That looks like a pullet, not cockerel. I do have to admit it's light, but has it crowed?
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That looks like a pullet, not cockerel. I do have to admit it's light, but has it crowed?
That looks like a pullet, not cockerel. I do have to admit it's light, but has it crowed?
It's not the breed, it's the source of the bird. Heritage usually means a very dedicated breeder who has been breeding and culling to have a flock that meets the Standard of Perfection for the breed. Temperament is one of the things culled for, as Michael said. Hatchery birds, not so much with the culling, especially for temperament.
In fairness, I will add this: with some hatchery quality breeds such as Orpingtons, Australorps, Silkies, Brahmas, Cochins, Sussex, and Faverolles, I've rarely had any aggression issues (although these hatchery quality birds will never win any poultry contests).With both breeds, it frequently depends on their breeding. BYC members have frequently reported hatchery quality RIRs and NHs as aggressive (and I have experienced this myself with some of them), which isn't surprising considering there is little or no difference between hatchery quality RIRs, NHs, and Production Reds.
I guess calling hatcheries the Wal-Mart of the chicken world is a pretty accurate evaluation. This comes from someone who both buys hatchery birds and shops at Wal-Mart . You're not going to get stellar quality from either one, but for the price what you do get isn't bad and is what most of the masses want. In the case of the hatcheries, it's female birds that basically meet the standard for the breed, that are high egg producers. That's what the market demands, so that's what the hatcheries churn out. Not a thing wrong with hatchery birds overall, but they're not show quality and some have issues such as temperament.