Thanks. I think it's because he (and his nest mate) were free ranging with their foster Mum from two weeks old in a big backyard. They're definitely the best foragers in my flock, are hardy as anything, and are top of the pecking order in a group of bigger, older chooks . I know there's a lot to recommend against letting chicks free-range with adults but I think in this case it's really paid off.
I have always let everyone intermingle with not one disaster,at one stage there were 2 mums with 9 & 11 chicks 2 weeks apart in age as well as 9 adults.I think as they free range there is no carry on with food and space issues,for me it works,have had no losses over the years.At night each mum had there own area and the older ones were perched above. Lovely thick legs on your young man
Thanks mottly crew. I've another cockeral from the same hatching and his legs are similar, although his comb and wattles aren't as red or developed.
My friend's backyard was really big so the birds didn't need to be in each other's way. They nested for the night in the broody pen until the chicks were about five weeks old and Mum decided to take them into the henhouse for the night. We figured she knew best and there were no dramas. By six weeks (when they came home to our house), they were roosting on the perches with the adults.