Very proud of the Count today.

[dinosaw]

Today I integrated both of my black Araucanas with the ex batts and I have to say the behaviour of the Count in helping to protect them made me so proud of him. He used to run with the Araucanas until about a month ago when I put him in with the ex batts as it wasn't fair to keep him with just two girls and he has stamped his authority on the ex batts really well without being aggressive which has surprised me given they are two and a half and he is still quite young. He has however still had a bond with the Araucanas and is often up at the fence that separates them so he has been delighted that they have joined his flock and has spent most of the day putting himself between the ex batts and them and occasionally raising his hackles to deter them, when they have really overstepped the mark he has put them firmly in their place. The result of this has been that the Araucanas which are far smaller and more timid birds (one is partially blind) have taken minimal punishment. What really impressed me though was how he behaved at bedtime. He is normally last into the coop after seeing everyone safely in but tonight after calling the Araucanas down to their new coop he went in first barging the ex batt that was guarding the door out of the way and then shielding the entrance from her so that the Araucanas could get safely in. Really chuffed at what a good job he did, especially given what a softy he is and how young he is too.

 

[Marigold]

What a gentleman!