I’m pretty sure my chickens miss me when I’m gone. For the past few weeks I’ve been spending about 5 days a week on the farm. When I come home, the chickens tend to call me (a sort of whine) until I either come down and sit with them or until I let them come and sit next to me at the top of the stairs. Each time I return, until I spend 15 minutes or so right next to them, they will keep whining. As soon as I spend the time with them, things go back to normal in the garden.
This past week I’ve been gone for 8 days. Frank came home early to do some things in Chatswood while I stayed taking care of a few things on the farm. I wondered if this would make a difference. Well, I got home yesterday, just at sunset, and watched the girls waddle into their coop. Today, they started up their whine again. I asked Frank if they’d done that when he returned and he said no. They know I’m here, they hear my voice, they call, I call back and this went on until I opened the back door and sat at the top of the steps.
All 3 chooks came up the stairs (Rosie raced in and had to be chased out). They sat and pecked at my clothes for a while. (I assume this is a sign of affection or grooming or something because they do it a lot and I don’t have that much edible on my clothing!)
Almost immediately, Bronwyn hunkered down for a nap.
Then, maybe 10 minutes later, they waddled away. Reunion complete, all is right in their little world.
Sorry, I am smitten by these birds and it’s nice to think maybe they feel a little bit the same.
Laura Rittenhouse's Gardening Journal 
That’s really sweet! When I come home my cat whines for food. Once this demand has been fulfilled, he jumps on the bed and calls until I come and stroke him for a bit. I’m sure animals feel affection too.
I think flock and pack animals get dependent on other creatures they see as part of their group. I’m head chook with my girls. The fact that your cat, a lone animal, misses you means you’re doing something right there!
Oooh pure love – how sweet! They are going to get really excited when they get to move with you.
They’ll hate it for a while. My girls don’t like change. But they’ll soon really love it. But not as much as they love me 🙂
Lovely dear sweet chooks. I bet you miss them when you’re at the farm.
Strangely, I do. Who knew I’d get more attached to them then they are to me.
They certainly miss you. It seems amazing but birds do recognise individuals.
They recognise us and even have favourites. I’m their fav which is just the way I like it. All that yogurt has paid off 🙂