Do chickens groom each other?

[DeeBocBoc]

Thanks everyone! This was such a lovely thing to watch today. I love my ladies but, besides the way my two Silkies so affection to me, I've never seen any sort of affection between them. This just makes me love them more now!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Mine only groom each other when pecking order disputes are happening. More like haircuts and feather extraction. When those gals get squabbly they don't pull any punches.

 

[Hybridchucks]

If one ( or multiple ) of my hens finishes eating some scraps and she's been messy with it and has it all over her face, the other hens will come and gently peck the bits off her face, and she keeps still till they finish. I wouldn't call it preening, rather 'cleaning' lol.
So that may be what you saw

 

[DeeBocBoc]

Mine only groom each other when pecking order disputes are happening. More like haircuts and feather extraction. When those gals get squabbly they don't pull any punches.

Behaviour I've seen on numerous occasions and why one lost an eye!

 

[DeeBocBoc]

If one ( or multiple ) of my hens finishes eating some scraps and she's been messy with it and has it all over her face, the other hens will come and gently peck the bits off her face, and she keeps still till they finish. I wouldn't call it preening, rather 'cleaning' lol.
So that may be what you saw

Could be! Thanks!

 

[Hybridchucks]

Plus; Welcome to BYC, Its great to have you

 

[missysixx]

So today I just noticed my olde English bantam hen grooming my silkie bantam with her beak gently pulling out surface feathers I'm guessing? It doesn't seem to bother him but she's been doing it this afternoon. Any insights and should I be worried?

 

[rosemarythyme]

So today I just noticed my olde English bantam hen grooming my silkie bantam with her beak gently pulling out surface feathers I'm guessing? It doesn't seem to bother him but she's been doing it this afternoon. Any insights and should I be worried?

He might lose some feathers if she's vigorous with her grooming but if they're being pulled from the face/neck area, that doesn't seem to really bother them much.