4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[SilverC]

Hi

This is my first post here, so apologies if this is the wrong place. I have three Warren girlies - all 19 weeks old and assumed related as they are all from the same breeder and were kept together.

 

Anyway, I've had them for 10 days now, and the pecking order is obvious - the middle sized hen (Delia) is the boss - they all follow her round and do what she says with no fuss at all. The heirarchy though with the other two is a little unclear - Loretta is the smallest in size, but very friendly and is quite plucky (her speciality is threatening the cat who is scared stiff of her). Loretta is always first to bed and first to rise, and gets on well with Delia. The last of the group is Margaret - she is a big girl, with very thick feathers and dwarfs the other two. She is quite meek and mild with us, and also with Delia and on first glance, appears to be submissive to Loretta too.

 

However, over the past couple of days, I have caught her stealing food from Loretta's beak (grass and green veg), and also pecking at her face. She isn't pecking hard, it's almost as if maybe she is grooming her, and Loretta doesn't seem bothered in the slightest, but I wondered what this facial pecking actually means. Is Loretta being bullied, or is it a bonding kind of thing?

 

There have been no other odd things occurring, just this face pecking thing, but just thought I'd see what everyone thought

[Henhathnofury]

It is bonding - my two hybrid girls are devoted and they both groom and eat in the same place, sometimes the same blade of grass....

[SilverC]

Awww, thank you - that's so cute

 

Well it all seems very harmonious at the mo' - lets hope it continues

[Budgies]

My girls used to clean one another's beaks with delicate precision! One would hold very still whilst the other pecked gently, then they'd swap!

 

They do sound like lovely girls and it seems they've found their pecking order already - enjoy!