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

[Peanutsmomma]

Woo hoo Tessa!! We knew you could do it! Love the pics as usual.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

"Oh, those big boys can injure the ladies. Suede ripped open TWO hens, on both sides. It was horrible. He wasn't aggressive, but his sheer mass and trying to balance, the toenails just tore them open. Had to clean out dirt-caked wounds and even stitch one up. Poor gals. I created saddles with flank flaps just for those big girls. Robin had me make her a couple for her humongous Orps (wekiva bird)."

Well, it sounds like Boyd is following in Suede's footsteps. He is not aggressive and all the hens love him but he is just so BIG and inexperienced. The first time I saw him mate with Daisy she completely disappeared! LOL! I have been monitoring the big Orp pullets and they are so far injury free from his advances so that is a blessing but I do need to keep on eye on that situation.
I am going to have to make some custom saddles too. I had foot surgery a few weeks a go and didn't feel like getting my machine out so I went the lazy way and ordered one from Amazon. I ordered Daisy a large and it was still too small and she is a little thing, only 4.5 lbs. If Boyd gets to be as big as Suede there is no way he needs to be mating with a 4.5 lb hen anyway.

 

[speckledhen]

"Oh, those big boys can injure the ladies. Suede ripped open TWO hens, on both sides. It was horrible. He wasn't aggressive, but his sheer mass and trying to balance, the toenails just tore them open. Had to clean out dirt-caked wounds and even stitch one up. Poor gals. I created saddles with flank flaps just for those big girls. Robin had me make her a couple for her humongous Orps (wekiva bird)."

Well, it sounds like Boyd is following in Suede's footsteps. He is not aggressive and all the hens love him but he is just so BIG and inexperienced. The first time I saw him mate with Daisy she completely disappeared! LOL! I have been monitoring the big Orp pullets and they are so far injury free from his advances so that is a blessing but I do need to keep on eye on that situation.
I am going to have to make some custom saddles too. I had foot surgery a few weeks a go and didn't feel like getting my machine out so I went the lazy way and ordered one from Amazon. I ordered Daisy a large and it was still too small and she is a little thing, only 4.5 lbs. If Boyd gets to be as big as Suede there is no way he needs to be mating with a 4.5 lb hen anyway.

Here are some I made before I had a machine that would handle anything heavy or many layers. They did okay, though. The flank flaps and the heavier fake leather fabric worked well.

This was Skye, who passed away from crop failure years ago. You see how much of the flank this covers, goes under her wings.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Those are AWESOME!! Thanks for the pattern!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Yay Tessa! No Lazy Lizzie there.

It also helps tremendously if you cut the roster's toenails, just as you would for a cat.

 

[speckledhen]

Yay Tessa! No Lazy Lizzie there.

It also helps tremendously if you cut the roster's toenails, just as you would for a cat.

Folks think it's the spurs that are the issue when it's almost always the toenails. Suede's were never long, but being about 15 lbs and just trying to balance to mate, he would try to maintain his grip and that's when the injuries happened; I suspect a struggling hen made it worse.

 

[getaclue]

Quote:
You are right! It's rarely the spurs, but almost always the toenails. Even the 4.8-Volt Pet Nail Grooming Rotary Tool at Home Depot is only $25.00 and does a wonderful job of sanding the spurs, and toenails blunt. Keep in mind that the friction causes heat, so just be sure not to let the nail get too hot. The advantage is that sanding them down won't split, the nails like cutting with clippers.

 

[speckledhen]

Dottie is improving further. DH saw her run and flap her wings today! She is living in the broody pen in the Orp coop but we let her out to roam by herself so she isn't bothered. She goes and visits Atlas at the fence.

Atlas himself is having issues with his right hock joint. He kicks it back like he's trying to stretch it out exactly like his grandpa Isaac did. But, Ike had terrible arthritis in his legs and he was going on 7 years old. Atlas is only about 2 years old. He can't have arthritis so soon, can he? We gave him an aspirin today. Good thing he's such a love and easy to handle.

Keep forgetting to post a few pictures of how the pasture is coming along.

 

[1muttsfan]

That green is lovely. All white here - got the snowmobile out for the first time.

 

[speckledhen]

That green is lovely. All white here - got the snowmobile out for the first time.

We weirdly haven't had a snow yet. Today, though, high is about 30* with tonight's low 20*, maybe dipping slightly lower. Winds are really howling. No chickens getting out today.