What to Look for in a Broody Rooster

[aart]

Quote: OK. I could read back, but was Slugger kept with Blanch while she was setting?

 

[centrarchid]

 OK.  I could read back, but was Slugger kept with Blanch while she was setting?

Yes but that is not a requirement at level of confinement. Having rooster interact with hen when she comes off nest is sufficient to start everything rolling. The critical points are rooster imprinting on chicks when they leave nest and lots of physical contact, especially when loafing. Multiple hen setting rooster does not spend so much time with single hen and her brood. Chicks also get buddy-buddy with dad.

 

[centrarchid]

Interesting note. Brownie came into garage for eats, a cockerel of juvenile brood challenged her and she whipped him soundly before Slugger intervened in a manner that protected cockerel. Cockerel then attacked Brownie's chicks that appeared to be blowing cockerel smack even as he attacked but Brownie thumped him again. Chicks would have a very tough time without their mother. Brownie also holds her own against Slugger very well.

 

[centrarchid]

Yesterday evening as I strolled slowly with brood in a pasture dominated by 6" fescue a green heron flew over. Juveniles produced a very different trilling call and all sprinted to fence line and clearly watched heron. Both sexes produced the call. Call was high pitched with low amplitude so best heard only at close range. Juveniles were signalling each other. Adults, roosters in particular, produce a louder lower pitched sound that otherwise sounds much different and appears to be a warning to overflying bird.

 

[centrarchid]

It appears a stretch of poultry netting will stop Slugger from going to cockyard. He is very smart when it comes to food but love does not increase his IQ.

 

[centrarchid]

Offspring now a little over 9 weeks post-hatch and juvenile feather set has completely replaced chick feather set although late juvenile feathers still in blood. Slugger now pecks offspring when the get underfoot although 4 of 11 still roost with him. Balance roost together on pile of sticks a few feet away.

Juveniles now drive much larger ducklings from feeding station without assistance from their dad but he does step when ducks do not keep their distance.

Blanch is due to hatch brood 2 on or about June 25
..............

 

[centrarchid]

Cockerels crowing as of this morning. Thank fully only six roosting 30 feet from bedroom. Crap!

 

[centrarchid]

A couple days ago a small juvenile from pasture flock attempted to visit. Slugger peeled away from his much older juvenile brood and chased it off. Slugger is doing a very good job of keeping all juveniles from other flock away. His juveniles would drive them off but their reaction distance is shorter.

Slugger has staying very close to house over last couple of days. Fescue sharks (juveniles) forage much father afield and move very fast as doing so. They are also starting to fly more. Their first adult featherset is starting to come in.

As of yesterday evening four chicks had hatched in brood 2.

 

[aart]

So will Slugger attend to his newest brood like the last one?

 

[centrarchid]

I doubt it since he now has two hens. Broody roosters are evident with pairs and parental investment in juveniles only when harems small (1 to 3 hens). Larger harems (larger than natural) that are typical of barnyard / backyard management make so parental investment likely not advantageous to rooster. He switches from quality to quantity as hen number increases.

As of this morning brood 2 has eight strong chicks, one mortality and three eggs showing no evidence of piping. Brood likely to come off nest with only eight. Slugger does appear aware of brood 2's status.

When they come off I will watch for him getting down and staring at the chicks. That is normal part of imprinting that keeps him involved when the chicks are weaned into the juvenile stage where he would typically invest anyway.