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

[speckledhen]

If you let Hector go you would still have BR's, at least for several years, as you would have the girls. And if later something happened to Atlas, you could pick up some hatching eggs and get another rooster. It would be great if he would just behave himself now, of course.

Of course, Atlas is now a pet and free range guardian and that's it, no longer a breeding rooster because of the gene he carries. I wish I could breed from Thea, that girl is awesome except for that pesky wry tail, but alas, I have only Jill and now, Jill's two daughters (who need names now). I had the issue with Suede, not because he was an aggressive breeder, but because he was so heavy and ungainly, that his balancing act tended to tear up their sides. His girls wore big saddles for a long time. When Jill's side is better, she gets a saddle again and hopefully, with his extra two hens, she will have less pressure on her. I really don't want to give up Hector, not after finally reaching an understanding with him. He has flaws, but he has excellent size, barring, a beautiful head and a very nice eye on him. And he is johnny-on-the-spot to take care of his hens, even if he is a feathered fire alarm. If I could find him a situation with more hens than I can give him as well as a good feeling he'd be cared for properly, maybe I'd let him go.

 

[getaclue]

speckled, I know for fact you don't want to hear this, but I agree I would put placeholders for him, until some of the others grow up. You are going to have to use him, and do a good bit of breeding/hatching to get them back up to snuff. I'm sorry, but it also means you're going to have to sell, or process the culls. It would be such a shame to lose that line, but you need to get serious now, or you will lose them. I'm sorry, but sometimes that's just how it works.

 

[speckledhen]

speckled, I know for fact you don't want to hear this, but I agree I would put placeholders for him, until some of the others grow up. You are going to have to use him, and do a good bit of breeding/hatching to get them back up to snuff. I'm sorry, but it also means you're going to have to sell, or process the culls. It would be such a shame to lose that line, but you need to get serious now, or you will lose them. I'm sorry, but sometimes that's just how it works.

I will rehome/sell/give away the extras as usual. These four sons of Hector are going to be sweet boys. The lady who recently lost his son, Romeo, was so attached to him, but the picture she had posted to help boost my sale awhile back before she lost him showed that Hector did pass on that low tail angle, at least he will to some of his sons. There is no guarantee I'd have a better example of the breed from his sons than he is and he has mellowed out (well, his version of it, LOL) now as far as being managed.

Remember, I also have life issues (husband with serious joint problems) that I have to manage so I am limited not only in space, but time and my energy to hatch out numbers of birds. I can't really hatch anyway because I have only Jill so I'll have to wait for her daughters to grow out and hope they are pullet-producers. This is going to take some time to get my BR numbers back. Meanwhile, some old women have to decide that the Great Roost in the Sky is looking pretty good to them and exit this life. Geez, they are tough! I am at this point doubting I'll really add to my Brahmas much. I may keep a couple of Brahma pullets from broody batches for Hector just to take the pressure off the other hens.

 

[getaclue]

I know you are able to sell/rehome your extras. I know too it will take some time, and planning. Poor Tom, and his back. I know that's not helping either. Not an easy challenge to keep them, to say the least. It may not even be worth it to you. At this stage of things, you may just let the ones you have continue, but have better results continuing on with the brahmas. Sometimes circumstances help make our choices.

You aren't the only ones facing serious choices. You know I started with some great BA's. Well, the male offspring of my rooster, are infertile. They do the deed, but that's it. I have one that's 4, another that's 3, and 2 from the last hatch. It's not the hens. I can put my original rooster over any of the hens, and get fertile eggs. I already knew about the first 2. I thought it was a fluke. Now, I don't think so. I think it's genetic.

 

[speckledhen]

Sometimes circumstances help make our choices.

Oh, my dear friend, you said a mouthful! That really sucks about your infertile roosters.

 

[getaclue]

One of the big problems I'm facing is that SOP BA's are not common at all. I've put feelers out to a couple well known breeders. Whether I can continue with my line, depends entirely on circumstances. I fully understand when circumstances are a big part of the choices we have to make. I'm sorry you too are in a situation where circumstances have so much influence in your choices.

 

[speckledhen]

One of the big problems I'm facing is that SOP BA's are not common at all. I've put feelers out to a couple well known breeders. Whether I can continue with my line, depends entirely on circumstances. I fully understand when circumstances are a big part of the choices we have to make. I'm sorry you too are in a situation where circumstances have so much influence in your choices.

Well, if nothing else, it could be a step toward what my husband really wants anyway, a mixed flock of hens with no more than one rooster to guard when on range (or two, if they can get along). If, in the future, I end up rooster-less, I may have to get eggs and hatch.

 

[1muttsfan]

Well darn that would be terrible... Not!

 

[h2oratt]

I will rehome/sell/give away the extras as usual. These four sons of Hector are going to be sweet boys. The lady who recently lost his son, Romeo, was so attached to him, but the picture she had posted to help boost my sale awhile back before she lost him showed that Hector did pass on that low tail angle, at least he will to some of his sons. There is no guarantee I'd have a better example of the breed from his sons than he is and he has mellowed out (well, his version of it, LOL) now as far as being managed.

Remember, I also have life issues (husband with serious joint problems) that I have to manage so I am limited not only in space, but time and my energy to hatch out numbers of birds. I can't really hatch anyway because I have only Jill so I'll have to wait for her daughters to grow out and hope they are pullet-producers. This is going to take some time to get my BR numbers back. Meanwhile, some old women have to decide that the Great Roost in the Sky is looking pretty good to them and exit this life. Geez, they are tough! I am at this point doubting I'll really add to my Brahmas much. I may keep a couple of Brahma pullets from broody batches for Hector just to take the pressure off the other hens.

Lol, yep you better build up hectors harem!

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, Hector, Hector, Hector, this is not the time to be acting like a moron! He is doing okay with Zara and Athena and Thea. Zara is more on board with his attentions than Athena, but he should be happier with more girls. Well, just now, I opened up his pen, he ran out and proceeded to bite my shoe. WTH? No, buddy, not the time to show your behind around here, not with me on the fence about my breeding program.