Cockerels with pecks appeal are unlikely pin-ups

Previous jobs have included exclusive Doctor Who photoshoots and portraits of stars from Usain Bolt to Brad Pitt, not to mention Leeds’ Gabby Logan and musician Ed Sheeran, from Hebden Bridge.

The London-based photographer can now boast a calender shoot - with roosters.

The unlikely pecking pin-ups feature in the 2015 Nice Pecks calendar which shows roosters taking on sports from surfing to ski jumping.

The calendar is the fourth to be published by the Happy Egg Co.

Calendars are sent to egg suppliers after research found that hens were calmer in the company of cockerels.

Rob Newell, head of brand marketing at the company, said that photographs of cockerels were the next best thing for hens.

“Nice Pecks was born out of wanting to do something more for our girls to enhance their surroundings and give them added visual stimulus.

“Since we can’t introduce real life cockerels onto our farms, because the eggs we buy in the supermarket are not fertilised, the calendar felt like the next best thing.”

The pin-ups include various types of cockerels such as Light Brahma, Lincolnshire Buff and Black Cemani.

Mr Derry said he was able to draw on his sports photography skills to get some decent shots.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea and being able to draw on my sporting work, I knew we could produce some great shots to help get their hens egg-cited.”

His has previously taken photos of diver Tom Daley, surfer Anthony Fillingim and his son, the footballer Tom Derry, who plays for Aldershot Town.

A company spokeswoman said: “The Nice Pecks calendar has been created by the Happy Egg Co following academic research which found that hens are calmer and range further afield when in the company of cockerels.

“The Nice Pecks annual calendar has been a great hit with the hens.”

A previous cockerel calendar was shot by fashion photographer Dan Kennedy.