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

[speckledhen]

I think we are at a similar point in our chicken keeping careers, or is it a hobby? I want to do so many things but realize I can no longer do the work, nor want to. I just want a few birds, a few eggs, and everything more easy.

There's always the last of anything in our lives. Perhaps these are the last for you Cynthia as far as a breeding flock? I think we always want to relive what we enjoyed most in our lives, but age catches up with all of us and we are forced to make adult choices. I personally don't like adult choices.

You're right, but....do we really have to adult?
My intention was and still is for this line to be my last breed and line of the breed as well, but I find the daily necessities of doing this, and the decisions that go along with it, harder to handle, especially when there are a hundred other issues I am dealing with and I do most all the chicken-related stuff alone now. I'm just so tired, Lisa. As much as I love my roosters, and you know all too well how much that is, I feel that the large fowl males are more of a challenge than ever, even if they're nice guys. I am afraid that I won't ever get to the point I want to reproduce the Omegas, or any others for that matter. Even with them being the only ones left standing, as they will be sooner rather than later, it seems a bit overwhelming.
I am not good at shifting gears with my chickens, though, so I tend to keep doing things like it was 2005 instead of 2025 and it isn't working out as well anymore, at least in the sense that I can't do what I used to love with the same energy I used to put into it 20 years ago.
" A few birds and a few eggs and everything more easy" yes to that. Lisa, you always seem to hit the nail on the head.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I feel that the large fowl males are more of a challenge than ever, even if they're nice guys

It's why I only keep bantam roosters now. The big boys are too much on the hens. The little guys are mostly too much on the other little guys. I have far too many cockerel running around here currently, but they aren't too much trouble yet. All are bantam or half bantam.

I think at the end of it all I will just keep bantams. I was heading that way before I got dumb and ordered more last year. Had to have one last go at a few breeds, but I didn't enjoy them as much as I wanted to. All I ever think is I'm gonna be in a pickle if I ever have to take care of everything myself.

I am supposed to adult, but so far it hasn't taken.

 

[speckledhen]

I just want a few birds, a few eggs, and everything more easy

Bears repeating...Lisa, I just love you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Bears repeating...Lisa, I just love you!

Love you right back.

 

[1muttsfan]

I think you are expecting too much from yourself. I understand what it's like to have too much going on. I'm still working full-time and have other things constantly intruding, ending up in a lot of frustration many days.

I think if you expected less from yourself and less from your birds you would enjoy yourself more. Maybe you could settle for really good birds, instead of worrying about perfection. For folks like us it's unlikely our efforts are going to result in perfect birds, we just can't do that kind of numbers when we breed. I sit even lower than that, I'm just happy if I have nice birds that are healthy.

If having two males is too much for you, then rehome one of them and don't look back. I think you would be really sorry later if you got rid of all of your boys. As time goes by you're going to end up with fewer roosters, which will also make it easier for you. And children are much more work than adults!

Besides, whose eventful life would we be able to live vicariously in if you gave up chickens?

 

[speckledhen]

I think you are expecting too much from yourself. I understand what it's like to have too much going on. I'm still working full-time and have other things constantly intruding, ending up in a lot of frustration many days.

I think if you expected less from yourself and less from your birds you would enjoy yourself more. Maybe you could settle for really good birds, instead of worrying about perfection. For folks like us it's unlikely our efforts are going to result in perfect birds, we just can't do that kind of numbers when we breed. I sit even lower than that, I'm just happy if I have nice birds that are healthy.

If having two males is too much for you, then rehome one of them and don't look back. I think you would be really sorry later if you got rid of all of your boys. As time goes by you're going to end up with fewer roosters, which will also make it easier for you. And children are much more work than adults!

Besides, whose eventful life would we be able to live vicariously in if you gave up chickens?

Love you, too, Mary, my friend. You and Lisa always know the right things to say. Likely, you are right about giving up all my roosters. I mean, Angus and Nathaniel are the only ones I have other than sweet old Bash and he won't be around much longer. If I can hold on to both of them, I will, some way, somehow. And if I think the girls are being put upon too much, I'll consider letting Nathaniel go, but so far, they're getting along as well as can be expected, no awful battles or anything. That's one thing I always wanted, a rooster team. I have it with the bantam Cochins, but I wanted it with my big guys. Isaac never allowed it after his sons grew close to his size. This is as close as I've ever come to having that with these two gorgeous boys. I just don't want to make any absolute pronouncements one way or another. I also tend to rush things, want it all done yesterday and that adds unnecessary stress to my life.
Nice birds that are healthy is really a great thing, no question, Mary. That's always been my main goal, but when the opportunity for these came along, I wanted to make the most of it. I am guilty of never really remembering that I don't have to do anything a certain way now, that I can let a few things ride instead of the striving for a goal that, as you so astutely observed, is not really feasible for us low-level breeder types. It's just too much in many ways, including financial. And if I keep tripping over roots, rocks and my own feet, it will become too dangerous, LOL.
Gosh, I'd hate to snatch your entertainment away! That would just be mean.

Love you right back.

 

[1muttsfan]

I never really considered having more than one rooster at a time until I had five bantam speckled Sussex last summerand they got along just fine. I have one adult male and a juvie boy, and it's the hens that pick on him, not my main man.

I have also noted that some roosters are really rough on the girls, and others are just total gentle sweethearts. Hopefully when these guys get over their juvie hormones they'll be good to their girls

 

[speckledhen]

I never really considered having more than one rooster at a time until I had five bantam speckled Sussex last summerand they got along just fine. I have one adult male and a juvie boy, and it's the hens that pick on him, not my main man.

I have also noted that some roosters are really rough on the girls, and others are just total gentle sweethearts. Hopefully when these guys get over their juvie hormones they'll be good to their girls

Actually, both those boys minded me today when I told them to leave Tally alone. I was surprised. I see more maturity coming on every day. I think they will more or less get along as long as Nathaniel doesn't push back too much.
I think bantam males do better than large fowl males at getting along. I know my bantams do pretty well together. Those adult hens really remind the young guys that they're not all that. They take no guff off hormonal males, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

Adding some pics today. You can see that Tally is very pale and not overly energetic. She is sitting on a 2x4 bar that goes across the front, right corner of Bash's pen. It used to be where Mace would roost every night when he and his ladies were in there. Hannah was first to lay, but has the worst comb of them all.

 

[1muttsfan]

Yes unfortunately she doesn't look very perky yet