I had a banty hen hatch out a fall clutch this year. There was a hawk keeping an eye on them, so Mother Hen kept them in a stud's barn until they were a couple of weeks old. One day, I noticed the stud, Pink Panther, bugging them, so I stopped and watched.

Panther's head was down near the chicks and mom would peck him and cover the chicks. He would put his nose even closer, just to be pecked and pecked. He finally figured out how to do what he wanted to do. He put his nose over her back, gently nudged her aside and watched the chicks until she righted herself, pecked him good and covered her chicks back up. He gently nudged her out of the way again and again so he could watch the babies. What a sweet sight!

The chicks are grown now and still spend a lot of time with Panther. He seems to enjoy their company.