I was surprised to find a rooster in my brood of ladies...

[Chicken Heel]

I also have 16 Bantam hens in a separate flock and there are four Crele ones that I will probably cross with him at some point. That cross should make some beautiful birds. Right now he is loving life with the "big" girls, especially the Polish. He just mated with her again and promptly flew up on the coop and crowed several times. He is something else.

Here are some photos of Little Buck and his ladies:

 

[Miss Lydia]

How precious. Of course I’d never say that in front of him! He’s mighty handsome. And mine.

 

[Chicken Heel]

How precious. Of course I’d never say that in front of him! He’s mighty handsome. And mine. View attachment 2021204

Yours is a very handsome fellow as well. I had a large breed rooster years ago that looked a lot like him from a feather pattern standpoint.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My old roo 10 yrs is larger but this little fellow respects him and they live in peace. I had 2 gorgeous Cochin bantam Roos hatch last year and I was so hoping they’d all get along, came home one day and found my lil OEGB near dead so we had to take care of the Cochins. I bet this lil OEGB actually started it too. Here is my old guy Rufus

 

[wolfinator]

I have 7 roosters, 5 in my large coop and 2 in my small one. At one time, I had 11 but 5 were in a rooster pad til I sold or gave away a few. I had 3 bantams amongst them too. Now my one bantam was a tyrant with the all the other boys. I found him dead one morning but no one was talking as to who did it. Typically they all get along great but on occasion the alpha roosters from each coop briefly misbehave, usually last a few minutes. They're just re-establishing the pecking order, one RIR is the main alpha (lg coop) over both coops and black Australorp (small coop) kinda is the co-alpha with him. I've seen them both setting the other roosters straight when they get out of hand. Right now I have 47 hens (it seems if one passes, I always lose two more within a week), I lost a duck hen and 2 of my oldest hen in the last week. My girl named Boss Lady (R.I.P.) passed yesterday from a massive prolapse. Now she was the one who really ruled the coops, even the roosters! I have 6 young pullets that are still housed in the nursery that I got in November. Until the first egg, they I keep them separated. I actually get more squabbles from my hens over food, nests and even roosting bars than from my boys.

Now I can hold all 7 roosters, some I can grab right up easily, others are easier to grab while on roost. The key is to hold them often so they get used to being handled. My Amberlink/black Australorp mix and my Cuckoo Marans boys are the ones that are easier to hold once on roost. They're a bit wilder than my other 5. I also have 3 drakes and 2 duck hens (lost my 4 yr old last week)

Pictured are all 7 of my roosters (yellow dots) and most of my hens. Also all 5 of my ducks.

2 RIR (4yr), Black Australorp (4yr), buff Orpington (4yr), Amberlink/black Australorp mix (3yr), Cuckoo Maran (almost 3 yrs) and a buff Brahma (8 months).

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s amazing they all do so well together. Beautiful flock. And the Roos are nice to the ducks?

 

[wolfinator]

That’s amazing they all do so well together. Beautiful flock. And the Roos are nice to the ducks?

Thank you. It was the opposite at one time, my oldest drake used to chase the Cuckoo Maran every chance he got but now they get along great. The ducks even lay eggs with the hens and even shared the nest together.

 

[wolfinator]

My old roo 10 yrs is larger but this little fellow respects him and they live in peace. I had 2 gorgeous Cochin bantam Roos hatch last year and I was so hoping they’d all get along, came home one day and found my lil OEGB near dead so we had to take care of the Cochins. I bet this lil OEGB actually started it too. Here is my old guy RufusView attachment 2021208

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

[wolfinator]

How precious. Of course I’d never say that in front of him! He’s mighty handsome. And mine. View attachment 2021204

Beautiful

 

[Miss Lydia]

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

Thanks I do love my Roos! They make a flock whole. But they have to behave too!