Quote: He's guarding them. That is what good males do.
He certainly took guarding the broody girls seriously when they were in the nest boxes. He slept on the floor beside them rather than up on the roost with the non-broody. It was adorable. I'm really enjoying watching the flock dynamics with the chicks. All the pullets are good with them now (even broody Venetia no longer pecks at them) and the chicks have started to venture out a little into the run to scratch and explore (they're 7-8 days old now). Sylvester mostly stands in the doorway between the run and the open yard when the chicks are exploring and he calls everyone over when I bring them treats. Last night he was collecting stray mealworms and giving them to the girls.
