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

[speckledhen]

Thanks, Brandi!

 

[speckledhen]

Saw a bit of maturity from Rex today. Deacon, who has not had great luck nabbing the ladies lately, grabbed my splash Rock, Gloria Jean, while out on range. She was fighting and twisting and screaming, using her feet to push him away and I was heading to intervene because I thought with her being so adamant about not submitting, she might be seriously hurt, when Rex, who was messing around with a few hens nearby, came to the rescue. He rescued Gloria Jean, knocked Deacon off her, but he was different that anything I'd seen from him previously. He didn't grab her for himself, nor did he take off after his little half brother, but fixed the problem and stood there a few seconds to make sure Deacon was leaving, then went back to digging around in the pile of leaves with Delia, Wynette and Gloria Jean. It seems like a small thing to most folks, but to me, it's a huge improvement in how he handled the situation, as a real flock rooster would, not a jealous, competitive, hormonal teenager.

 

[speckledhen]

Posting pictures of the more mature Rex and younger half brother Deacon during free range time today, as well as even younger brothers, Scout and Gabriel. Gabriel has become a bit of a spazz so he may not be staying if he doesn't chill out a bit. I am letting them run with the main flock now, though they don't go in there at night yet, being only 13 weeks old. It just became calmer after being down by two cockerels in the coop and don't want to mix it up again yet. Rex is 24 weeks old, Deacon, 23 weeks. Daddy Ike is in here, too.



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Though Rex is all black and silver, Deacon here looks like someone dipped a paintbrush in ketchup and flicked it at him. He has streaks all over.














And Raven, who is Tiny's daughter and has started laying. Her eggs are the same exact color of her mother's, but Delaware shaped. She is a week older than Rex.

 

[Cetawin]

My Rexie Poo is so handsome and wow what a fluffy butt. Hahahaha

 

[speckledhen]

My Rexie Poo is so handsome and wow what a fluffy butt. Hahahaha

Did you see him looking at the rooster on that garden sign you gave me?

 

[Cetawin]

Yes I did. He is thinking "You wear flowers, I shall take you out wimpy boy"

 

[speckledhen]

Yes I did. He is thinking "You wear flowers, I shall take you out wimpy boy"

Probably. He chased Deacon so much that the Dekes flew out of the pen three times today. He apparently believes that Deacon is the rooster on the sign. Deacon is like his mama, Tiny-lightweight and "sail-worthy".

 

[Cetawin]

Here is their half brother, my Iggy at about 16 weeks

He is such a love so far.

 

[speckledhen]

He's so handsome! For those interested in the genetics of it all, Iggy is the son of my Stukel Rock line hen, Wynette, with Isaac. Indy, Rex and Ira were out of Ida and Deacon is out of the Tiny Terrorist. Wynette and Ida are half sisters, same sire.

 

[speckledhen]

Rex broke the tip off his upper beak yesterday somehow. Here is his new "style". It's probably very sore. Noticed blood on it at roost time, thought it looked cracked, then realized the entire outer beak at the tip was gone.



Here is Deacon, one spur wonder and son of the Tiny Terrorist, who still reminds me of the victim of a drive by ketchup-flicking.



And the hoodlums, Scout and Gabriel. At 14 weeks old, Scout is chasing the older hens, bad boy.