Does Ziggy know he's Dad?

[Shell from Zim]

I just had all the mammas and babies arrive at the main feeding station at the same time as all the adults. Ziggy.. AKA Daddy Roo seemed most curious about the chicks. Stood there almost frozen, like shock watching them.. kinda looked awed. So it made me wonder what really goes on in those little heads of theirs.. does he have an inkling that they may be his babies? Does he remember treading on Mum and her disappearing for a while? He totally knows the mamma hens.. they're his hens. What do you think? Does he know they are his babies?

 

[333113]

Kinda depends on the breed of chicken.

Some breeds have had the broodiness bred out if them in favor of more time producing eggs. Not as much attention was spent on selecting for rooster behavior.

My Nankins, Sultans, d'Uccles and Orpingtons step right up to daddy duties. My Crevecoeurs and Delawares, not so much "daddy" as still boss of the flock but accepting of the mom's rules on chicks. I have some individual roosters (Ameraucanas, bantam OEGs, and Polish) who are not allowed access to mom and chicks until they are nearly grown, due to their past chick-harassing behavior.

 

[Shell from Zim]

Kinda depends on the breed of chicken.

Some breeds have had the broodiness bred out if them in favor of more time producing eggs. Not as much attention was spent on selecting for rooster behavior.

My Nankins, Sultans, d'Uccles and Orpingtons step right up to daddy duties. My Crevecoeurs and Delawares, not so much "daddy" as still boss of the flock but accepting of the mom's rules on chicks. I have some individual roosters (Ameraucanas, bantam OEGs, and Polish) who are not allowed access to mom and chicks until they are nearly grown, due to their past chick-harassing behavior.

Love your response. Thanks so much. It will be interesting to see what people with different breeds have observed regarding 'Dadding' behaviours of their roosters. With so many babies atm.. I have 34 chicks following 4 mammas around the garden, it can be a tense time to see how accepting or reactive they are on encountering them. Looking good here currently.. fingers xed. My hens are flipping fierce too haha

 

[Shell from Zim]

I just watched Ziggy walk right between a bunch of his tiny babies.. my heart was in my throat for a second. He walked very chilled past them. When Mamma realised he was there she very quickly gathered them up and scuttled them away from him. It looks like he's going to be ok with them. I'm proud of him as he is only about 5 or 6 months now.. and these clutches of chicks are his first