Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Dolly]

All morning, whenever my top hen Holly and the bottom hen Lola have been near each other, they stand perfectly still with their heads bowed down in front of each other, then one breaks away and they carry on as normal.

I haven't seen any agression or pecking but can anyone enlighten me with what this means and should I be worried?

The 3 girls have been together for 2 years so I'm not sure whats going on!

Thanks

[madchickenlady]

Sounds just like they are aknowledging their respective places in the pecking order My top hen demands aknowledgement like this, and if she doesn't get it the unsuspecting underling gets bounced on

[the bradley bunch]

i'm sorry Dolly i feel so ashamed of myself but i couldn't help when i read your post - the image of them head bowing is just so funny!

 

i agree with madchickenlady that it's just them acknowledging their respective places in the pecking order. maybe Lola has been getting a bit too full of herself recently so Holly is reminding her that she's top chook in a less subtle way than usual ...another explanation is that Lola is no longer bottom chook and has worked her way up to be second in line to Holly. other than the 'top hen' the rest of the heirarchy is often so subtle that it's hard to distinguish the pecking order within the remaining flock; especially with a small, 2 year long established group. i know that with my trio of ex-bats lulu & boo seem to be equals, with doris being top girl. in this scenario Holly is either showing acceptance of Lola's new status, or warning her off trying to get any higher in the pecking order - which at present Lola respects. if they start to show pecking or aggression then it's most likely because Lola is trying her luck at taking Holly's spot as top chook!

[Dolly]

Thanks guys, I'm such a worrier when it comes to my girls!

Don't worry about laughing thebradleybunch, it really is like they're about to start one of those "period drama" formal dances!!

[Toots]

there was something very similar on the 'secret life of chickens' programme with Jimmy

 

When a new hen was intoroduced into a group they all froze as if asking 'what does she think she is doing here!@

 

However in that case all hell broke loose