The New Generation of Flock Protectors *Lost One Today 11/18 *

[speckledhen]

Rex is establishing himself as heir to the throne. Last night, he was found sleeping next to his dad, who was snoozing with head under his wing and allowing his son to keep close proximity. Today, they were free ranging within feet of each other. The only time Isaac chastised Rex was when Rex kept sparring with my bantam Cochin rooster, Xander, at the fence. Rex can sometimes be found standing in the midst of a large group of hens rather than relentlessly chasing them down, or roosting dead center of them on the big ladder roost. They are starting to accept his presence, though none willingly submit to his advances yet.













Daddy to all the kids, Isaac.



Others free ranging today.
Serena and Gabriel, full siblings out of Rita.



Delia, whose mother is either Druscilla, Dottie or Ida, not sure which.



Deacon, son of the Tiny Terrorist. He flies out of the pen when hassled by Rex, so I'm nervous he may fly over the wrong direction and end up off the property or be a fox snack.


Scout and his mother, Maretta.




Wynette and June. June is over 5 years old now.

Maretta. She's small, but she's tough.

Raven, Deacon's full sister. She lays daily, a dark peachy tan Delaware-looking egg.

Gabriel, who I think I'll rehome if someone would like him.

Georgie, who is almost 5 years old, and Raven.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm updating this thread. Many changes since its inception. Isaac had a rough winter, lost two toe tips to frostbite, had just a very hard time. While he was separated, Rex took over the flock and when Isaac came back, a battle ensued, one from which Rex would not back down and Isaac, with his compromised lung capacity, was losing to his much younger, more agile and more determined son. Quickly, we had to divide the coop again (it was formerly divided and we still had the door that goes between the two sections) and then we had to divide the pen as well. So, Isaac and Deacon have six hens, while Rex and his EE X half brother have 9 hens.

Rex is a papa for the very first time! Dottie, his aunt on his BR side, is raising five little chicks who are now 3 weeks old. All are Rex's chicks, no pea combs or beards that would have occurred if Scout had gotten in a lucky shot. One is showing real promise as the replacement for Indy with super precise barring. I've tentatively named him Atlas, after one of Suede's brave young sons who was killed in a Rottweiler attack where he was living up in KY-At just 15 weeks old, the original Atlas left the safety of his pen, along with his brother, to fight alongside five other grown roosters against the common foe. He had just been killed and was being carried off in the dog's mouth when the dog was shot by a sheriff's deputy. Brave, brave young cockerel. So, I hope this little one will be as brave.

Rex's first progeny. Atlas in the first photo, plus two other barred chicks, hopefully pullets, but hard to tell for sure, plus two solid black ones.












And the proud daddy today, with the hen who raised him, Rita.