A lesbian chicken couple is lifting people’s spirits on Twitter.
Grad student Amanda Brunton shared the story of Domino, a hen that was found near her house. Her owners couldn’t be found, so Brunton took her in.
Related: No one knows how these lesbian penguins laid an egg
She was very thin and weak so I brought her indoors and set about finding her owner. She clearly loved being around people and we assumed she was a pet. We advertised everywhere but no one claimed her. She lived in our bathroom for six weeks while we tried to find her owner. pic.twitter.com/OOcOzIDGSh
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
She had to be quarantined with a buddy before being introduced to the flock, so Brunton set her up with Michelle Obrahma, a big Brahma bantam hen.
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The big grey bird is a bantam Brahma – full size brahmas are HUGE. They are gentle giants though, and we figured that a big bird would defend Domino, since she's a dinky little bantam about half the size of my existing flock birds.
My friend named her Michelle Obrahma.
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
She tried to slowly introduce the pair to the rest of the flock, but initial meetings did not go well.
To start, we moved the quarantine coop close to the other birds so they could see each other, but not touch before letting them spend time together. This is Cleo, one of my cream legbars. Domino decided now was the time to ASSERT DOMINANCE and immediately picked a fight with her. pic.twitter.com/LK77UXVD99
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
We EVENTUALLY got Domino to calm tf down by supervising short visits with the other girls and gradually increasing the amount of time she spent with them. She's half the size of my other birds but was not satisfied until she was officially head of the pecking order.
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
Despite her size, Michelle depends on Domino to keep her safe.
Domino now HUSTLES RIGHT IN THERE if the other birds are giving her big dumb friend any trouble. They go to sleep at night separate to the other chickens, all snuggled up together, usually with one tucked under the other's wing.
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
And Domino brings Michelle treats when she’s too afraid to get them herself.
The two eat together and sleep together, apart from the other birds. She mentioned this to a chicken breeder, who informed her that how Domino treats Michelle is how roosters treat their favorite hens.
“So basically, I’ve had adorable little chicken-y lesbians in my back garden this whole time and I didn’t realize,” Brunton wrote.
I mentioned this to the breeder that I bought Michelle from recently, and she says she's only ever seen this behaviour as something roosters do for their favourite hen. So basically, I've had adorable little chicken-y lesbians in my back garden the whole time and I DIDN'T REALISE pic.twitter.com/OuViCK4m5q
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
So anyway, we have had Domino and Michelle for just a smidgen over a year now. Domino has calmed down enough that she is no longer a feathery little ball of rage *all* the time, though windy days bring out the worst in her. Michelle is adorable scaredy/cat goofball.
THE END
— Amanda Brunton (@Amandycat) February 25, 2020
Same-sex couple-like behavior is found in a number of bird species, including penguins, flamingos, and ducks.
