Hector's World: Adventures and Mayhem at Mountain View Poultry (or Sequel to The Evolution of Atlas

[1muttsfan]

If you get a nice cockerel out of him then re home him - I'm sure there is a flock of hens somewhere that needs a big brave protector. He is handsome enough to sell himself.

 

[speckledhen]

If you get a nice cockerel out of him then re home him - I'm sure there is a flock of hens somewhere that needs a big brave protector. He is handsome enough to sell himself.

Well, even if that was the plan, it won't be this 12 week old I have now. His personality mirrors his dad's perfectly at that age. He won't calm no matter how many "therapy sessions" he has. He struggles relentlessly to be released, just like Hector still does. I can see him being just like him later on.

Hector is a great rooster in most every aspect, but he stays on the verge of exploding with energy every moment except that one time on the roost every day when he lets me pet him and talk to him, but if I tried to pick him up then, he'd go nuts on me. Tom had to use all his force to hold him last night just so I could blunt the tips of his toenails with a clipper to try to prevent injury to Jill.

Hector, stunningly handsome though he is, is not the type of rooster we want for our old age. And I do like him 99% of the time. I would have to think hard about keeping a cockerel from him if the ones with Lizzie have the same personality as their sire, just like the 12 week old does.

 

[scottcaddy]

Well, even if that was the plan, it won't be this 12 week old I have now. His personality mirrors his dad's perfectly at that age. He won't calm no matter how many "therapy sessions" he has. He struggles relentlessly to be released, just like Hector still does. I can see him being just like him later on.

Hector is a great rooster in most every aspect, but he stays on the verge of exploding with energy every moment except that one time on the roost every day when he lets me pet him and talk to him, but if I tried to pick him up then, he'd go nuts on me. Tom had to use all his force to hold him last night just so I could blunt the tips of his toenails with a clipper to try to prevent injury to Jill.

Hector, stunningly handsome though he is, is not the type of rooster we want for our old age. And I do like him 99% of the time. I would have to think hard about keeping a cockerel from him if the ones with Lizzie have the same personality as their sire, just like the 12 week old does.

Pretty is as pretty does, I don't breed 'pretty' if they have attitude issues. I understand your not wanting to breed any more issues .
Scott (who thinks he is pretty myself)

 

[speckledhen]

Pretty is as pretty does, I don't breed 'pretty' if they have attitude issues. I understand your not wanting to breed any more issues .
Scott (who thinks he is pretty myself)

I'm in perfect agreement, Scott. Pretty is as pretty does. In a way, lately, I guess I've cut him slack with this running up to both of us that way because 1) he has boundless energy and not enough hens to dissipate it; and 2) he bit Tom one morning out of the blue, but other than that, he has done nothing like that to me at all and has done nothing worse like fog anyone.
But, patience is running thin, especially with the heat. Though I am a little attached to him, he does not have my heart the way Atlas does, or even the way my Brahma rooster, Bash, has by worming his way in just by being the biggest gentle giant ever.

 

[speckledhen]

DRAMA!!! If there was any doubt that the big, round cockerel was a son of Hector, all that was washed away today. I had put the Brahmas back in their pen and let out Georgie's old lady group, but I left Cora, Bash's 23 week old daughter, out because she had been used to running with the older hens and it gave her more time outside. Well, I also let out the three 12 week old youngsters, who were used to being out with Georgie's bunch, but had never been out with Cora. I thought that they were old enough to get away from Cora's harassment by this age, so I didn't think much of it.
Before I even got out of the barn, I heard a huge ruckus and ran out. What do I see? Little Tyrant II running after Cora with a vengeance! She is screaming and trying to get away, but he keeps coming. They turn over a lawn chair and Cora makes a break for the rock wall with Hector, Jr. on her tail. He caught up with her at the other end of the barn by the fence, still at the top of the wall and she ducked into a fully submissive position with him bopping her on the head and trying to step on her. Geez, he's 12 weeks old!
She suddenly got up and tried to run, but he grabbed her and they both tumbled, head over tail feathers, all the way down the wall to the concrete gutter at the bottom! I was afraid she was hurt, but she got up and crouched again, head tucked with him looming over her. I carefully, but quick as I could, walked down the rocks and scooped up the little jerk, him yelling and protesting like he usually does, but pretty much out of breath by this time.
So, now anyone doubt this is a Hector son? I never expected that today, him going after a grown up pullet. He definitely has the same personality as his daddy. The other boy, Atlas's son, I can hold him and run his chest and he's so sweet, but not this one!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had some young roosters last year that kept attacking my bantam hens like that. They helped me make my decisions on who to keep last year pretty early. What are you gonna do with him? Naughty boy.

 

[speckledhen]

I had some young roosters last year that kept attacking my bantam hens like that. They helped me make my decisions on who to keep last year pretty early. What are you gonna do with him? Naughty boy.

He's already for sale, has been for awhile now. I saw Hector-like qualities even before this incident today and his personality is not what I want, not even at his young age. I can't see him getting better with time. He will be a super free range rooster for someone else, already acting the part to be johnny-on-the-spot to defend his girl, MaryJo.

Its a shame because he has the better body type, more rounded and a broader head than Atlas's son, but the personality and barring on Drew is better. Wish I could combine the two.

 

[speckledhen]

Son of Hector, aka Hector, Jr, aka Little Tyrant #2. He's already charging to the defense of MaryJo, already alarming and chasing the older pullets. He's going to be an excellent free ranger, just like Hector is.

 

[scottcaddy]

Son of Hector, aka Hector, Jr, aka Little Tyrant #2. He's already charging to the defense of MaryJo, already alarming and chasing the older pullets. He's going to be an excellent free ranger, just like Hector is.
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Nice side by side! Way different body types. Have fun with them.
Scott

 

[speckledhen]

Nice side by side! Way different body types. Have fun with them.
Scott

Fun? Well, I'd have fun with Atlas's son. Hector's kid is too much like his dad at that age! Both are quite large, but the shape of Atlas's son is less round, longer bodied. Seeing them from overhead, they are both big boys, but the preferred shape, I'd think, would be Hector's son. The other wins on barring and temperament.