The mama hen…is a rooster?

[wolfinator]

I had a buff Orpington rooster that would set on eggs each evening until I collected them. Then he'd leave the nesting box and get on the roost. Never had a cracked or broken egg under him either. He's was always a gentle boy, I could cradle him like a baby.

 

[wolfinator]

This was taken back on March 27, 2023 of both my 5 year old golden comet hen, Waddles and buff Brahma rooster, Bram with 24 CC Broiler chicks (5 & 6 wks). The hen has leg problems and the rooster had a traumatic brain injury where they couldn't be with the rest of the flock so I gave them a job taking care of the broilers. They did great raising them together. Sadly the rooster died about 2 months later. Waddles and 1 broiler hen named B.K., who was spared are still together.

Waddles and B.K. checking out some juvenile pullets in an adjacent pen (they all share a coop together now). 9/28/23

 

[Kellow1]

If you have too many roos, it's time to cull.

 

[Goldenwahintofboss]

Older babies will appear like they're mothering the younger ones. They do not do everything a true mother does. That said, there have been cases of mature males caring for young. Not completely unheard of. It's a really nice quality to have, IMO

Mine have done it. Fooled me
But it's adorable and roosters all mature different. Like people some like kids, some don't.

 

[igorsMistress]

I would be keeping Chili in this case. Some young birds will kill screaming chicks, he didn’t.

 

[CreativeChicken08]

I would be keeping Chili in this case. Some young birds will kill screaming chicks, he didn’t.

Yes, we’ll keep him for sure. But if he ever gets overly aggressive, we’ll probably let him go in our forest or give him away.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes, we’ll keep him for sure. But if he ever gets overly aggressive, we’ll probably let him go in our forest or give him away.

If he becomes aggressive, put him down. don't give him away to someone else to deal with and absolutely do not just set him loose somewhere to starve or meet a painful death by a predator. Even aggressive males deserve a quick and humane death

 

[CHICKENX2005]

We had an adult rooster that would raise chicks that we hatched the exact same way a hen does he would sit on them and act the same way a hen would. He was a great father. The chicks would follow him around the pen. He he would make noises just like a hen when she's walking around with her chicks. He was a leghorn mix rooster.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I had a Cubalaya rooster that would sit on eggs for hours. Very impressive breed overall

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

Yes, we’ll keep him for sure. But if he ever gets overly aggressive, we’ll probably let him go in our forest or give him away.

please don't just let him go into the forest, that's cruel - have a plan in place in case you need to remove him from the flock.