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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It was worth the wait.

 

[speckledhen]

It was worth the wait.

I agree!

 

[1muttsfan]

You go Jane! Love pretty, nice birds that start laying at a good young age.

Tom is quite inventive.

 

[speckledhen]

I meant to post that about the table on the Atlas thread, not Hector's. Geez. Anyway, I did finally catch Hector mating Maddie, not just Jane, so hopefully, she will begin laying soon, too. Hector has turned into a big baby, I swear. You should see him eat up attention and hold oh-so-still for me to rub his chest and his back, even put my arm around him (as long as I don't try to lift him up, that is). He can be so sweet. Ladyhawk told me way back, during Hector's Little Tyrant period, that he had good eyes and he'd turn into a good boy. I saw the soft eyes, but I also was experiencing the naughty Hector at the same time I was seeing his smarts. I thought his actions would catch up to his intelligence, but for a short time there, he was making me doubt my assessment of him.

Hector was just so bursting with energy from about 6 weeks old onward, he was all over the place. Sometimes, he still is. He runs up to me and to Tom like he's going to attack us, shoulders/head down like a bulldozer, but I'm wise to him now. He's just being his goober-headed self. I don't feel at all threatened anymore. The only time I really chastise him is when he acts like he's going to bite my shoes, something very infrequent. He's never flogged and he definitely learned a long time ago that biting was a no-no. He has had a huge turnaround, or really, more of an evolution than Atlas, at least behavior-wise. Atlas has always been steady as a rock, never a challenge.

 

[getaclue]

I've always liked Hector too. It's a good thing. Now you have a trio that doesn't carry the dwarf gene. YAY!!! It's a good start.

 

[speckledhen]

I've always liked Hector too. It's a good thing. Now you have a trio that doesn't carry the dwarf gene. YAY!!! It's a good start.

I know you did! You were always a huge advocate for the Little Tyrant, LOL. I wanted him to be a good boy, saw his intelligence, and I kept seeing no malice in his eyes, but his actions, I admit, from time to time, had me a bit worried. He was just never "chill", if you know what I mean. Bash is very chill! Atlas is pretty steady. But, Hector was...well, you all know our trials with the goofball. Now, Maddie will nip when you reach for her. Neither of them love to be picked up much, similar to the way Jill struggles. They definitely act like daughters of Hector and Jill, and of course, Maddie is the spitting image of her mother. I wish they'd act more like their Aunt Thea, who is a total lovebug, loves to be held and cuddled, but they are not required to be. They're sure pretty girls. I think Hector and Jill make nice kids.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, on another note, Brahmas vs BRs, though I absolutely adore Bash and his hens, I am very much over their sensitive crops. Every molt, every broody period (at least, initially), some of those hens bloat up or they just get sluggish crops. Everyone has the same food, same everything, but the Brahmas have more crop issues than any other breeds here, just like my Blue Orps used to do. Maybe some less humongous birds might be in order. If I could just keep my Rocks and Ameraucanas and/or EEs, maybe that would be the best course of action for my future mixed flock. Bash is the sweetest rooster I've ever owned other than Zane, but the crop stuff his hens pull is wearing on us.
Brandy and the other couple who had them recently have recovered, but are super thin.

 

[speckledhen]

Hector jumped down from the nest yesterday where he insists on supervising every egg laid. The shavings had been pushed aside and I heard his very hard landing from the other pen I was cleaning. He's been limping since yesterday, but I can't keep him from getting up there, the goober. Jill is laying again. Thea is laying and Jane is, but I don't believe Maddie has started yet.

 

[speckledhen]

Hector's daughters are 26 weeks old now. No eggs from Maddie yet. Jane is laying every day. How do you think they're looking? And you can be honest. They're not my children so I don't get insulted if you critique my chickens like some folks do. I mean seriously, people are wound way too tight about that at times.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't know the standard for barred rocks, so all just my opinions, but to me yours look correct and balanced. Perhaps the comb on the one isn't correct though? Maddie? Aren't the points supposed to be more even like they are with Jane? Beautiful hens either way.