The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

You guys would appreciate the heat more if you spent a winter here. Last one was not awful, but we had two in a row of bone freezing cold. One of those we had temp above 20 degrees only 3 days in 6 weeks. My hands get very stiff in cold weather, and clearing the driveway with the tractor was agony at times. Heading to Florida for a week or so was heaven. I would love to be here spring-summer-fall, and southern Gulf Coast in the winter.

Oh geez, I missed the turtle, I'm called an old hen for a reason obviously. That's cute.

Hey northern neighbor. Lately central Wisconsin doesn't seem cold enough to me. I have dreamed of moving north and becoming a yooper. The arthritis pain is definitely worse, but I'd rather be cooler than hot.

Mary, I'm still with Lisa on the heat/cold. I used to live in Dayton, Ohio, remember? Worst weather ever. The west was fabulous compared to Ohio. 25 below zero, plus ice and packed with snow on top of that, nope, not going back there! We lived there almost 12 years at Wright-Patterson AFB. Winter doesn't give me headaches like the high heat indices do. But, the Florida thing is why we are invaded here every summer by Floridians in summer.

My entire neighborhood was started by a neighborhood out of Ft. Pierce, FL, at least the part that is the actual subdivision. The other side of the road has the nutty woman from Texas in the million dollar log home. But, our traffic has increased tenfold now because of Floridians who can't take their own heat. I wish GA would crack down on the ones who live here six months out of the year, but claim FL as legal residence so they can avoid income tax entirely. That is a part-year resident, not a vacation-home owner. But, they get away with it and use our resources. Doesn't endear me to them in the least.

 

[getaclue]

Well, you won't be getting invaded by this Floridian anytime soon, except by invitation from one of my cousins, and only for a visit. Usually, I go up during hunting season. Not in the summer.

I think you'll find that most of those Florida people, are not native Floridians. We too have been inundated with transplants which include retirees, and snowbirds, that only stay here during the 6 cold months, then they go elsewhere. We are just as unhappy about them as you are. They come here with their attitude, and politics. Happiness is a yankee going home after their visit, and taking a couple friends with them.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, you won't be getting invaded by this Floridian anytime soon, except by invitation from one of my cousins, and only for a visit. Usually, I go up during hunting season. Not in the summer.

I think you'll find that most of those Florida people, are not native Floridians. We too have been inundated with transplants which include retirees, and snowbirds, that only stay here during the 6 cold months, then they go elsewhere. We are just as unhappy about them as you are. They come here with their attitude, and politics. Happiness is a yankee going home after their visit, and taking a couple friends with them.

Oh, trust me, I do know they are from up North! The accents are so very telling! LOL! Actually, Ladyhawk herself, weirdly enough, is from Ft. Pierce, Florida, a native Floridian. Those New York/New Jersey-by-way-of-Florida folks are the ones who want to come here and pave all the gravel roads so the Cadillacs aren't scratched.

YOU, Cheryl, are always welcome! When we first got here, someone handed me a cartoon of a local looking out his window at someone driving a Caddie past their cabin, saying if they can't handle our winters, they shouldn't come enjoy our summers, either!

We are not from this particular part of GA, but my husband's family has been here since the 1600's, if I recall, relatives of Sir Francis Bacon. I grew up in Decatur, GA (though born in Coral Gables, FL and adopted by Georgians) while he spent some of his childhood in Savannah and Riceboro and when I met him, they had been living in Marietta for quite awhile. After spending so much time in the west and midwest, when we came back, some folks could not place our accents.

 

[getaclue]

I was born in the old St. Joseph's Hospital, in Tampa, Florida. My dad was born in Jacksonville, Florida. All my kids were born in Florida. All but one of my grandkids were born in Florida. The Florida relatives come from stock that pioneered here from both Georgia, and Alabama. I highly suspect that makes me a true Southerner...LOL

 

[speckledhen]

I was born in the old St. Joseph's Hospital, in Tampa, Florida. My dad was born in Jacksonville, Florida. All my kids were born in Florida. All but one of my grandkids were born in Florida. The Florida relatives come from stock that pioneered here from both Georgia, and Alabama. I highly suspect that makes me a true Southerner...LOL

I would say so, yep. My adoptive father and mother were both born in Alabama and met while in the military in WWII. We did live in Orlando until I was a year old, then Georgia from then on. My biological grandparents were definitely not Southerners! My grandmother was a Canadian and my grandfather from New York, Dutch ancestry. But, hey, accident of birth, LOL. But, you've heard me. Southern, through and through.

 

[speckledhen]

Apparently, Dennis had a heart attack. He is refusing to accept it. He took off all the monitors and went outside to smoke, ACK!!!! They say there is some heart damage. Janet is in tears, hearing the same stuff from her husband that she heard from her mother and her brother, both dead in their early 60's. Now, Dennis, who will be 61 in August. Geez, here we go again.

I kept skipping this property because it looks like a mobile home. But, it says "built" in a certain year, says it it not one and from the inside, it sure does not look like one. On 15 acres with outbuildings to die for. I wondered what kept it from selling, so far below market value...then I saw that directly in front of it, on one acre at the road is a little old white church. Some folks would not want to live behind a church. We don't care, not one like that with only a few members, as experience would tell us. I did a screen shot of the tax map, though I found a more current one that said Apex Bank is the owner. Not sure it's still on the market. Can't find anything that says it's pending.
https://www.trulia.com/property/3223956074-3507-Middle-Creek-Rd-Afton-TN-37616
The lot #46.01 is 15.13 acres, that's it. Could easily section off 5 acres of it to sell, with so much road frontage. The only concerning thing to us would be the retaining wall behind the house in an earthquake. It's so close to the house and other buildings, though it seems to be in excellent shape. Would not want that entire bank coming down on us.

And, I examined Drea/Drew more closely, surreptitiously so he/she would not struggle too much. I see some shiny feathers coming in on the wing tops and there is some iridescence on the tiny feathers on top of the head, I'd say too much for a pullet, though I cannot see any pointy saddles (probably just not in enough yet). I'm going to just call it a slow-maturing male and offer him for sale along with the other one. He does have superior barring and great size and a calmer nature than the other boy, who is Hector personified, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

New photos of the two BOYS for you. Yes, I'm calling it DREW, or actually, Male #1 in the pics for advertising purposes. The comb still looks more like a pullet's comb, for sure, but most everything else seems to be male-the overall size, the leg size, the barring, the tail lift. This is an 11 week old cockerel? Crazy. Girly-man.

So, cockerel or pullet? Your FINAL ANSWERS, please! B4 I sell this one off.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Not too bad or a house, does appear to be a modular, either came in two pieces or one. Nice out buildings, a hill. That wall could come out. Needs some trees in the yard though.

Maybe you need to head back up to the Midwest. That kind of money will get you a decent place out out in the country. You and your families sure have traveled around the country. My families are from Wisconsin and Chicago, before that Poland.

As an ex-smoker I can attest to the power of the addiction and how you will never see the truth and logic about cigarettes until you finally quit. I think most people underestimate the deep down attachment that is formed with cigarettes, and how it wraps itself around your life, and you emotions so much that it's hard to get out. It's sad that they continue to be legal in my opinion, but there's big money being made on the addiction from all kinds of big businesses.

 

[speckledhen]

Not too bad or a house, does appear to be a modular, either came in two pieces or one. Nice out buildings, a hill. That wall could come out. Needs some trees in the yard though.

Maybe you need to head back up to the Midwest. That kind of money will get you a decent place out out in the country. You and your families sure have traveled around the country. My families are from Wisconsin and Chicago, before that Poland.

As an ex-smoker I can attest to the power of the addiction and how you will never see the truth and logic about cigarettes until you finally quit. I think most people underestimate the deep down attachment that is formed with cigarettes, and how it wraps itself around your life, and you emotions so much that it's hard to get out. It's sad that they continue to be legal in my opinion, but there's big money being made on the addiction from all kinds of big businesses.

Oh, I lived in Dayton for 12 years, suckiest weather of anywhere we ever lived. No way I'd move where there is more snow. We have enough here to get our fill, but not usually more than we can handle.

I know how powerful the addiction is. It keeps everyone I know who has it in denial about their health, until it is way too late, like for my mother, both Tom's parents, his brother, now his BIL as well as Ladyhawk, though she knew what it was doing to her, and quit, just before a massive heart attack in her 50's. Thankfully, she has been away from that habit for awhile, but her health is worsening, very serious. Sadly, quitting late in life is no guarantee that a person can escape the damage. I'm so, so happy you quit, Lisa! You have enough on your plate without that adding to it, right?

I just hate good folks succumbing, one by one, until I have no family left. I agree that it is more dangerous than many illegal drugs, more subtle in how it affects your health until BAM! You've had an early heart attack or gum disease claims all your teeth, etc. or you are struggling to breathe from COPD. I don't mean to be preachy, I'm just so frustrated and sad about one more family member being hurt by tobacco. I'm about to put a tobacco-free zone sign on my gate. I don't allow anyone to smoke in my house and now, after all this, I don't want anyone smoking on the property, period. The chickens might take up the habit! LOL.

SO, what do you think of Drew today?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh, I lived in Dayton for 12 years, suckiest weather of anywhere we ever lived. No way I'd move where there is more snow. We have enough here to get our fill, but not usually more than we can handle.

I know how powerful the addiction is. It keeps everyone I know who has it in denial about their health, until it is way too late, like for my mother, both Tom's parents, his brother, now his BIL as well as Ladyhawk, though she knew what it was doing to her, and quit, just before a massive heart attack in her 50's. Thankfully, she has been away from that habit for awhile, but her health is worsening, very serious. Sadly, quitting late in life is no guarantee that a person can escape the damage. I'm so, so happy you quit, Lisa! You have enough on your plate without that adding to it, right?

I just hate good folks succumbing, one by one, until I have no family left. I agree that it is more dangerous than many illegal drugs, more subtle in how it affects your health until BAM! You've had an early heart attack or gum disease claims all your teeth, etc. or you are struggling to breathe from COPD. I don't mean to be preachy, I'm just so frustrated and sad about one more family member being hurt by tobacco. I'm about to put a tobacco-free zone sign on my gate. I don't allow anyone to smoke in my house and now, after all this, I don't want anyone smoking on the property, period. The chickens might take up the habit! LOL.

SO, what do you think of Drew today?

I think I see those rooster saddle feathers coming in, so I would it's probably a boy, and will be a nice calm one hopefully as it should be less hormonal if it matures more slowly.

Those fast maturing boys often are a pain with their early shenanigans. Last year I some going after my bantam hens, not to mate, but to attack them, so it was easy to decide who needed to go. No one hurts my bantam hens, nor my elder bantam roosters. My mom instincts kick in.

I think I have been lucky this year, and have only a single rooster out of the 7 chicks I hatched, though one of my sexed pullets out of my batch I ordered looks to be a male. I'm supposed to wait for those saddle feathers too before trying to complain.