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Aren't they just fascinating! I love days like that. I'm going to head out myself in a minute to do just that.I've had a rather educational morning, standing at my kitchen window, coffee in hand, watching my chooks. As I was observing, I was thinking of everyone of you, especially @Shadrach.
Charlie has gone broody, AGAIN Its only been a few weeks since last time and she is at it again. She looked just like Bob's Mal in one of his photos - head down low, floofed out and tail spread like a turkey, standing off against any of the others who came near. And constantly doing that broody 'muttering-under-her-breath'.
As we have been having a rather hot weather spell, I have opened up the front wall of the coop and removed the lid from the nesting boxes, which means we can see right inside. (This hasn't affected their laying, they are quite happy still. This morning I saw Blue and Delta go inside and they both stood there inspecting the nest boxes after having kicked Charlie out. Blue chose her nest box and began rooting about whist Delta just stood and watched, a few times she went into the nest box with Blue, before coming out again to stand watch. Once Blue was done, they both came down the ladder into the run with no fuss at all.
What I can see clear as day now, thanks to you lovely lot, that Delta has taken on rooster duties, escorting Blue to the nest, assisting her with settling in, keeping watch and escorting her back outside. There was no 'egg' song from Blue because Delta was there already to escort her. Delta also makes a very distinctive chattering type call when she has found something interesting in the grass/in the run. I have never heard what a tid-bitting rooster sounds like, but must be what she is doing. Although, she doesn't actually share whatever she has found for the others, she announces she has found something, then chows down at top speed.
As I type, Delta has not yet laid her own egg, she is ruthlessly chasing Charlie out of the coop every time she tries to get back in. I wonder whether she is wanting Charlie out so she can lay her egg in peace, or whether she is doing it because she is trying to prevent Charlie from sitting?
It does seem like Delta is doing what Lilly does. Taking on some of the rooster duties. I linked to a recording of Jabberwocky tidbitting a while ago. I could link it again if you want to hear the sound he made so you can recognize it.
What is your pecking order? I don't remember It.