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

[speckledhen]

Why is it always a problem, stores wanting to steer you to some new product? Well, maybe they were told to push something and April the feed store manager wasn't there. I sent Tom to get chick starter, my usual 50# of Tucker Milling Starter/Grower, Non-Medicated. They had to complicate it by asking if he wanted non-GMO or the regular. He said he didn't know the difference so they gave him the non-GMO Nature Crest stuff that was 50 cents higher. He called me and told me this. So, I told him since he was still there, to tell them to take that stuff back and give me the regular starter I always use. That non-GMO is wheat-and-fish-meal based, not corn based, of course, or it wouldn't be $13.50. I want what always works well, not something that boasts a catch-phrase for higher price, not that I like GMO, but I don't want the cheaper ingredients in that non-GMO feed. There's been talk of necrotic enteritis issues from feeds like those, but I cannot find the dang links to save my life. Anyone have an opinion on it? I just want to use what I always use, what has always worked well for my chicks.

 

[speckledhen]

To add that that above, today is Day 8 for my incubator eggs. I have a very bright flashlight with new batteries and I candled them. I cannot for the life of me guarantee that any are developing normally. I pulled two obviously infertiles to toss, one belonging to BJ, not a shock, and one of Brandy's, a def shock since she squats if Bash even gets within 10 ft of her. I see no veins coming from the air cells at all, though a couple are too porous to see anything at all, like Maddie's. I can't believe that none at all will hatch, but then, these Brahmas are turning 5 years old and I have no idea how long the roosters remain fertile in this line. That would be a real bummer if none hatched, eh? I finally got the incubator fairly settled in temp, no super high spikes or anything. I've never been this unsure at Day 8! Guess the starter we got will be for the hatchery chicks I get next month, but I will wait a few more days and check again. Maybe they're just a bit behind...still, it's weird.

 

[getaclue]

I hate that too, about stores pushing a higher cost product, and/or additional items. A lot of times on the emergency/illness threads, people will have chickens with certain conditions (failure to thrive, vitamin type deficiencies), and more often than not, when asked the feed they use, it's organic, and/or non-GMO. I'm not saying all GMO grain based feeds are better. I'm saying that because of the higher cost of the grains, some of the companies stint on other ingredients for a higher profit margin. It makes a difference.

Yes, the brand, and type feed you get, is some of the best out there. For years, I've been wanting them to sell it here, but they don't. They sell it in Northern Florida, near the border, but not down here in Central Florida.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree 100%. I have always had great success with the Tucker Milling Starter/Grower and see no reason to change unless the product goes down in quality. People see the Non-GMO and automatically think it's superior and I don't agree at all. If it was the same ingredients, but the corn and soy used was non-GMO, that might be different, but then, so would be the price be much higher.
So, no one near you can get any of that sent down, Cheryl?

 

[getaclue]

I'd have to buy something like 100 bags to make it feasible for them to send it. I can't handle that much at one time. I'm using Purina flockraiser. It's not bad, but it's not as high quality as Tucker Milling.

 

[PepsiCatt]

Uhhh, is Atlas Ok????

 

[speckledhen]

Uhhh, is Atlas Ok????

Yes, the old man is still kicking! He has just two hens left now and has some advancing arthritis in his joints. I did notice that his comb has been turning dark quite often lately. Atlas is 7 years old now. Thanks for asking!

 

[speckledhen]

I unloaded the SUV today, the chicken supplies Tom got, was taking stuff to the barn and I see they have changed the bag on the Super Lay 22. Now, it's all snazzy, calls itself "Show Flock". Not sure if they really changed much other than maybe added niacin for ducks and geese, but here is the bag of the usual feed everyone eats.

 

[speckledhen]

And since you asked about Atlas, here is my old man:

 

[speckledhen]

Seems the entire hatch is going to be a bust. I put them into the incubator the afternoon of March 2 so Day One was March 3 so today is Day 9 and even further if you count the partial day before they went in. There is no veining on any of them. Some of the yolks seem a bit cloudy and I see a tiny speck in a couple, but by this time, there should be a chick and a lot of veins coming from the air cell. Either the temps were way, way off or the fertility is just not there. I thought maybe Maddie's egg would not be fertile because of Hector's leg and how unsteady he is on it, making it difficult to get the job done and it isn't. I've tossed a good number of them already...tossing them across the pasture, all except one bounced like super balls and didn't break. I'll leave the rest in another day or so, but I think it's a complete wash on these. I've never had that happen in the past.