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

[speckledhen]

Warning from the local yard sale group online. I said a pack of 20-25 yotes was an unusually large pack and asked if they were seen on game cam or in person. This is the guy who issued the warning, expounding on his post. This is just north of my property by a couple of miles:


Quote: I'll have to watch if I allow the birds outside the barn pen. The perimeter livestock fence will barely slow down a coyote or fox. And apparently, this pack is taking down deer quite a bit, easy to do in those numbers, but they sound in bad condition so Finn is in danger more than usual. Though he's a very wily cat who has survived for his entire life outside in the woods, if he's surrounded, he's in serious trouble.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Oh gosh that is very worrisome. That's a shame the population got that bad. How effective do you think Atlas could be against a coyote?

 

[speckledhen]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/384349/sdwd/13840#post_8494884

Oh gosh that is very worrisome. That's a shame the population got that bad. How effective do you think Atlas could be against a coyote?

Well, he would try, of course, may get a spur embedded a couple of times and may save his hens, but I fear he'd die trying, like most roosters do. And that's against only one coyote. Against a huge pack like we have lurking now? He won't stand a chance. I won't cut his spurs way down because of the predator presence here, though I do blunt the ends so he doesn't stab his own leg with them. But, that's a rooster's duty, to defend his flock. I know he would do his best because I've seen him charge out of the barn to what he thought was a hen in trouble.

If you have never read these stories about Ladyhawk's Lancelot, you really should. That rooster has lived through so many predators,that he probably thinks he's truly bullet-proof. He doesn't hesitate to engage, that's for sure. He won't be around that much longer, as he's passed his 6th hatch day.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/521876/why-have-a-rooster-new-pg-10-video-pg-13
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/525626/fox-football-anyone

One reason I keep hoping that Atlas would accept Apollo into his group permanently was the story about when a Rottweiler entered her coop (not the first one from the same neighbor to invade, nor to be shot, on her property) when she was distracted on the opposite side of her house talking to a sheriff's deputy. The Rottie was met with at least 7 roosters and some of the hens, attacking it all at the same time. It managed to kill a few birds, but it escaped with one of Suede's sons, the one Atlas is named for, in his mouth, and ran across the yard in front of the deputy. The cop yells, "Is that your dog?". She says, "NO! DROP IT!" He shot that dog on the spot with poor 15 week old Atlas in his mouth. Atlas and his brother, who was already dead in the coop, left the safety of a small pen they shared with their sister to fight alongside the other roosters and adult hens. That rooster brigade is the reason that more were not killed that day. Lancelot and Suede's red son, Hector, were co-roosters and divided up the duties until Hector was taken by what we believe to be a bobcat. I have dreamed of a having a "Rooster Dream Team" but it's never been possible. Isaac, Rex#2 and now, Atlas, just refused to share with their sons.

ETA: I found where I wrote about the Rottie incident here when the details were fresh in my mind. I forgot I'd just lost my Zane a week prior to this. BYC is like my journal, I guess.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/384349/sdwd/13840#post_8494884

 

[speckledhen]

Hector, Apollo and their respective girls, sometimes together. You can see in several photos that Apollo is ready to hoof it out of there if Hector makes a move. It seems to satisfy Hector that Apollo gives him a wide berth, LOL. Athena is very comfortable around Hector.


es of
















Hector's girls being sort of stalked by Apollo, though he didn't get very close because Hector was nearby on the right.

Athena and Zara

 

[speckledhen]

Adding a story to the photos above. One step forward, two back. Hector, sigh. Hector was a bad boy this a.m. He bit Tom 2-3 times when Tom reached out his hand to Hector. He grabbed the little tyrant and flipped him upside down, holding him by the body, not legs, for a few seconds, with him yelling and thrashing. Then he set him down and offered his hand again. Needless to say, Hector didn't want to try that again, but he still isn't 100% trustworthy. At 15 weeks, he's approaching the true hormone stage and I'll have to really buckle down on him to see if he's going to chill out more or just not be what I need. I have Apollo for sale, of course, but Tom really likes Apollo and if Hector doesn't straighten up, I may have to keep Atlas's son. Or just let both go and let Atlas have all five of those young pullets. Going back out to test the little tyrant.

 

[Wyatt0224]

That Orp rooster deserves to live like a king for the rest of his life! What I would do to have a rooster like that. That's not a good sign with Hector at all. How'd he do this time around? And have you seen him trying to breed any of the hens he walks with?

 

[speckledhen]

That Orp rooster deserves to live like a king for the rest of his life! What I would do to have a rooster like that. That's not a good sign with Hector at all. How'd he do this time around? And have you seen him trying to breed any of the hens he walks with?

That Lancelot will live as comfortably as she can make it for him. He is a real treasure, one in a million. Her great grandson of Isaac, Ragnar, stepped between her and a roaming, growling pitbull who invaded her property a few weeks ago when she was allowing one group their free range time. She had a big tobacco stick and was ready to defend herself and her birds when Ragnar came from behind her, then he stepped around her and in between them. She had yelled for her husband, who shot at the dog, and it ran off, but that's another dog who will get a lead sleeping pill soon, I bet. Good roosters are pretty great.

This afternoon, Hector showed a little contrition, or at least, a bit more sense. He seemed to remember his aversion therapy, anyway. He got up on his roost bar when we told him to and he allowed both husband and myself to pet him and rub his wattles without any trouble. I just wish he'd become more consistent.

 

[1muttsfan]

It can be hard to work your way up from the bottom. He has a couple older roosters ahead of him, and he probably feels like he has to prove himself. Some roosters become very docile and submissive, while the bolder ones will fight their way to the top.

 

[speckledhen]

It can be hard to work your way up from the bottom. He has a couple older roosters ahead of him, and he probably feels like he has to prove himself. Some roosters become very docile and submissive, while the bolder ones will fight their way to the top.

I mentioned to Andrew that maybe this behavior is part and parcel of his super early development coupled with his lack of control since he's still so young. I've never had a male who developed older cockerel behavior so young. He never seemed to really be a baby.

I forgot to tell Wyatt, who asked the question, that Hector does grab the head feathers of whatever girl he can get hold of. His own age girls fight him so hard, I'm afraid he'll snap one of their necks.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Oh gosh! Is that even possible? And God forbid that ever happen but what you do if that did?