Ralph (harem master of front porch flock) has been a single parent for nearly 2 weeks to a group of eight juveniles (7 female and 1 male with latter already crowing feebly). He takes his job seriously rearing the roughly 8 week old juveniles he has constantly in tow and makes no effort to hang with hens belonging to American Dominique flock in pasture. Despite being 3/4 American Dominique, he has demonstrated most of the characteristics I look for in a broody rooster in that he leads them in daily foraging routine and at least provides oversight with respect predators. I have not seen him take on a Coopers Hawk but that may be because to Coopers have not hunted here at all this summer except when going after songbirds and one juvenile chicken (RIR?) taken from neighbors place. He also leads offspring to roosting location with a particular call that is made only as he walks up to roost, jumps and settles in for night. This works within limits. Tonight I partially closed the garage door so juveniles but not Ralph could fit through. He was able to call young to front porch storage shelf but they would run back and forth between there and usual roost in garage when he made call. Ultimately Ralph lost and young roosted in garage leaving Ralph alone. His grandfather seemed to be more effective at influencing where everyone else roosted. I do not know if the difference is in Ralph or the juveniles. Juveniles will soon have wing bands installed before being moved out to stay with balance of Dominique cross project birds.
