Ours learned to follow me when I imitated the Greylag "Vee,vee, vee,vee"; something I started out of curiosity while they were still in the eggs. They also come on a run when I whistle the chickadee spring call "Pheebeee", and will hide and freeze when I make a hawk whistle.

When our best bantam Lil Bit was setting, her first and only love Archie would make himself a nest in the coop across from his crochety love, and talk quietly with her for hours as she brooded their eggs. Lil Bit herself was unable to stop talking except when she was hiding from a predator. Not one chirp from her would we hear until I could show her all was well. When Archie died she mourned- no other word for it- for nearly two years.

I really miss our pretty chickens now. We'll get the grandchildren of Lil Bit and Archie from the neighbor as soon as we are home again.

Nice thread idea, Joy. Thanks.

maeve