Tales from the warren - July

The big news this month is that Minerva has been usurped as the dominant doe of the group.  It was all very peaceful - no fights or fur pulling, but has still come as a bit of a shock.  I did imagine that my beautiful big softie would be the head of this group forever.

One day at breakfast time all the girls rushed forward for their fibafirst as normal but Zyanya nudged Minnie out the way to get the pellets first.  Minnie simply accepted this display of dominance and waited her turn.

The following few days went along as normal but whenever Min would approach Zy, the new head doe would assume the dominant position (body still, low to the ground, head down and ears raised).  This sight often makes me nervous in groups that are new or have unstable dominance but this was certainly a peaceful takeover.  Minnie just settled straight in to grooming her younger sister.  Minnie was a little quiet for a few days and spent most of her time with Blackberry the low-rank doe and our resident outsider.  While I felt sorry that Min was not the centre of the group anymore it was really nice to see Blackberry finally getting some loving with a close buddy.

It's been three weeks now and Minnie seems happy to settle with her new lower ranking and enjoy her retirement but she's back in the middle of the hubub now and has taken Blackberry with her.  The change in lead doe has had an impact on the standings of the other does.  Zy's daughter Ava who was previous the 2nd bottom doe is now 2nd in command sticking to her mum like glue.  While Min's daughter Pandora has taken to splitting her time between her mum and the lead doe group.  

In other news this month Pan has been experiences a phantom pregnancy... building a nest and eating for England - but there's nothing in there.  It's about time I mated up another one of these does my plan would have been Pan but with the hierarchy reshuffle i'm thinking maybe Ava.