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

[speckledhen]

I don't think I've ever seen a fox squirrel here, only grays.

 

[getaclue]

I just have to share this with you. Dh is the type person that has to stay busy. About 10 months ago, he began inserting himself into my chicken keeping. Of course, he's hard headed, and doesn't want to listen. Now, he's got 10 months of chicken keeping (sort of) under his belt, so he's an expert, right?

About a week ago, he had been tending the garden, just before supper, and decided to check on a hen he was concerned about. Later, during supper, he mentioned that he thought I might be going to lose a hen. I asked him why he thought that. Well, he couldn't get her off the nest. All she did was stay on the nest. I told him she was broody.

I also said I would go out the next day, and get all the eggs out from under her, then turn the nest box over. He got very upset with me. That hen had been on those eggs for 11 days. Good grief! I'd get them out in the morning, or there would be a rotten mess to clean up. He got even more upset with me. There would be chicks in those eggs, and I would kill all the chicks. He said that with disdain, like I was a murderer.

I looked him square in the eye, and told him that the last time I checked, eggs had to be fertile to hatch, and there was no rooster in that pen. I wish I had a picture of his face, when the realization of what I'd said, hit him. It was priceless. Truly a Kodak moment, if there ever was one.

 

[speckledhen]

I looked him square in the eye, and told him that the last time I checked, eggs had to be fertile to hatch, and there was no rooster in that pen. I wish I had a picture of his face, when the realization of what I'd said, hit him. It was priceless. Truly a Kodak moment, if there ever was one.

Thanks for that great laugh today!! Poor guy must have been pretty redfaced! I'm glad he's taking an interest. My husband is mourning the death of our Snow. She was his hen, has been for most of her 14+ years of life. Her missing voice calling before I even got the key in the door every morning has left such an odd hole in our lives. She was so beautiful and full of personality.

 

[getaclue]

They came to redo all of our internet this morning. They just got finished. It's nice to have internet again. Of course, if I got desperate, I would have turned on my tablet. I have the ability to use it through my cell phone provider, as well as through internet. When one goes down, I can default to the other.

 

[speckledhen]

Speck, do you ever take Atlas out and hold him? Sometimes I think that my hen sensed me as the only one left who she could feel comfortable with and was happy with the contact.

It's really awful to watch them go downhill. But I'm sure that Atlas feels comfy and happy with his life due to your heart felt work. Roosters are different than hens especially when needy. I always loved roosters, they seem to show their emotions quicker, and sort of respond to a human relationship moreso. What do you see in Roos in camparison to hens?

For some reason I missed this question! I pick him up all the time. He's my special buddy, gets snuggled almost every day. He's a very sweet old man. I am closer to my boys without a doubt. I always say I'm a rooster magnet.

 

[seminolewind]

For some reason I missed this question! I pick him up all the time. He's my special buddy, gets snuggled almost every day. He's a very sweet old man. I am closer to my boys without a doubt. I always say I'm a rooster magnet.

I figured you did. Yea he is a special old man!! I love roosters too.

 

[seminolewind]

I went to Vegas last week. I especially went to see The Scorpions concert at Planet Hollywood's concert hall. The concert was great. The rest of my trip really $ucked. My first flight got cancelled (for 3 days) so I ended up spending a whole bunch more to fly Southwest. Then I stayed at Bally's. Never again. That was awful. I actually went to walk around at the Flamingo, and that's the place to stay. The layout is better, you can find things, it's very pretty, and they have a flock of flamingos.. Heck seeing the flamingos was alot more interesting than seeing Hoover Dam. The history is interesting but it would have been more awesome to see The St. Petersburg Bridge in Tampa.

So all I got here is a picture of Hoover Dam.

 

[seminolewind]

I don't rehab any gray squirrels anymore, but I will rehab the occasional fox squirrel. They're more scarce, and much smarter.

Sounds like alot of work. Very involved.

 

[seminolewind]

They came to redo all of our internet this morning. They just got finished. It's nice to have internet again. Of course, if I got desperate, I would have turned on my tablet. I have the ability to use it through my cell phone provider, as well as through internet. When one goes down, I can default to the other.

Haha I do the same thing. We have really poor wifi reception out here. Only Verizon gets a good signal. The house internet is really slow. So I have the hotspot on my phone. I cannot live without my internet. And this area is the pits for wifi.

 

[seminolewind]

Rehabbing baby squirrels is a VERY time consuming ordeal. I've used a small plastic reptile cage, placed over a heating pad that was lifted up slightly with small strips of wood. Like chickens, they can't regulate their temp until older. In the meantime, they must be bottle fed OFTEN for the first week (about every half hour), then hourly the second, and third weeks. You can use canned cat formula, but I have an orphan milk recipe that I like better. After each feeding, you must use a cloth, and gently rub their genital/anal regions for a minute, to stimulate them to urinate, and poop. The first couple weeks are exhausting, but worth the effort in most cases.

I thank you for posting this. It put things into perspective.