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

[speckledhen]

Today's News from the Chicken Asylum on The Hill, aka Mountain View Heritage Poultry: Ida walked away from her chicks, let Atlas mate her, then went into his pen and into a nest. She's coming back into lay. The pair is a bit confused. Just prior to me opening up her pen to let her free range with Atlas, she was trying to settle in a corner and doing that little staccato sound they sometimes make when they are about to lay.

The 9 week old pair is actually sold already. I posted them on a local FB yard sale group. Guy who lives near me wants them, says he's dead serious and is waiting for my call to pick them up when I'm sure Ida is done with them.

The BR eggs are on Day 19. Day 20 technically begins around 4 p.m. I'm about to locate my waterer base and get the feeder ready in the rabbit cage.

 

[speckledhen]

I just refused to sell the young pair to this guy. I found numerous police reports regarding his Akita breeding "business" and his dogs fighting each other, accusations of cruelty, saw photos of a very disgusting rundown property, etc. I told him after investigation, I'd have to back out of the sale. My little ones deserve to be minimally safe. I can just see them being torn apart by dogs, especially the slipshod way they are managed. There is even a FB page dedicated to his police run-ins regarding his dogs running loose, fighting, etc. So, I had a very bad feeling about his guy and the lack of future my little ones would probably have. He took it well, just said no problem, but I hope he doesn't hold a grudge. He does know where I live as I'd already given him directions and was waiting on him when I discovered his "issues".

 

[Pyxis]

I just refused to sell the young pair to this guy. I found numerous police reports regarding his Akita breeding "business" and his dogs fighting each other, accusations of cruelty, saw photos of a very disgusting rundown property, etc. I told him after investigation, I'd have to back out of the sale. My little ones deserve to be minimally safe. I can just see them being torn apart by dogs, especially the slipshod way they are managed. There is even a FB page dedicated to his police run-ins regarding his dogs running loose, fighting, etc. So, I had a very bad feeling about his guy and the lack of future my little ones would probably have. He took it well, just said no problem, but I hope he doesn't hold a grudge. He does know where I live as I'd already given him directions and was waiting on him when I discovered his "issues".

Well, glad you found all that out before you sold to him! I too hope he doesn't hold a grudge. I never give people my address, I always make them meet me elsewhere. Too many expensive birds here, what with the cemanis being worth so much, I'm always afraid someone might decide to come help themselves to my adults.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, glad you found all that out before you sold to him! I too hope he doesn't hold a grudge. I never give people my address, I always make them meet me elsewhere. Too many expensive birds here, what with the cemanis being worth so much, I'm always afraid someone might decide to come help themselves to my adults.

Yeah, but I don't take birds off the property/ Hate being stood up. Now that I have a barn way in the back, I bring the birds in question up to the driveway and put them in a dog kennel to show. But, I agree about the Ceymanis! Mine aren't worth that much but still, they're mine. The barn is always locked at night and if we go off for a long time during the day, plus, there is a baby monitor in there as well so we could hear someone trying to break in. If someone bypasses the Beware of Dog signs, they are pretty stupid. Soon, I may have a very large dog living here anyway when someone I know comes to stay with me for awhile. He's Great Pyr x black Lab and pretty intimidating. (Don't worry, he's chicken-and cat-friendly)

 

[1muttsfan]

Bleah. But you could always just tell him you changed your mind. As long as you don't post them in Craigslist again!

I have 3 chicks out and two pips in my shipped eggs - a huge relief, as they were had a rough trip and were late starting to hatch, and I was starting to think it was not going to happen.

 

[speckledhen]

Bleah. But you could always just tell him you changed your mind. As long as you don't post them in Craigslist again!

I have 3 chicks out and two pips in my shipped eggs - a huge relief, as they were had a rough trip and were late starting to hatch, and I was starting to think it was not going to happen.

Considering that I don't have the other three males, this guy and his sister could stay if no one wants them. She is super sweet but she is rather narrow bodied. You should see her next to Athena! They look identical in the face, and the little gal's barring will be very nice, but the size difference looks like 3-4 weeks rather than just 2 weeks difference. The boy is very round, nice comb though the barring needs to sharpen up some.

Today is Day 20 on the BRs. I can't bend over the windows for very long but I didn't see pips earlier. Will keep checking because I expect them to start anytime now. No bator issues at all on either incubator.

 

[1muttsfan]

These guys started late on their due date, yesterday. A mystery, as they shared the incubator with some of my own eggs for the first 2 1/2 weeks, and mine started hatching a day early. For the first fine ever I had a hatch that was too dry, so these guys had some water added for the last 5 days - wonder if that could have made a difference?

 

[speckledhen]

These guys started late on their due date, yesterday. A mystery, as they shared the incubator with some of my own eggs for the first 2 1/2 weeks, and mine started hatching a day early. For the first fine ever I had a hatch that was too dry, so these guys had some water added for the last 5 days - wonder if that could have made a difference?

My humidity was slightly harder to control for a period, but I was on it all the time. I think it averaged about 43% almost all the way through. We had some wet weather and it veered higher than I usually allow it. I used to do 25-40%, as I recall, but it's been a tad higher throughout this time around, more like a range of 35-52%, probably due to the humidity in the air.

In the hatcher, the old Hova with the two scratched up windows (really hard to see, could pip right in front of me and would be hard to tell), the humidity is right now about 67%, been 65-70% ever since they were moved over there. They were put in at about 4 p.m. on the day before I counted as Day 1, so, it will be around 4 p.m. today when Day 21 actually begins.

When I hatched my BBS Orps, they were always slow. They'd start late on Day 21 and go through Day 22. I let a chick go to Day 23 only once when a hatch began super late. Any other breeds would be in the brooder and they'd come moseying in, late for the party. Big butts were hard to get out of those eggs, guess. Or maybe it was those diva attitudes mine had.

By the way, Mary, did you get the same eggs or different than you sent me? Maybe Jill (paging @uphilljill )can tell us if they are prone to hatch late on hatch day or what usually happens with them. I keep checking for pips, but looking through those old plastic windows is giving me a headache. I suppose when there's a good,sizable pip, I'll be able to see it. I would have hatched in the Genesis if I hadn't already put the Brahma eggs in the turner, but I definitely will hatch those in the good old 1588! I love the picture window. It's almost time to candle that bunch, too!


ETA: I have a pip! I have a pip! #13 is pipped!

 

[robhuncor]

ETA: I have a pip! I have a pip! #13 is pipped!

 

[speckledhen]

Exactly how I feel about now!

By the way, Robin, how do you feel today? Hopefully, a tad better? You were sick, right? I think Mary wasn't feeling well, either. I may be all confused about who was sick, but my brain is not up to par lately, so forgive me if I'm confused. My husband's back is really out, much worse than normal, so I'm doing more stuff around here. I feel like I've been hit by a truck, just no energy.