got another house pet. Only a bearded hen,get her a straw hat and she would look like a tiney Amish guy,with a red beard that clucks. Love, Dad..... Oh Hey! we got a "care package" that Rocks! food, cool threads and a glow in the dark Zippy with green frogs on it! Far out.
Posted by: DK Wight | February 05, 2010 at 10:04 PM
As the mom of a male cockatiel who LOVES/HATES his own reflection in the mirror, I loved this posting!! I'd LOVE to see pix of the chick grooming the dog. Your dogs must be SO calm around the chickens in general. My black lab is still so young and jumpy, I'm afraid he'd crush my cockatiel in his general enthusiasm at seeing the bird out of his cage. Not a happy image for me, but I'm loving the thought of Cottonelle & the dogs!! Thanks so much.
Posted by: margaret | February 05, 2010 at 09:48 PM
I just LOVE this post! I'm going to share it with my friends who already know I'm nuts! Your chickens just tickle me to death! I want chickens, too!!! Yea Anna!
Posted by: Sharli | February 05, 2010 at 06:22 PM
Anna, SIGH...just got a notice that the message I sent Reply to pouch was delayed !
What is going on? Please do make one and let me know details when you are done. THANKS and HUGS...Carol Dee
Posted by: Carol Dee | February 05, 2010 at 06:06 PM
Love love love it!!! We have been having many lively talks at work about chickens and raising them! I have been sharing my blog readings about your chickens and a few other blogs I read that raise them! So thanks for sharing them and all the wonderful crafting as well! Have a wonderful weekend! :)
Posted by: Jessie | February 05, 2010 at 05:44 PM
lol. Cottonelle has found a place in my heart. Bless that little chick!
Posted by: Erika Taylor | February 05, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Being her "Grandhen" I won't allow you to let her out in with the "Ladies of the House". Her home is now the birdcage and her pets are the dogs. Daisy always needs someone to mother and Farley is happy to pass the attention to Cottonelle. She's a name brand not store brand girl.....Hello to everyone for me. MOM
Posted by: Lori W | February 05, 2010 at 03:26 PM
Terrific story.
Posted by: SueB | February 05, 2010 at 03:25 PM
Charming! Thank you. My Alan and I sure enjoyed reading Cottonelle's story and seeing your incredible photos. Her neck feathers resemble a leprechaun's full beard. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Gabriela | February 05, 2010 at 03:08 PM
Sure she will end up in the chicken house with the girls! HA. By then she will be so much a part of the indoor scene you won't want to turn her out :o)
Poor Cottonelle looked a bit puzzled by her reflection. Funny.
Have a wonderful weekend, hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | February 05, 2010 at 02:41 PM
What a fun story. I think everyone will miss her when she moves in with the rest of the hens. Happy weekend. XOX
Posted by: Troy Louise | February 05, 2010 at 02:06 PM
love your farm stories... Being a city girl this is as close to chickens as I will ever get. Sounds like you and Alan have a great time on the farm. Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Donna V | February 05, 2010 at 01:59 PM
ahhh...don't send her back to the madding crowds...she is a house chickie now :-) What if Allen all of a sudden sent you into the barn to live??? LOL besides...whose going to groom the pups?
Posted by: Sue | February 05, 2010 at 01:02 PM