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

[speckledhen]

She's beautiful! Light brahmas have to be up there as of one my favorite colors on brahmas. I bet you will be pretty shocked by their size over hatchery stock. I know I was shocked at just how large cochins really are when they're not from a hatchery! The size difference can really be incredible. I'm spoiled now - I can't go back to hatchery birds. I have to hatch all my birds from eggs from other breeders.

I went to one bantam show years ago, but out in the parking lot, there was a LF Cochin breeder who had a bunch of cages in a big trailer. OMGosh! They were HUGE! If the Brahmas are like that, to quote from Jaws.... "we're gonna need a bigger boat!"

NO WAY!!! Oh, I can not wait! I have some major chick fever right now. I decided to order some chicks from Sandhill and my first ship date came and went. Next ship date is the 24th, so fingers crossed. Then again, I don't know what I am going to do with all those chickens!! My LF blue cochin is working on going broody, having slept in the nest box flat as a pancake the past 3 nights. This morning was the first time she puffed out and started picking fights with the other hens if they came near her in the run. Ya think 25 chicks will fit under her big fluffy bottom? Sure would make my job easier!!

Haha, those evil broodies! They say they can handle about a dozen of the size eggs/chicks they themselves product, but I think that's pushing it with a newbie broody. Maybe an experienced one could handle that many. I'd at least give her a few if she's been sitting at least two weeks when they arrive, if you really want to. What did you order from Sandhill? My big blue Orp, Suede, came from Sandhill stock parentage all those years ago.

 

[1muttsfan]

I've been laid up sick all week, between sleeping poorly and working don't have a lot of ambition left

But hovering in spirit over your incubator!

 

[speckledhen]

I've been laid up sick all week, between sleeping poorly and working don't have a lot of ambition left

But hovering in spirit over your incubator!

Oh, I'm so sorry! You poor dear. Can I do anything for you? Hope you feel better soon! I hate when I don't sleep. I resorted to diphenhydramine pills since I was not having any good sleep lately, but those whipporwills are sure having a party in the woods every night. I love to hear them, but I do need to sleep, too.

 

[MistyMountain]

Haha, those evil broodies! They say they can handle about a dozen of the size eggs/chicks they themselves product, but I think that's pushing it with a newbie broody. Maybe an experienced one could handle that many. I'd at least give her a few if she's been sitting at least two weeks when they arrive, if you really want to. What did you order from Sandhill? My big blue Orp, Suede, came from Sandhill stock parentage all those years ago.

This would be round two for her, she raised 8 last summer to 4 weeks before losing 4 when we had a dog attack. I can not even tell you how heart broken I was when I started counting my chickens. 3 of her chicks were up in the tree and looking for momma. It was a good 30 minutes before she came plopping along from the tree line. I cried. She's a big girl and can not fly much, so I was certain she was a goner.

I'm tempted to give her a few, but those big fluffy legs and bottoms can be a negative… almost lost a chick that got tangled up in there.

I ordered 10 welsummers, because I really like the two I have from ideal and thought I would try taking a step up in quality. They forage and lay well. These two went broody last summer and hatched some mixes from my flock as well as some guineas. I also ordered 10 mottled javas. They look pretty, and if I am able to help out the breed a bit, I'm all for that. They also are supposed to forage well. I added 5 delawares to the list, just to see what all the jazz was about, but they are booked solid. They are going to sub blue orps for the delies. Maybe I will have some relation to your Suede walking about here!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Sandhill has excellent Delawares

 

[speckledhen]

This would be round two for her, she raised 8 last summer to 4 weeks before losing 4 when we had a dog attack. I can not even tell you how heart broken I was when I started counting my chickens. 3 of her chicks were up in the tree and looking for momma. It was a good 30 minutes before she came plopping along from the tree line. I cried. She's a big girl and can not fly much, so I was certain she was a goner.

I'm tempted to give her a few, but those big fluffy legs and bottoms can be a negative… almost lost a chick that got tangled up in there.

I ordered 10 welsummers, because I really like the two I have from ideal and thought I would try taking a step up in quality. They forage and lay well. These two went broody last summer and hatched some mixes from my flock as well as some guineas. I also ordered 10 mottled javas. They look pretty, and if I am able to help out the breed a bit, I'm all for that. They also are supposed to forage well. I added 5 delawares to the list, just to see what all the jazz was about, but they are booked solid. They are going to sub blue orps for the delies. Maybe I will have some relation to your Suede walking about here!!

I had a chick tangle up in my bantam Cochin's leg feathers once, so I get what you're talking about! Do post pics of what you get from Sandhill. I love Auburn Javas, was thinking about finding some of those at one point in time. I lost touch with her. Her email isn't good anymore and I wanted to tell her that I lost Isaac at the end of last year. She had some health issues and wasn't breeding anyway but I still wanted to reach out to her when he passed away so she'd know how long that sweet old guy lived.

Sandhill has excellent Delawares

Janet Holtman had some of the Sandhill bred into hers when I got the eggs Isaac and his half sisters came from, which includes Georgie, but also had some McDaniel and Meyer in the mix. It was so hard to find ANY decent Dels back then and still is.

 

[holm25]

Cyn I am here too!!! I am looking forward to seeing all your new babies!

 

[speckledhen]

Cyn I am here too!!! I am looking forward to seeing all your new babies!

Yippeeeee! Glad you're checking in, Isaiah!

 

[robhuncor]

I've been laid up sick all week, between sleeping poorly and working don't have a lot of ambition left

But hovering in spirit over your incubator!

Me too, Mary. I've had a stomach bug all week - chills, fever, the whole nine yards. Just beginning to feel like I'll live! I'm sorry you are feeling poorly and hope your babies are taking your mind off it. I have to live vicariously this year and drool over all your and Cyn's beautiful chicks. After my last hatch last spring when half of them were roosters,and then breaking my ankle and foot which thankfully has mostly healed now, I'm taking this year off hatching. DH is still helping out with the poultry but the roosters just hate him! It's actually quite funny watching him go in their pen with a big board like a shield in front of him. I keep telling him he has to talk to them - they are fine with me because we have long conversations. They really do talk back. Anyway, I'm hanging out waiting for hatches and pictures.

 

[speckledhen]

Me too, Mary. I've had a stomach bug all week - chills, fever, the whole nine yards. Just beginning to feel like I'll live! I'm sorry you are feeling poorly and hope your babies are taking your mind off it. I have to live vicariously this year and drool over all your and Cyn's beautiful chicks. After my last hatch last spring when half of them were roosters,and then breaking my ankle and foot which thankfully has mostly healed now, I'm taking this year off hatching. DH is still helping out with the poultry but the roosters just hate him! It's actually quite funny watching him go in their pen with a big board like a shield in front of him. I keep telling him he has to talk to them - they are fine with me because we have long conversations. They really do talk back. Anyway, I'm hanging out waiting for hatches and pictures.

Oh, no! Robin and Mary need to be side by side and be taken care of, but logistically, a tad difficult! I'm so sorry, Robin! Pull that pretty spring-like quilt over you and snuggle in for a few days. I haven't had anything like that in a very long time, mostly, I bet, because I avoid human beings, LOL.

I love my roosters. They do well with hubby but you can tell they like me best. Just ask Ladyhawk-she's seen that firsthand. Isaac, Deacon and Suede were very attached to me, though they were all fine with DH, too. I do think Deacon was a daddy's boy. Oh, heck, he was anybody's boy! What a goober! His antics are sure missed around here. He was such an odd one, but odd in a good way.