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

[holm25]

I might need to borrow a goat to eat that nasty, skin-ripping cow vine that my property is inundated with, so yeah, get some goats!

I hope getting them works out they will be weaned off the bottle in a week or two. These little girls were raised with chickens so they may spend their days in the run with the chickens.

 

[speckledhen]

I hope getting them works out they will be weaned off the bottle in a week or two. These little girls were raised with chickens so they may spend their days in the run with the chickens.

Hope so, too. My friend had her goats in with her chickens and though her barn was definitely not predator proof, they were fairly safe with the goats.



I took photos of the chicks today. What I wanted to show is that the largest cockerel is much more fully feathered than the other two males and his barring is the least crisp of all, almost blurry, as someone said. That faster feathering is why. The slower feathering is needed for that super precise barring. Why he feathered faster I would say is probably that he has more influence of the Delaware in his lineage from his great grandpa Isaac. Dels feather very quickly. His is not messy, it's really quite straight across the feathers, but just wider white bars and less defined.

One of the pullets is a petite little thing. Guessing she must belong to Rachel or Rowena. I can't imagine Dottie and Atlas producing a little chick of either sex.






These two below will be the best barred of the three males. Note the bare areas they are both still sporting.

The pullets.

See tiny girl on bottom, how much broader her sister/half-sister is?





This photo is the best to see the cockerels' differences, big fully feathered guy upper right.

 

[holm25]

They look great!!

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks. Tomorrow, we get another winter blast then sunny for four days. It's that up and down intro into spring. Hope they can get outside again by the weekend.

 

[1muttsfan]

An excellent illustration of how the slow feathering gene works.

 

[seminolewind]

You are certainly taking on a big project there! Love the pictures!!!

 

[ScenicViews]

Love the pictures!! How old did you say they were? Did I miss that post? Mine are getting bigger by the minute!

Will post some pictures!



3 weeks old today!!

 

[speckledhen]

You are certainly taking on a big project there! Love the pictures!!!

Not sure how far this project will actually go. This winter wore us down and I long for simpler chores. It would help if I could just build the barn I want to put everyone in and that would make it so much easier.

Love the pictures!! How old did you say they were? Did I miss that post? Mine are getting bigger by the minute!

Will post some pictures!



3 weeks old today!!

Mine are just past 6 weeks. Did you hatch yours?

 

[ScenicViews]

No, these are my first..after reading all the posts though, I would love to try.. I have to see how this "chicken project" as my daughter calls it, goes first. Mine are in my basement. My coop should be finished soon.. I am terrified of what is going to happen when I get them outside!! My coop will be in the back of my yard, where all the wild things are. We will have plenty of predator protection, but, after reading some of the post about dogs getting their chickens..yikes! Unfortunately I will not be able to free r ge the at I would like, safety first. I am having a great time with them so far! Thanks for responding.

 

[speckledhen]

No, these are my first..after reading all the posts though, I would love to try.. I have to see how this "chicken project" as my daughter calls it, goes first. Mine are in my basement. My coop should be finished soon.. I am terrified of what is going to happen when I get them outside!! My coop will be in the back of my yard, where all the wild things are. We will have plenty of predator protection, but, after reading some of the post about dogs getting their chickens..yikes! Unfortunately I will not be able to free r ge the at I would like, safety first. I am having a great time with them so far! Thanks for responding.

Good luck with your flock! I was around chickens as a child, but being military, we couldn't have them. We got our first flock over nine years ago, all hatchery stock, but a year later, I started hatching from good breeder stock-Orpingtons and true Ameraucanas.

I see you are in NC, so sort of a neighbor.