Rooster in Front of Nest Box?

[antiqsolo]

Hey all,

My new roo, Midnight, is currently in the coop, crouched in front of the nest box. There's a hen in there (she seems quite content, same hen I think who tried going broody a couple weeks ago), I think she is trying to lay her egg. He doesn't seem to be bothering her at all. I'm wondering.. is he trying to convince her to go broody? Or is he waiting to eat the egg? He softly growls at me when I try to go near.

 

[lazy gardener]

My guess is that she may be going broody, and he's standing guard. Good roo, as long as he doesn't go overboard into human aggression when protecting her. My roo is quite the family man, scouting out nest boxes, and escorting his girls to/from the nest when they are out free ranging. He loves his babies, tid bits them, and lets them pick bits of food off his beak and wattles.

 

[azygous]

Yes, some roos are very domestic. I've had several that like to join a hen in the nest, fluffing it up for her, rooting for her to lay her egg. The other day, my current rooster Strawberry was in the nest with two hens. A chicken threesome.