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

[getaclue]

I built my coop, and the sections, with extra heavy 2 x 4 welded wire. The roosts are far enough inside, that nothing can reach in, and grab them.

When introducing chicks ready to begin coop life, they don't always take to the roost at first. They tend to lay together in the corner, on the ground for awhile. I'm adding the wire mesh on the exposed side, as an extra layer of protection, so nothing can grab one, until they learn to roost.

 

[1muttsfan]

My chickens heard the "Bad chickens!" rant yesterday after they got into my flower garden twice while my back was turned. Fortunately my daffodils survived.
One of my Erminettes might have gone broody, I am hopeful because I started saving eggs for a neighbor who has an incubator and I was going to keep a couple of the Arkansas Blues. I would much rather have a nice broody take care of all that for me.
No ducks for me. I took care of a few ducklings for a friend of mine for a few weeks, and they were just too messy and smelly for me to deal with.
Cold rain today, so far all day, doesn't look like it's going to clear up a whole lot until later. Good day to do housework I guess.

 

[speckledhen]

Hey, check out this short clip of Hector walking. His right leg shakes badly when he places it. I hope you can see it, especially if you slow down the clip. Not sure what's up with that. He's been doing it for awhile now.

 

[1muttsfan]

He's walking a little funny and his tail is down too. I would probably do some pretty strict exercise restriction and consider maybe aspirin?

 

[speckledhen]

He's walking a little funny and his tail is down too. I would probably do some pretty strict exercise restriction and consider maybe aspirin?

I'll get him some aspirin. His tail is always like that, though. He barely holds it horizontal anyway. He's in there grumbling up a storm because I put him back with all the hens I removed him from. I let him out with them and they all squatted for him at the same time, LOL.

 

[getaclue]

speckled, What a cute story about the Baaaad Ducks. Thanks for sharing.

 

[speckledhen]

Tom put them up tonight. He said Hector did not want to stay with the big group, kept jumping up then back down then back up onto the nest box so he let him go back to his smaller pen with his two hens. I definitely don't want him doing that much landing on that leg, even with lots of shavings on the floor so I guess he's back in there for now with Thea and Jill. Maybe I can let him go into the barn pen with the other hens , though, and at least keep him from free ranging for awhile.

He broke up a big fight between Jill and Zara today. Kept going back and forth between them and wouldn't allow them to get at each other. Every time they flared up again, he was right back in the middle, scolding them. He can be just the best rooster when he wants to be and seemed very happy to see Zara, in particular.

 

[getaclue]

I've had roosters that would break up fights, and others that stood idly by. I prefer the ones that will break up fights. I found that the ones that break up fights, will also protect pullets, when newly introduced into a flock. They'll keep the bullying to a minimum.

 

[1muttsfan]

My current roo seems to consider hen fights more of a spectator sport. Interesting, and lots of cheering for each side, but no interference. However, my hens rarely have any kind of a spat and get along quite well.

 

[speckledhen]

My current roo seems to consider hen fights more of a spectator sport. Interesting, and lots of cheering for each side, but no interference. However, my hens rarely have any kind of a spat and get along quite well.

Atlas is like your current rooster. Isaac would not tolerate hen fights. I think Hector will wear himself out trying to keep the peace. Usually, it's Jill that starts something. She is pretty cantankerous and Zara is all too ready to finish it if she isn't interrupted. I think Jill is jealous of Hector's attention toward Zara.