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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well, it's not really the eggs that have been in there so long, just the single cell ovum. All of the window dressing - full size yolk, whites and shell are pretty recent additions.

In my head all I can see is an old grandma laying an egg. I have problems eating eggs to begin with, so grandma eggs get to me mentally.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, it's not really the eggs that have been in there so long, just the single cell ovum. All of the window dressing - full size yolk, whites and shell are pretty recent additions.

Exactly.

In my head all I can see is an old grandma laying an egg. I have problems eating eggs to begin with, so grandma eggs get to me mentally.

Well, when you think that they are hatched with all the "seeds" of every egg they'll ever lay, then all the yolks are already aging. Doesn't bother me a tiny bit. Just like Mary said, all the packaging is relatively new.

 

[1muttsfan]

I know what you mean, though - my sister loves keeping chickens, but is equivocal on eating eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

I know what you mean, though - my sister loves keeping chickens, but is equivocal on eating eggs.

I don't get that about the eggs, though I'm not as big of an egg fan as my husband it. He eats four for breakfast, usually. Now, I get having less and less of a taste for chicken the longer I raise them. Every time I see one of those big trucks with CornishX going to the plant for processing, it bothers me, being born to die. They don't know their lives are about to end, such as they were. I have so much empathy for chickens, see their intelligence and their dignity and I can't help but think that those birds will never feel the sun on their backs or have a luxurious dust bath like my birds. Makes me want to .

Yes, I still eat chicken we buy. My husband wouldn't quit if you paid him, but unless I have a mean rooster that needs culling, we're not likely to ever raise birds for meat.

 

[1muttsfan]

I think they actually give her an upset stomach.

I helped a friend raise Cornish X one year, believe me when they were 8 weeks old they were ready to go - great big slugs that could hardly walk any more. And they were raised in a large outdoor pen with other chickens, so they had plenty of room. They just have a very limited genetic lifespan. Still, I do not like to kill birds myself unless there is a very good reason.

 

[speckledhen]

I think they actually give her an upset stomach.

I helped a friend raise Cornish X one year, believe me when they were 8 weeks old they were ready to go - great big slugs that could hardly walk any more. And they were raised in a large outdoor pen with other chickens, so they had plenty of room. They just have a very limited genetic lifespan. Still, I do not like to kill birds myself unless there is a very good reason.

Well, if they make her sick, that's a different story. You know, I like when I see folks raising CornishX on range and seeing that they can live longer lives and more active lives than the commercial birds get to do, yet you will never see one living to the ages of my hens, or even half that. Their hearts just give out eventually. I don't have any problem with folks raising meat birds, but I personally wouldn't be able to do it. I know myself and my softie husband too well. It's even hard to think of killing a rooster gone bad, but we'd do it to prevent his genes being passed on to another generation unless someone just wanted him for a full time free range rooster/flock guardian. There are so many other things to eat that I don't see a need to, really. We even talked about raising a calf on our pasture for meat, but I can see that big thing ending up as a pet, not in my freezer.

 

[1muttsfan]

Some friends would get a steer every year, and always called him Sooner - because they were going to eat him sooner or later!

 

[speckledhen]

Some friends would get a steer every year, and always called him Sooner - because they were going to eat him sooner or later!

Good one! I love those creative names. Surely, we'd name ours, too. I wonder, though, about a calf out on our pasture. The coyotes are bad around here. Would he be in danger in the beginning, the age we'd be getting him? Or do I have to also get a mini donkey to kick some coyote butt? LOL. Another pet, right?

 

[robhuncor]

Once again, not getting notices so I'm way behind!
Congratulations Cyn on Chris getting his Master's! That's a big deal at any age! And poor Michael, what next for him! The vein thing with his leg must have been awful! I didn't know that could happen with varicose veins. Is he home? Will you be going to see him? How far away does he live? Is he all alone or does he have friends to check in on him? I worry about my adult (almost middle aged!) children constantly. (And I was a reluctant mother!)

 

[speckledhen]

Once again, not getting notices so I'm way behind!
Congratulations Cyn on Chris getting his Master's! That's a big deal at any age! And poor Michael, what next for him! The vein thing with his leg must have been awful! I didn't know that could happen with varicose veins. Is he home? Will you be going to see him? How far away does he live? Is he all alone or does he have friends to check in on him? I worry about my adult (almost middle aged!) children constantly. (And I was a reluctant mother!)

Thanks about Chris. He's happy about that, plus getting pre-orders for his current book.
Yeah, I didn't know a vein could do that, either. He's at home because he was about to start a week's vacation anyway. He changed the bandage for the first time and said it looked like a bullet hole. He is alone with his two dogs, yes. I think one young lady may come to check on him, but for the most part, it's just him. He lives about two-and-a-half hours south of us, probably won't go down unless he really needs us for something.