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

[speckledhen]

He certainly has turned into quite the handsome man chicken. That is a great idea to compare pics of Atlas and his sons. I am really looking forward to seeing that.

He has, though he has some faults I hope to be corrected in his sons, or at least, improved upon. One of the tank-boys runs right into my hands and loves his chest rubbed. Athena is a drama queen, but she'll come around. She jumps up onto everything to investigate, tote bags, buckets, etc. She will not be as nicely barred as her little half sister, I don't think but I need layers and she could be a backup breeder even if she really doesn't make the cut by the time she's older.

 

[1muttsfan]

Such a cute teenager - he has always had such a nice eye.

 

[speckledhen]

Such a cute teenager - he has always had such a nice eye.

He did, didn't he? He has a kind expression. When a rooster is going to turn on me, I can see the change in the eyes. It's very telling. Sometimes, I see Isaac in Atlas's eyes, sometimes, his daddy, Rex, all great guys.

 

[speckledhen]

Ida and her 3 week old pair today free ranging with the Livestock Guardian Cat. He fell asleep watching them. She doesn't seem to think he's a threat, either. And he's never shown any interest in chicks around here, though I'd never trust a cat with one newly hatched, not even Finn.

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh that little girl has ATTITUDE!!

 

[speckledhen]

Oh that little girl has ATTITUDE!!

They both do. Super sweet chicks, all of them. Here is a video of the free range time with a Finn bonus shot upper left, being an LGC.

 

[1muttsfan]

So cute. She is a nice looking hen.

 

[speckledhen]

So cute. She is a nice looking hen.

She is a tank, though she has naturally lost weight during this broody process.

This "keeper-picking" is going to be difficult, I think. Though the smallest male in Wynette's group will have a handsome, balanced comb and nearly perfect barring (at least, it seems so, very sharp, feathering super slowly) he is not my keeper due to his more compact size.

The other two are so similar. Both are jump-in-your-lap friendly, pretty typical of these, especially when they see their mama being a big baby right in front of them. One seems a tad larger, though you have to really look closely to see that. He, however, as his comb enlarges, seems to have two semi-fused points. I'm sure you know what I mean, not good separation between two of the comb points. The other big boy has a gorgeous little comb. I realize that the comb is entirely down the list after type and coloring, but you know, I'm a sucker for a gorgeous, perfect 5-pointer.

All that doesn't even consider cockerel #4, the two-week-younger one. He may outshine the other two when he's their age. I could sell #3 now and someone would get a gorgeous male to improve their lines, but the other three will have to stick around for quite awhile so I can see them develop more. Eventually, those three males and the two pullets will be in the cage that Wynette and her brood are occupying now after she and Ida decide they are sick of motherhood.

 

[speckledhen]

Here you go. #1 is the largest male, not the best comb. #2 great comb, almost as large as #1. #3, best barring, nice comb w/one extra point.
In front is my largest male.

Detail of the not-so-great comb (and Wynette being a baby again)







#2, almost identical in size and feathering to #1, at least at this point.















A quick aside: Why are people so, for lack of a better word, dense? I mean, it's not big deal, not earth-shattering or anything, but still, it frustrates me no end. I posted a boatload of photos of one bird on a FB group for folks to guess what breeds make him up, to show that chickens may not be at all what they appear to be, then I tell them he appears to be a pure breed (so they know what they should be seeing, right?), but that he has several breeds in his mix. In one of the SIX photos of this male alone, there is another cockerel of the same color pattern, an EE cockerel who is obviously not pure anything, and his body is mostly even cut off in the photo which features the one I'm trying to showcase. First thing someone says is....oh, the fluffy cheeks and tiny comb say EE. Um. What? That is not the bird we are even talking about, it's obvious they have different parents, that bird is only in one of the SIX photos featuring the one I want to talk about. This frustrates me. I'm not sure what is in peoples' heads. Maybe they just skimmed the post and missed something, not really sure.

 

[1muttsfan]

I have quit threads over ignorant rude comments so nothing would surprise me.

I see what you mean about the comb points. I'm awaiting #4 for comparison.