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

[speckledhen]

Yeah, roosters are at different levels, certainly. I'll never put up with an aggressive one, even if he's a Robo-Rooster against predators, but you also have the marshmallows who gather their figurative skirts about them and scream unhelpfully rather than do their due diligence. I'd say those are fairly rare, though. Most roosters will defend to the best of their ability. Abilities vary, of course. I think Atlas would definitely meet trouble head on and he has the body mass and the spurs to back up his bravado. I've seen him react to the cat when he wasn't sure of Finn at the beginning. Now, he just steals his catches, LOL.

Isaac's strategy was get them to safety and only take on the predator if needed. I watched him work with two of his very young sons one day when a gray fox showed up at the fence. Ike took one group back with him toward the coop while Ira and Indy stood about eight feet apart facing the fox in front of the other younger hens. (yeah, Ike, throw those young guys at the fox, smart, lol) Teamwork! Of course, later I sold Ira and Isaac killed Indy. He didn't know how good he had it, with his lieutenants!

I really hope that Atlas will allow Apollo to stay with him and help with the free range duties. It's really my dream to have a rooster Dream Team!

 

[MistyMountain]

I've had the same dream. I really hope it works out for you. I've tried a bunch of times. Willie was FANTASTIC about Blackbeard, and was a sweetie to the chicks. But, once blackbeard hit a year and a half, he tossed Willie out of the coop. Willie then became "Papa Willie" with the young guineas in the broody coop until the dog attack.

I now have Blackbeard and Red. Blackbeard does not like Red, and I really need to rehome him. He doesn't attack him non stop, but does give chase often in the mornings and is aggressive toward him when he is near a hen. The hens don't like him either. He can dance and call and tidbit all day and they ignore him. I am just SO fearful of not having a rooster in the flock that I feel I need to have a back-up. They do so much more in a flock than many give them credit for, truly. Blackbeard likes a quiet calm flock, and he enforces it if anyone acts up. I credit him for the harmony in the flock, I really do no have any downright mean hens. Just the normal pecking order scuffles.

How is your pasture looking after all this rain? DH bush hogged ours out back to cut the weeds down. We have a huge mess on the hill, still, with about 3 brush piles worth of bull pine to burn. That will add another 2 acre pasture. It seems like the work never ends!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote: It was about 4' high. DH cut most of it, but it really hurt his back. This mower, though it is 22HP, is not as easy going backward as the old Weedeater mower was. That was a real workhorse. Honestly, we need a tractor but cannot afford one. No matter the horsepower, most mowers sold at HD and Lowes are really just made for city lawns, seems to me. And that is something we definitely do not have. If we could get a tractor, I'd sell this mower and just get a smaller one for around the house. That old Weedeater mower blew a rod in the engine or that's what it sounded like, but it served for 20 years faithfully, used and abused.

 

[speckledhen]

The Dirty Dozen are friendly piranhas. It's hard to photograph them because they're all over the camera, pecking the lens, pulling on the carry cord. You can tell by the unintentional close ups.



























And the opposite end of the spectrum, the Brahmas, who are quite skittish at this stage. They were outside today with a LOT of coaxing, one of us inside and one outside. Later, when I was going to photograph them, I could only get a few to venture to the top of the ramp. Wonder what they'll do in a few days when they are introduced to the Dirty Dozen.

 

[1muttsfan]

Gaze in wide wonder

Like the barring on the 2nd from bottom. How do you think their width looks across the back?

 

[speckledhen]

Gaze in wide wonder

Like the barring on the 2nd from bottom. How do you think their width looks across the back?

I like that one, too. They are so unafraid, this bunch. They run up and let me put my hands on either side of them and rub them, one right after the other. I know which little girl is the biter, too, LOL. One cockerel was getting petted, a pullet came up, he reached over and thunked her on the head. Guess he wasn't giving up his "love spot".

I'll be falling for the boys again, you just watch me.

As far as width, I have trouble seeing it at this age. I notice that a few of the girls are round as tennis balls, though. maybe when they're feathered in more than just the wings, I'll be able to see more. Other than the barring on the males, I really haven't tried to assess them too much.

 

[speckledhen]

The Brahmas are scaredy-cats. They all bunch into a corner when anyone comes into the coop. I had to push them outside. Of course, once out there, they had fun-I mostly had butt pics when I downloaded.

The Dirty Dozen hasn't gone outside since moving to the barn pen and every time I go into their pen and leave, they all rush the door trying to get out.

 

[MistyMountain]

So funny how they are so different. Did you brood exclusively indoors in the past? I bet that new barn is making life so much easier!!

6 of the 7 under my broody hatched. She squashed the 7th a day or so ago. I'm not sure the cuckoo maran x ee mix is going to make it, though. It seems more weak than the others and something does not seem to be right with it's legs all of the time. Like maybe splay, but maybe not. Could be it was the last to hatch and still needs to figure out how walking works, too. I'll give it a day and reassess.

What number of the brahmas do you plan to keep?

 

[speckledhen]

So funny how they are so different. Did you brood exclusively indoors in the past? I bet that new barn is making life so much easier!!

6 of the 7 under my broody hatched. She squashed the 7th a day or so ago. I'm not sure the cuckoo maran x ee mix is going to make it, though. It seems more weak than the others and something does not seem to be right with it's legs all of the time. Like maybe splay, but maybe not. Could be it was the last to hatch and still needs to figure out how walking works, too. I'll give it a day and reassess.

What number of the brahmas do you plan to keep?

It's been ages since I brooded at all. Been using broodies. I can't even remember, unless it was when my original Stukel Rock hens, the D'Anvers and others hatched at the same time, including Maretta and Gloria Jean. That was over 5 years ago. I know that by 2 weeks old that huge group of chicks was out in the original bantam coop, which later became the Old Hens' coop. So, I've rarely brooded anything inside more than 3-4 weeks that I recall.

I have no idea about the Brahma numbers yet, maybe a male and three females, but I'll have to see how many of each I even have. I have a local guy that did me a huge favor recently. I asked if he'd like a Brahma pullet or two if I have extra and he said he'd love to have them. But, I just don't know. There are only 9 chicks. I have very little room for many of anything.

Sorry about the squashed chick. Had a big deal with a wild blue jay chick today. it was fully feathered and on the ground, Finn very interested in it, but one leg was broken. I'm fairly sure Finn was not to blame, just found it, but the adults have been divebombing the cat all day. I know the jay won't make it because of its leg. It was at the fledging age, but with a broken leg an no "lift-off" boost, it just can't manage to fly very far.

 

[speckledhen]

Integration Complete. Didn't plan to do it today but after a test, bringing a few BRs to the pen with the Brahmas, seeing how they interacted, I felt it would be fine to go ahead and do it. Two feeders, two waterers, two heat spots, two dust bath pans. Right now, they are mostly staying in their own groups, but I fully expect them to be sleeping in the same spot in a day or two, if not tonight. This Wednesday, the Brahmas will be 2 weeks old, the BRs will be 4 weeks old.