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

[Mr King]

Haha!

I don't know for sure because I have nothing to weigh them with but I can tell you that Dottie, the mother of three of them, is a very hefty hen, just like all the pure Stukel line hens. I'm sure she hits 8 lbs or more. Two of the chicks are from one each Rachel and Rowena. Those two are much lighter weight, a pound lighter, but then, they are not a year old nor are they 100% the same line. I just have nothing to weigh them with-even my scale is 30 years old isn't that reliable to do the "weigh yourself, pick up a bird, weigh with the bird" thing. It won't even register a weight difference sometimes when you do that. Atlas is a big rooster, broad, lots of light between his legs, but he is just about to hit a year old and isn't fully developed. He's larger than his sire, I know that much.

Wow That's a big hen. Nice, what do you mean with light between his legs, do you mean they 're wide apart.? Sorry but some terms are new for me.
I just subscribed like a week ago or less to this byc Is very interesting I subscribed mainly because I'm looking for meat chickens,I already have layers, but i want some good breed for meat First I was interested on delawares but with the research i've done on them i think will be easier to find better meat chicken on barred rocks. Correct me if i'm wrong. I'm good breeding programs. I learned with the gamefowl a used to had, don't have them anymore ( well only 4 of them . brazilian type and 1 american gamefowl i guess you can call it that way.) So I would like to start with some quality meat chicken. I tried cornish x i didn't like them . so I'm looking now for something I can breed and select better ones for breeding. What will you. Or anyone reading this recommend?

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
The Stukel Rock males take a long time to fill out/mature. Mine are not 100% pure lines anymore, only most of the hens are. Lost the male years ago to a copperhead snake (gave him to a friend for his breeding rooster when I was moving things around, looking to get eggs in the future and tragedy struck). I bred Atlas from my single factor barred male who was 1/2 Delaware and 1/2 Stukel Rock. My Delawares are from heritage lines. Today's Dels are not really great meat birds other than maybe the ones kathyinmo created.

Yes, light between the legs means wide apart, big framed.

 

[Mr King]

There is a page name Wyandottes and rocks, they show a barred rocks good shepard line that they said was 5 months a weight in 10 lbs 4 ounces. I don't think it can be true, not at 5 months. Is it possible?. Another thing I didn't like is that they said those barred rocks were standing 110°f from Texas and the phone number they have is from California ( according to my cell)

 

[speckledhen]

There is a page name Wyandottes and rocks, they show a barred rocks good shepard line that they said was 5 months a weight in 10 lbs 4 ounces. I don't think it can be true, not at 5 months. Is it possible?. Another thing I didn't like is that they said those barred rocks were standing 110°f from Texas and the phone number they have is from California ( according to my cell)

I will tell you that the Good Shepherd and the Marvin Stukel lines are probably the two best BR lines in the country. The difference is that the GS BRs "meat up" faster, but they are not as good in the barring dept nor are the tails as fabulous as the Stukel males. I'm not sure about the heat factor-I live on a mountain at 2000 ft elevation so my nights cool down more.

Contrary to what some folks say, the Delawares are not as heat tolerant as what you'd expect from a white bird. My theory is that their musculature is so dense and they are tightly feathered so they do suffer in the heat, even before my huge Orpingtons do. They are the first to pant, those and a couple of other birds who have extremely dense underfluff like bunny fur. My BRs don't seem to have much issue with it, but we don't get to those Texas temps, either. Hatchery Delawares will not suit a meat bird need for anyone, not any that I've seen anyway. My heritage line will be much closer and kathyinmo's males are actually over the standard for weight in the males (or used to be, haven't checked on them lately) so they might be better for a meat bird.

 

[Mr King]

I will tell you that the Good Shepherd and the Marvin Stukel lines are probably the two best BR lines in the country. The difference is that the GS BRs "meat up" faster, but they are not as good in the barring dept nor are the tails as fabulous as the Stukel males. I'm not sure about the heat factor-I live on a mountain at 2000 ft elevation so my nights cool down more.

Contrary to what some folks say, the Delawares are not as heat tolerant as what you'd expect from a white bird. My theory is that their musculature is so dense and they are tightly feathered so they do suffer in the heat, even before my huge Orpingtons do. They are the first to pant, those and a couple of other birds who have extremely dense underfluff like bunny fur. My BRs don't seem to have much issue with it, but we don't get to those Texas temps, either. Hatchery Delawares will not suit a meat bird need for anyone, not any that I've seen anyway. My heritage line will be much closer and kathyinmo's males are actually over the standard for weight in the males (or used to be, haven't checked on them lately) so they might be better for a meat bird.

So your Delawares are kathyinmo lines? Wich of your Delawares And barred rocks get faster to butcher time?

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
No, mine are NOT kathyinmo, sorry for the confusion. They came from a breeder in Ohio who is not currently breeding due to a personal situation. Kathy's are a new creation, still under construction, so to speak, still need work on color, etc. But, they're good for meat birds. I had Delawares before she started her project. Had mine for about 8 years, but I have only one rooster and one hen left, both over 6 years old. Not getting more.

I do not butcher my birds so I can't tell you which get there faster. I've only processed one 24 week old Delaware cockerel prior to this group I have now for aggression. Don't like propagating those genes. Mine are bred for temperament and conformation, not for meat.

 

[Mr King]

No, mine are NOT kathyinmo, sorry for the confusion. They came from a breeder in Ohio who is not currently breeding due to a personal situation. Kathy's are a new creation, still under construction, so to speak, still need work on color, etc. But, they're good for meat birds. I had Delawares before she started her project. Had mine for about 8 years, but I have only one rooster and one hen left, both over 6 years old. Not getting more.

I do not butcher my birds so I can't tell you which get there faster. I've only processed one 24 week old Delaware cockerel prior to this group I have now for aggression. Don't like propagating those genes. Mine are bred for temperament and conformation, not for meat.

Ok. I can see things better now.! Thank you so much for your help and time.! I really appreciate that.!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
You're very welcome. I will say that the Dellie male I did process (did breasts only) made the best chicken stew I've ever had. Yep, Jake Stew was scrumptious. Sorry, Jake, but you earned that.

Here is my 6 year old sweetheart of a rooster, Isaac, who is Atlas's grandfather, also the guy painted in my avatar. He has severe arthritis and last winter, lost a couple of toe ends to frostbite due only to his poor circulation. He did well this winter, though, with extra care.

 

[Mr King]

You're very welcome. I will say that the Dellie male I did process (did breasts only) made the best chicken stew I've ever had. Yep, Jake Stew was scrumptious. Sorry, Jake, but you earned that. Here is my 6 year old sweetheart of a rooster, Isaac, who is Atlas's grandfather, also the guy painted in my avatar. He has severe arthritis and last winter, lost a couple of toe ends to frostbite due only to his poor circulation. He did well this winter, though, with extra care.

Wow he's nice. I just called good shepard ranch and they don't ship anything because he said that's a pain in the a**! Lol. They only sell chicken to New York and somewhere else.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Are these recent photos of Isaac? He is so beautiful!