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

[getaclue]

You know I've always liked, and advocated for Hector. Even during his bratty stage. He always seemed like he'd turn out to be an exceptional rooster, and he has. Has it been so long now, that he's getting old? Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were having discussions on how to get his punk attitude, and behavior under control.

 

[speckledhen]

You know I've always liked, and advocated for Hector. Even during his bratty stage. He always seemed like he'd turn out to be an exceptional rooster, and he has. Has it been so long now, that he's getting old? Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were having discussions on how to get his punk attitude, and behavior under control.

I know. I can hardly believe how the time and his life has flown by. He was never really bad, just an enthusiastic boundary tester. But, his intelligence allowed him to learn that his behavior was not acceptable. So, he blossomed into a really great flock leader (though he was always very picky about the hens he wanted in his group). Even Ladyhawk would say from the beginning, " Look at his eyes. He's a good boy" and she was right. The eyes usually tell the tale with a rooster. Hector's were always soft, never hard, never had that "I'm gonna get you" look in them.

 

[speckledhen]

In the last few days, Athena has been hovering over Hector as he sits on the floor. He looks as if he's shrinking into himself. It's interesting that it's Athena, not Jill mostly, who is really doing that silent communication thing with him, their heads close together. He drags himself outside with them, then finds a place to lay down and watch as best he can. I have not allowed them outside to free range much at all in the last month, knowing he can't really keep up with them and feeling it would upset him that they'd disappear from his sight entirely. My sweet old man Hector, can't believe we are at this point. I've learned a lot from raising him, he's been so different than any other roosters I've had in the past.

 

[getaclue]

A bit of sunshine, and being outdoors for a short time, may help boost his spirits a little. Just keep an eye to make sure it's not too much on him. I don't have the words, but please know my heart goes out to you, and Hector. I've raised, trained, and loved on Hector vicariously, through you. It's like I've been right there with you, enjoying his antics.

I know it's not the same as actually being there, but it still hurts some to hear how he's declining, and nearing the end of his life. This is how it should be. When we're blessed with something/someone special, we should feel their loss. BUT it's better to have enjoyed the blessing, than not have been blessed at all. This too shall pass. The loss is not felt forever. Know that you are not alone, and keep us posted.

 

[1muttsfan]

It's hard to see such a fine fellow failing, but at least he has his friends surrounding him.

My sweet little 15 year old Dachshund Max, who has Cushing's syndrome, had been losing weight and tires easily. We now know he has kidney failure as well, I don't expect him to be around much longer

 

[speckledhen]

A bit of sunshine, and being outdoors for a short time, may help boost his spirits a little. Just keep an eye to make sure it's not too much on him. I don't have the words, but please know my heart goes out to you, and Hector. I've raised, trained, and loved on Hector vicariously, through you. It's like I've been right there with you, enjoying his antics.

I know it's not the same as actually being there, but it still hurts some to hear how he's declining, and nearing the end of his life. This is how it should be. When we're blessed with something/someone special, we should feel their loss. BUT it's better to have enjoyed the blessing, than not have been blessed at all. This too shall pass. The loss is not felt forever. Know that you are not alone, and keep us posted.

I know you've been with me through every step of Hector's life. I appreciate all the support and the laughs. Tom and I both love Hector. I make sure he gets a ripe juicy tomato to himself because he loves those with a passion.

It's hard to see such a fine fellow failing, but at least he has his friends surrounding him.

My sweet little 15 year old Dachshund Max, who has Cushing's syndrome, had been losing weight and tires easily. We now know he has kidney failure as well, I don't expect him to be around much longer

Yes, he is surrounded by adoring hens and of course, mom (me). You think they don't like his attentions, but when something is wrong, they hover around their guy. He is a fine rooster, indeed. Once a couple of years ago when I was selling off four of his sons, a local man, a breeder, came to consider them, liked them and asked if I had their sire. When I answered in the affirmative, he asked if he might be able to see him. I said "sure" and went to get Hector. He remarked that Hector was one of the best BR roosters he'd seen in a very long time and took all four of the cockerels. Yes, Hector is a fine fellow and produced some fine kids in his lifetime.

I'm so sorry about your pup. I know how that feels, too.

 

[speckledhen]

Hector hasn't crowed in at least five or six days. Even Suede, when he uttered the first very weak-sounding crow two months before his death, only missed one day of his part of the rooster chorus, the day before he died. Hector's crow has about 9 syllables and it's a glaring hole in the chorus now. He is still pushing himself to care for his hens through sheer will. I gave him a platter of scrambled eggs day before yesterday laced with aspirin, probiotics, turmeric and olive oil and he sat to eat it, guarding it until he had his fill.
Yesterday, I located a place soft enough to dig through on this mountain property full of sandstone and roots and worked on his final resting place near Suede and Isaac. It's not easy to dig a hole as large as Hector because of the land itself as well as the knee on my broken leg being a little compromised. Tom is worse off than I am so it falls to me most of the time to do the digging. BJ's grave had to be very large and this has to be even bigger. I hate doing that, but I hate more needing to lay a bird to rest and not having a place prepared. He will have a big heavy stone on it as a marker, necessary because of all the predators that love to dig up stuff around here. Can't have that. Have not been out to check on him today yet, heading out now.

 

[1muttsfan]

Tell that naughty boy hello from all of us

 

[speckledhen]

I wish he'd let me hold him and/or carry him, but he completely freaks out if his feet leave the ground. You can imagine the trouble we have trying to trim his spurs or toenails. The most he'll let me do is rub his chest and if he thinks I'm going to try to lift him rather than just pet him, he won't stand still for that. He is fiercely independent. Guess it's not dignified for Mom to pick him up.
He is weaker today than he was yesterday, walks a few feet and collapses. Athena is always near him in the pen, sits touching him. That is where he needs to be until his last breath, with his hens. As I was using the weed whacker, I noticed that his grave and Isaac and Suede's graves make an elongated triangle. It's a triumverate of heroes.
How can we even be talking about this? He's only 6 years old. He is such a huge spirit, you just had the feeling he'd live forever.

 

[speckledhen]

Today is a bad day for Hector. He didn't even stand up this morning, let me rake around him on the floor. His breathing is a bit labored. Hours went by. He wasn't enticed by his 13 grain scratch mix, not even in a bowl in front of his face. He wasn't enticed by a tomato I tore open for him and he adores tomatoes. He hasn't eaten one bite all day long and it's about 2 p.m. now, first time he hasn't even tried one bite of anything. When I finally let his hens outside, he managed to slowly stand and lumber outside, gingerly stepped over the barn threshold and made his way to the rubber bowl outside where I had poured fresh water just a few minutes previously. He drank and drank and drank.
Later when I went to check on him, he had collapsed on the ground at the corner of the barn where we have a concrete gutter to divert rainwater away from the building that pours off the roof. He was just sitting in the depression where the concrete ends and the dirt begins, didn't get up when I walked up to him, didn't eat the tomato I offered him there. He's breathing open mouthed a lot of the time and it isn't the heat. He was doing it this morning when the temps were in the 60's. His color is very pale and his comb is completely laying on its side. He reminds me of an old man in a nursing home, bless his sweet heart. I just can't think of Hector as old.