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

[speckledhen]

I always figured they had a good life for the time they are here. Much better than all the day old cockerels no one orders, and don't live past the first day. It is one part of chicken keeping I don't like, but I gotta think of the girls first, and the health of the flock.

Hope your friend can take them off your hands. Give the ones you can the room, and the rest , well, gotta do what we gotta do. I've tried bachelor pens, and they never worked out long term. Those boys end up fighting and mating each other. It isn't a happy life. I have kept good cockerel penned for a few months in pairs, and that does seem to work out as long as there is room, and they are compatible.

Yeah, I agree with you. I cannot keep four unwanted males indefinitely. I don't know how Jamie does it. He gets good money for them, but then again, he's well known in certain circles.

 

[1muttsfan]

I think it's likely that as with a lot of breeders they probably have to cull quite a few boys

 

[speckledhen]

You're likely correct there, Mary.
These are the sale cockerels. First the split point guy, who is the best of the four, IMO. I like the Bouncer's personality much better, though. Two of the four may end up being culled and being so young and more frame than bulk, they wouldn't make much of a stew. Then, I'd only have two to rehome.

This pic below is the one I call Brother, the larger brother to Little Man. He's big, but he has three issues 1)crooked toes 2) odd downward posture and 3) "don't touch me" personality. He also has one point too few on his comb, but it's a decent looking comb anyway. He would be fine as a free range flock rooster, but honestly, I think his and his brother's days are numbered if someone does not claim them soon.

The Bouncer, such a great flock leader if he ever gets his own.

 

[speckledhen]

Seems the larger of the two skittish guys, the one I call Brother, is finally believing I am not so scary. He looks to me when he is trying to stay away from The Bouncer, but he pecks so hard when eating out of my hand, I can't do it anymore. He's not being aggressive, but he always seems to be running for his life in that group. His brother that we call Little Man (he's not little anymore) is heading for a fate that he doesn't expect. He's not mean, but he's just crazy scared, won't eat out of my hand, always diving for cover when I get close to him. I don't get it. Those two are not like any I've ever had that I raised from the incubator, not at all. They may not be here long and you know what I mean. Not many have the patience to deal with them, but then again, I have no idea what they'd be like if they weren't the lowest on the totem pole in that group. Brother might be okay. Little Man, I have serious doubts.
On the other hand, Nathaniel is a doll. He likes to have his chest scratched, doesn't flinch when I reach for him, and he talks to me all the time, such a good boy. I even like The Bouncer (floppy comb) quite a bit. He's very gentle with me but he keeps them all in line in that group and I mean he has a Hard Beak of Doom, LOL. His comb won't stop him from being a great rooster in someone's flock, just from winning any shows.
Ethel's head is healed, but there is a little flap of skin that healed sticking up a bit. I will likely use Super Glue to glue down that flap so that it doesn't become the cause of a scalping when they are back with the boys.