I have a delightful flock of 14 free-range chickens: 8 different pure breeds and different ages running around our backyard.
A Silver-spangled Hamburg rooster heads the flock, and he is really good with the girls. Keeps the peace without too much force, protects the flock, but has never been agressive to anybody, and...doesn't crow too much either.
Yesterday I got to witness just how much of a gentleman is really is:
I have two Golden Lakenvelder pullets, just under 6 months old, that had not layed yet. Yesterday, one of them was walking around, chatting and squawking away, just would not shut up for anything.
Mr. Hamburg walked over to her, fussed over her and then led her to the coop. He showed her the nestbox, made sure she got in, sat on the ledge and guarded her while she rearranged the hay and then continued to guard the coop door until she was done in the nest. She layed her first ever egg, a tiny perfect white cackleberry. Once she was done, he gently escorted her out of the coop and reunited her with the rest of the flock, fussing about her all the time.
Very sweet.
A Silver-spangled Hamburg rooster heads the flock, and he is really good with the girls. Keeps the peace without too much force, protects the flock, but has never been agressive to anybody, and...doesn't crow too much either.
Yesterday I got to witness just how much of a gentleman is really is:
I have two Golden Lakenvelder pullets, just under 6 months old, that had not layed yet. Yesterday, one of them was walking around, chatting and squawking away, just would not shut up for anything.
Mr. Hamburg walked over to her, fussed over her and then led her to the coop. He showed her the nestbox, made sure she got in, sat on the ledge and guarded her while she rearranged the hay and then continued to guard the coop door until she was done in the nest. She layed her first ever egg, a tiny perfect white cackleberry. Once she was done, he gently escorted her out of the coop and reunited her with the rest of the flock, fussing about her all the time.
Very sweet.