Broody Rooster?

[Luanne Hott]

Yesterday I saw a hen in the nest box with the rooster laying outside like he was waiting for her. I looked again and she was out of the nest box, and the rooster was in there. He came out when he saw me and there was an egg in the box. Was he wanting to help incubate?

 

[rebrascora]

There is no more reason to think he is broody than to think he laid that egg. Often roosters scout out suitable nesting sites and call over and encourage young pullets particularly to lay in them. I would imagine this rooster was just trying the nest out for suitability... even though a hen/.pullet has already deemed it suitable to lay in.

 

[Luanne Hott]

He has also been seen in the nest box with a hen. Never seen a roo act like this before.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Roosters do go broody.

But this sounds like he was just nesting.

I would watch him still.

 

[centrarchid]

OP's account consistent with normal behavior where nest site selection and later importance of rooster's role as promoter of chick survival enabled.


Broody Rooster examples in link below. I see it frequently. Currently a Missouri dom has "activated".


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882368/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster