The Omega Rocks: The Last & Ultimate Barred Plymouth Rock Flock

[speckledhen]

Lisa, I wanted to add that I really do love the bantam Cochin roosters. They do get testy with each other, but it never usually ends up a real battle. If I had just a simple laying flock, no reproduction required, I might continue to keep one with whatever was in that group because they really are sweet.

Mace loves his big, BR girls a lot. I was sad that he lost Athena and will likely lose another by winter, but I will figure out something for him if he is still alive without hens. The back of his comb is leaning over to one side a lot more than normal and he is 3+ years old now so it could be age, the heat or he could be showing signs of something like the other four bantam Cochins suffered from later in their lives, what I feel is a genetic condition in those splash bantam Cochins, all the same symptoms, prob degenerative since it came on in stages for all of them. I hope Gunnar never goes that way; he's the most precious, sweet little man, truly a lover not a fighter and very handsome.

 

[speckledhen]

I had to separate the pullets from the cockerels because of Ethel's scalp injury. So, I let all the males out together for the first time in about two weeks or so. They've never had complete separation from each other so it went not too bad. Little Man and his Big Brother kept trying to start something with the others, but the big dude with the floppy comb broke it up every time and disciplined his own flock mate. That guy has serious leader potential(not in my flock, but he is a keeper for someone!) He started no fights, only broke up several, caused every time by Little Man and his brother. Those two, good grief. By the time they were all back in the inside pen, all that big guy had to do was look at any of them and they scooted out of his way. When a scuffle briefly broke out with Nathaniel and Duncan, he swooped in and stopped it. They are all inside now and I hear no drama. The two troublemaking brothers are avoiding their leader, even staying inside a nest to get away from him.
Nathaniel was doing his Olive Oyl impersonation in the pen, verbal hand-wringing, walking back and forth so my husband went into the pen, sat on a roost bar and picked him up. That sweet cockerel sat down on Tom's lap and was just telling him all about this unsettling situation, LOL. I knew he'd be a really good one. Check this out. I think my hubby is already attached, LOL.

This is the bouncer in there now, apparently. Good boy, has some smarts. My camera was refusing to focus today for some reason, sorry.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He isn't a looker, but that doesn't always matter. He will be a great flock leader. Hopefully he finds a home.

 

[speckledhen]

He isn't a looker, but that doesn't always matter. He will be a great flock leader. Hopefully he finds a home.

Yeah, his comb really ruins the effect, but he's very wide and has kind eyes and intelligence. He's missing a few tail feathers, molted them out but his barring is very good. Some backyard flock should be happy to have him. He's not a fighter, doesn't start anything, but he'll definitely finish it. I just don't need him here because I have better choices.

 

[1muttsfan]

Too bad you don't have a couple big solid hens that could teach those boys some manners. Nothing like a good assertive girl saying no to a hormonal teen.

 

[speckledhen]

Too bad you don't have a couple big solid hens that could teach those boys some manners. Nothing like a good assertive girl saying no to a hormonal teen.

I did experiment a few days, put the EE hens with that group. The boys stalked them as a team like interlopers. The EEs just ran or hung around watching them. If it had been my late black Ameraucana hen, Gypsy, they'd be saying "Yes, ma'am!" by now. I'll try again, though, when the pullets go back in with my three chosen cockerels. I may incorporate the EEs with the pullets first, but not set in concrete. I think maybe Cora and Brandy would be better teachers because they can be brutal with underlings, but Bash would have to be restrained seeing his two last girls with those young whippersnappers. I bet Maddie could do it, though. She has Zara and her own mother running scared. She's uber-cranky right now!