Having to do quite a bit of behavior modification with Hector, especially today. First, let me tell you something that happened yesterday with him. He was outside in the pen and Atlas's group, including Apollo and the two pullets, were locked in theirs in the barn. Tessa was being really nasty so I went in to rescue Apollo. Behind my back, one of them apparently bumped the door and Atlas and Tessa went outside the barn, walking right into Hector and his three, who are now 11 weeks old tomorrow. When I turned and saw Atlas's tail feathers out the door, I rushed out to find Hector facing off with Atlas, acting like he was just as big as the big guy. Atlas pretty much was rolling his eyes while Tessa was flaring up to give him a butt-whooping when I snatched both Tessa and Atlas up at the same time, one under each arm and took them back inside. I was afraid to leave either one out there because it seems that Hector doesn't know what's good for him. So, the boy has cajones.
Hector always yells and struggles when I have to pick him up and he has been biting me occasionally. Today, no exception. He bit me when I reached down, twice. So, I snatched him up, held his beak with a firm, "NO!" and a little shake and put him down, whereupon he danced at me! Say wha?? The kid is 11 weeks old, for cripes sake! I picked him up again, admonished him. Put him down. He does this head bobbing/threatening thing they do, sidling toward me. So, DH grabs him up, puts him pretty much on his back (DH is sitting in the lawn chair by the spectacle happening between me and Hector) on DH's chest, holding his feet, Hector is struggling and yelling and eventually, he shuts up. DH holds him for quite some time, then he uprights him and makes him sit there, which he does very sweetly. But, every once in awhile, I see that head bob thing even after all that.
So, Hector is doing some major boundary-testing right now. I told him that this is his intelligence test and he has only a few weeks to pass it. I don't breed stupid, so we'll see if he calms down. This little monster sure thinks he's all that and a box of cracker jacks! It would be a real shame if this ramped up to worse behavior. Biting is not in and of itself that bad at 11 weeks old, but it is sometimes a precursor to more ominous behavior. Even Apollo, with all his skittishness, has never bitten me or acted aggressively in any way toward me, which is what I've come to expect from any males descended out of Isaac's line-if you recall, Atlas is 1/4 Delaware.
Hector is so gorgeous, a stunning head on him, but pretty is as pretty does. As he gets older, it satisfies me to see that I picked the best one, looks-wise, but the temperament, we'll have to work on. Of course, I have his three girls, who are awesome. Unfortunately, Thea is not growing as much as she should, IMO. The difference between her and Mary and Jill is even more pronounced than it was weeks ago. Not sure why, if there is any real cause to point to. All are super sweet and beautiful, though. If the worst happens and Hector ends up elsewhere (and I'll give him every benefit of the doubt and training I know to do), then this may not be optimal, but I do have Apollo, Athena and Zara and the three can be added to that group and live where Hector is now with his girls. It still brings in unrelated blood that Mary saw I needed if I was to improve my BRs.