Dads and Uncles

[its hilly]

My bantam wyandotte cockeral Trousers is probably a better mum than the hens. Despite being a stroppy git with people. He looks after his chicks, calling them to food and water and sheltering them when it rains, or something scary is around.
My spare boys all live together in a big run. They do scrap sometimes, but rarely nastily.
And I have a little bantam cockeral who has lost his missus. I brought him home to live with two barred wyandotte growers for company. He fusses over them, slaps them down when they are naughty, and snuggles up with them at night (it's soo cute to see as the growers wont perch, so theres this mixed heap of white, grey and black and white stripes)
My big (and he is ) sussex cockeral cheerfully lets my banty chicks follow him round (despite their mums playing hell with them and him)
Am I just very lucky? Or more cockerals good with babies than aren't?

[nellie-m]

My broodies wouldn't dream of letting anyone near their precious babies - auntie or uncle! But I have one adult male in a separate pen with four youngsters, and he is very good with them.

[Hilary B]

Not had a chance to observe it with chooks, but when we kept cattle, it was often 'Dad' baby sitting while all the cows were busy grazing. I was amusing to see an enormous bull lying down in the middle of a bunch of small calves, or just standing watching them play, while the Mums were the far end of the field.
I've seen it with goats as well.

[Nicos]

My 2 cockerels and 5 young teenage boys are fantastic with all our 7 gals and chicks.
....calling when there is a Buzzard or 3 above them...when they find something to eat...etc etc...

....makes it more difficult to plan their route to the freezer!


Given a choice I'd release them to the wild....but the hunters here would have them on their table quicker than I would
Sad Ain't it???

[Nicos]

I've just passed a young laddie on to another Grape....I'm sure he'll protect his new gal with her babby youngsters- cos he was already part of an extended flock ....I really feel that chooks need a daddy/uncle/etc if it's possible

[its hilly]

Extended family rings a bell Nicos. In winter I let my whole flock run out together. Bants and bigs, pure and hybrids. They all seem to recognise each other, despite having been separate most of the summer. Although they can all see each other, and the free rangers can talk to everyone through the pen sides. I'm sure that being in constant 'touch' so to speak keeps them as one flock. And keeps squabbles to a minimum when they are let loose.