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

[MistyMountain]

Just what this warm weather needs!! I believe…. spring is here in the mountains!!

 

[speckledhen]

She took 'em! She is acting normally, clucking, raising up for them. She looked one eyeball to beak for ten seconds, had one pecking her wattles and she is just fine with them. Whew! I was so worried! Now, I can faint.

I have a 3rd chick out, a 4th pipped, but I think that will be all. Since we're going into Day 22, I candled the others and it seems to me they're all gone. I'll let them stay in overnight, just to be safe, but they appear to have passed on. Though I did not have them marked, I think they are Lizzie's, though I can't be 100% sure. I just know that none of these, sadly, are Dottie's.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Oh, I am sorry that none of your babies are Dottie's.

It is great news that Wynette is acting like a good momma. Please take a video of her with all of her of chicks when they all finally arrive.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, I am sorry that none of your babies are Dottie's.

It is great news that Wynette is acting like a good momma. Please take a video of her with all of her of chicks when they all finally arrive.

Will do. Dottie had not been laying for some time with what was happening to her. I wish she had been, so much.

Tessa's baby just hatched. If I had to call it right now, I'd say male. Perfect teensy comb, almost zero dark on the legs. Heck, I'll be lucky if they aren't all cockerels, with my luck of late.

The last three show no signs of pipping and we are now going into Day 22. I'd say we will end up with just these four. Why, I'm not sure, except that Tessa and Lizzie (as well as Wynette, who may not have turned the eggs enough) are untried. However, four chicks is very manageable for a first time broody like Wynette.

 

[1muttsfan]

Thank goodness Wynette saw the light. Maybe Ida got all the pullets!
So cute

 

[speckledhen]

Thank goodness Wynette saw the light. Maybe Ida got all the pullets!
So cute

I won't know until they're older, most likely. These take a closer look than the hatchery ones and even then, well, remember Lizzie. She had all the markings of a cockerel and surprise!

The final total for Wynette is four chicks. I opened the rest up. One was marked "Liz" and I rather think at least two of the others were hers as well. Could be an issue with the pairing of her and Atlas or just bad luck this time around. Anyway, four babies are under mama and for the time being, my incubator is off, but at the ready for Ida's bunch, if needed.

Will get photos of them tomorrow. Off to bed. Loooong day again.

 

[speckledhen]

Wynette didn't want them out from under her this a.m. but I got one pic of two of them.



ETA: Just moved them to the extra pen in the new barn and took Atlas to the fence to show him that Wynette was okay and that he has new babies. He held so still and quiet, was fascinated by them. If I had to choose, ONLY by head spots, I'd say two male, two female, but this line is so hard to sex, I wouldn't put money on it, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

This new camera has some issues, but it does take pretty good video that uploads faster than the ones from my other camera. So, we have FIVE videos of Wynette and her new chicks!

 

[MistyMountain]

Love the videos! Wynette is doing such a great job! I've caught the bug now… I can not wait for broody season.

Some teachers at the local school are considering hatching some chicks. I told them I could bring in some eggs for them, of all colors. They were excited about that thinking the students could take guesses on which ones would hatch.

I'm in charge of Earth Week for the school. I contacted our local feed store to see if they would be interested in coming in to talk about raising backyard chickens naturally, for eggs as well as compost. They jumped at the idea. Good timing too, since chick days fall right about then. The children love when animals come in.

I'll get my real dose of baby chick cuteness soon… but in the meantime, keep posting pics!

 

[speckledhen]

I used to send eggs to a teacher to hatch in his classroom. I can't remember his screen name, but it was probably before Rob revived BYC in this format. His class sent me this huge, very cool thank-you note. I don't mind contributing to education that way at all!