My first thought would be the recessive gene, but then again it could be also the way they are raised to a certain degree. If not handled as they grow then possibily they could end up being on the mean side. Would like to hear what Walt and Joe have to say on this subject.Let's discuss temperament and if breeding selection has an impact on mentality. In the past some lines of buckeyes were described as mean as snakes. I owned such a bird(deceased now).
I think inbreeding to bring the bucks back from the brink of extinction and not selecting temperment as a trait brought this about.
Purdue is running studies on a line of egg layers were they are selectively breeding the pecking trait out of the egg layers which are confined to small areas.
As buck breeders should we also explore breeding for temperment? Or are the ones that display natural meanness mentally unstable? Or another option is it the "game" coming out in them from a recessive gene?