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

[1muttsfan]

They should all be good and cozy now

 

[speckledhen]

They should all be good and cozy now

Well, whoever parks directly under the lamps might be less than chilly and the roosters won't have frostbite, but the one Hector, Rita's group and Xander's group have are reptile spots, so the heat is really very focused and mild, not more diffuse like the one Atlas has, which is regular lightbulb-shaped. Those have a wider heat area, even though they are still reptile night heat bulbs. Amanda is the only one who rates a really toasty heat lamp. But, she doesn't share willingly. She did with Caroline, but it's rare for her to allow any other birds to sleep touching her. She might let Gypsy, if Gypsy is near her backside, because she can't reach around and thunk her and Gypsy is closest to her in rank now.

 

[speckledhen]

Ah, maybe I know what's wrong with Athena. My husband remarked while doing morning chores in Apollo's section, "Someone's molting". Athena is at the 9 month point, 38 weeks old, which is one of the juvenile molt points, semi-mini-molt, larger than the other juvie molts. On rare occasions, a bird at that age will stop laying and even lose a substantial amount of weight. One of my Delawares in a past group lost so much, I thought she was dying, she got so bone-thin at her 9 month molt. So, Athena is at that exact age for it. That's all I can think of-she looks really miserable and lethargic this morning, too. I may have to put one of the reptile bulbs over their section to see if that helps her feel better and temporarily give Rita's group a 250w heat lamp since I have no more reptile bulbs. Poor girl.

Zara is only two weeks younger, but she hasn't laid an egg yet. Good grief. This is a crazy long wait for her. She is rivaling EE, June's record of first egg at 40 weeks.

 

[h2oratt]

Yeah, I know. It was nice while it lasted, though. Just the individual groups don't have enough girls for the guys as it is. Oh, I put a reptile night spot heat bulb in a fixture on the pen wall at the end of Hector's roost. It also serves as a very low light night light-three other groups have those as well. Guess who is parked right underneath the dim glow, soaking up the little bit of warmth? Yeah, that's right. Prince Hector. He's never seen one before, but he sure figured out the best place to sit quickly. Atlas manages to get himself right under his, too, but he has it because of his bad leg, just like Isaac did. Amanda in the Old Hens' group has a 250W red heat lamp hanging on the wall she sleeps against since she cannot get off the cold floor and, if someone is really cold and wants to risk being that close to Amanda, they can share in the warmth. But the reptile bulbs don't put off a lot of heat, only provide a very limited spot of warmth and low light for Atlas, Xander's roost, Rita's group (June is looking off again, poor girl) and now, Hector's. The Brahmas don't need it at all, certainly. And Apollo's group does not have one-Apollo's roost area is next to the wall Amanda's heat lamp is hanging on, plus that pen is very narrow and their body heat would be sufficient for that trio. If I didn't have so many older hens with arthritis, or roosters with huge combs (and Atlas's hock issue), I would have only Amanda's lamp. All are very well-secured on the welded wire fencing with hardware cloth screens over most of the bulbs. When you have so many with arthritis, I don't feel it's a bad thing to make concessions for that. Hector's is for his big honkin' comb, in case we have really frigid weather this winter. I got a good deal on Amazon for 100W night heat spot bulbs, a package of 3 for $17. Most of the time, they are about 8-10 each at the pet store. And you really have to keep them on all winter because turning them on and off shortens their life, not something you want with an expensive bulb. They only provide a minimal heat spot directly under the bulb and almost no light, not like the big heat lamps that keep them awake too much. This one, but the 100W, not the 150W.

It is getting cold here. Almost freezing. Hovering around 34 degrees. Do you think my year old chickens need a heat source?

 

[speckledhen]

It is getting cold here. Almost freezing. Hovering around 34 degrees. Do you think my year old chickens need a heat source?

Not necessarily, no. I happen to have quite a few very old hens who suffer from arthritis so I make concessions for those. And I have some super tiny bantams (smallest hen is 17 ounces) who get a heat spot in their coop, but generally, mine are not technically "heated". Year old birds at freezing should be perfectly fine, as long as there is good up-high ventilation and no drafts across where they sleep.

In my Old Hens' coop, Amanda and Snow are quite crippled from arthritis, Gypsy is showing signs of it at 9 years old and Emily has permanent tendon damage in one of her legs. In Rita's group, both Rita, Neela and Georgie have noticeable arthritic joints and June at almost 9 years old is having internal issues. They really are a 2nd Old Hens group, though they can't be with the others because Amanda and Snow cannot be fighting in a new pecking order.

 

[1muttsfan]

Yes, most healthy adult birds are quite comfortable in cold weather - they do have down vests! As Cyn said drafts should be avoided, but you should also ensure good ventilation, as moisture buildup can increase the risk of frostbite, and poor ventilation can degrade air quality which quickly leads to respiratory issues. Chickens have very sensitive respiratory tracts. Up here where I live we provide no heat, and actually leave one window at least cracked all winter long. But I do not have any senior citizens like Cyn does.

 

[Lil Peeps]

Hi, Speckledhen! I just recently was in the mood for a cute chicken story to read and I happened upon your thread. I turned back to the first page and read through til like page 20. I enjoyed all the pictures so much. Atlas was such a cute little chick! The oldest I saw him was like 32 weeks. Do you still have him? He looked like he was turning out absolutely stunning and I wonder how he ended up completely filling out. The story of the original Atlas was very touching also. I love all the names of your chickens too! Maverick was absolutely stunning and Levi was a real cutie pie! Do you still have Levi? Great thread! I can tell you love your chickens! I definitely will be following it now that I've found it. One of BYC's treasures these stories and pictures.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, most healthy adult birds are quite comfortable in cold weather - they do have down vests! As Cyn said drafts should be avoided, but you should also ensure good ventilation, as moisture buildup can increase the risk of frostbite, and poor ventilation can degrade air quality which quickly leads to respiratory issues. Chickens have very sensitive respiratory tracts. Up here where I live we provide no heat, and actually leave one window at least cracked all winter long. But I do not have any senior citizens like Cyn does.

Yeah, mine are positively ancient. Young, healthy birds in a properly ventilated coop don't need supplemental heat, certainly.

Hi, Speckledhen! I just recently was in the mood for a cute chicken story to read and I happened upon your thread. I turned back to the first page and read through til like page 20. I enjoyed all the pictures so much. Atlas was such a cute little chick! The oldest I saw him was like 32 weeks. Do you still have him? He looked like he was turning out absolutely stunning and I wonder how he ended up completely filling out. The story of the original Atlas was very touching also. I love all the names of your chickens too! Maverick was absolutely stunning and Levi was a real cutie pie! Do you still have Levi? Great thread! I can tell you love your chickens! I definitely will be following it now that I've found it. One of BYC's treasures these stories and pictures.

I'm glad you've enjoyed the thread so far. Oh, yes, Atlas is my main Barred Rock guy. He's going on 3 years old now. Maverick went to live in Kentucky with an elderly friend who still has him, as far as I know. Levi, if you mean the Blue Wheaten Ameraucana I had years ago, also went to live with a new owner, but in Tennessee. I think I had another Levi, but I can't remember which bird it was!
Atlas in a video for you, chasing Apollo back in September-you can see he's still the Big Boss around here:

 

[Lil Peeps]

Yeah, mine are positively ancient. Young, healthy birds in a properly ventilated coop don't need supplemental heat, certainly. I'm glad you've enjoyed the thread so far. Oh, yes, Atlas is my main Barred Rock guy. He's going on 3 years old now. Maverick went to live in Kentucky with an elderly friend who still has him, as far as I know. Levi, if you mean the Blue Wheaten Ameraucana I had years ago, also went to live with a new owner, but in Tennessee. I think I had another Levi, but I can't remember which bird it was! Atlas in a video for you, chasing Apollo back in September-you can see he's still the Big Boss around here:

Atlas is so beautiful! He reminds me of my little roo, Dalton. He's also a barred rock. I got him this spring and he is beautiful! My first time raising barred rocks. Got him and three hens. The only problem with Dalton is his temperament, he is quite aggressive towards me. I wish he wasn't because he is so beautiful! Atlas is breathtaking! Thanks so much for sharing the video. His son is super beautiful too! I love all the names you give them soo much! Here's a few pictures of Dalton my Roo and his girls too-

 

[speckledhen]

@Lil Peeps I see you are also a Barred Rock lover. Dalton is a great name. If you've read for awhile on any of my threads, you probably know that I have a huge temperament requirement for my large fowl roosters. Sounds like Dalton is being a bad boy! I always say in regard to roosters, Pretty is as Pretty Does. Me and Dalton would have a serious talk about his future in my barnyard, since temperament is an inherited trait, for the most part. But I sure get your dilemma with him. I've been there a couple of times in the past, may be there with my Brahma boy, Bruno, if he doesn't calm down some after I give him time to get his hormones regulated a bit.

The Belgian D'Anvers, my only bantam flock, are a very tiny bantam breed, barely larger than a Serama, and as far as I know, no one has truly bred/selected for temperament in them so I put up with some aggression from my almost 6 yr old porcelain rooster-he's a little jerk, but he's my little jerk, hatched here, not worth putting in crock pot, would barely make a chicken nugget. His son is much different, more friendly, though if I don't get him scratch from the jar fast enough, he's not above nipping or flogging to make me hurry, LOL. A flog from a less-than-two-pound rooster is like a puff of wind, though, and I'm not breeding these, letting my flock die out over time.

Atlas's line is so good in their temperament, I never want to lose that. I hope that if I interbreed Hector's line with Atlas's, the temperament veers to Atlas's side, though Hector hasn't been terrible, per se, just not as easygoing as my own line, generally. Nobody wouldn't want to be around Atlas! My husband the other day said something, can't remember the entire sentence, but it involved the phrase, "....a rooster of Atlas's caliber..." so we are both quite attached to sweet Atlas. Atlas doesn't have hens who are laying at the moment and most of his are older now, so not sure how many more actual chicks I'll get out of Atlas directly, but Apollo can carry the torch for dear old dad, even if it's with Hector's girls in the mix. Not sure how that will all shake out, but I have two good quality young breeding males and some nice pullets so we'll see.