Well, dare I say it? So far, it's working out just the way I hoped it would. My Barred Rock cockerel, Zane, Hawkeye & Lexie's son, is 18 weeks old now. He is a sweetheart, jumps in my lap when I sit on the hammock, comes when his name is called just like a puppy dog. Hawkeye allows Zane's presence everywhere around the girls with no aggression unless Zane has pinned a struggling, screeching hen and Hawkeye runs to the rescue to knock him off. BUT, that's where it ends. Hawkeye then just walks away or stands between them. He never chases or attacks Zane at all. I'm amazed. Last year when we had a cockerel grown out of Kate's flock, Maverick, same age, Hawkeye chased him relentlessly and Maverick avoided Hawkeye at all costs. I ended up selling Maverick to someone so he could have his very own flock of girls.
Zane and Hawkeye stand together! In the last week, I've seen a group of hens splinter off and be on one side of the property with Zane watching over them while Hawkeye was on another part of the property with the main flock. This is exactly what I envisioned. Naturally, there are plenty of hens for two or even three roosters, especially when I add the six young up-and-coming pullets to the main flock in a couple of weeks time. That will bring the number in the main laying flock of hens up to 25; I'll also be adding maybe 15 more layers out of my current hatch in the bator, if it goes well.
Its almost like Hawkeye knows that Zane is his son and Maverick was not. I know, I know, no human feelings put onto the chickens, but that's the way he acts around Zane. He treated Maverick like an interloper. So, I'm very pleased right now with the way things are going, except for the expected teenage raging hormones that make Zane chase some of his favorites a little too much. I'm sure he'll mellow a bit as he gets some age on him, if he's anything like his dad. I'll be very fortunate if he turns into a carbon copy of Hawkeye because that is one special rooster. Zane is just a utility-type, average quality boy, but he has a permanent home here based on temperament alone... that and the fact that Hawkeye seems to be okay with him hanging around and helping with guard duty, LOL.
Here is my Zane, the Lap Rooster:
Zane and Hawkeye stand together! In the last week, I've seen a group of hens splinter off and be on one side of the property with Zane watching over them while Hawkeye was on another part of the property with the main flock. This is exactly what I envisioned. Naturally, there are plenty of hens for two or even three roosters, especially when I add the six young up-and-coming pullets to the main flock in a couple of weeks time. That will bring the number in the main laying flock of hens up to 25; I'll also be adding maybe 15 more layers out of my current hatch in the bator, if it goes well.
Its almost like Hawkeye knows that Zane is his son and Maverick was not. I know, I know, no human feelings put onto the chickens, but that's the way he acts around Zane. He treated Maverick like an interloper. So, I'm very pleased right now with the way things are going, except for the expected teenage raging hormones that make Zane chase some of his favorites a little too much. I'm sure he'll mellow a bit as he gets some age on him, if he's anything like his dad. I'll be very fortunate if he turns into a carbon copy of Hawkeye because that is one special rooster. Zane is just a utility-type, average quality boy, but he has a permanent home here based on temperament alone... that and the fact that Hawkeye seems to be okay with him hanging around and helping with guard duty, LOL.
Here is my Zane, the Lap Rooster:
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