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

[speckledhen]

Few things are as silly as young pullets - maybe young teenage girls

Yeah, I had only sons. Maybe that's why I relate to the roosters so well, LOL.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe it's this day and age, pullets don't want a rooster pulling their strings.

 

[speckledhen]

Maybe it's this day and age, pullets don't want a rooster pulling their strings.

Problem is, when she disobeys Atlas, she disobeys me. Bad girl today, Rachel.

 

[1muttsfan]

Not only disobeyed the boss, but She Who Must Be Obeyed as well. Oh well, a good learning day.

Let my teenagers out with the older girls for their first trip out free ranging. They did great, came running and flapping back along with the big girls when the scratch can rattled. And the little rooster alarmed several times - pretty much just to my dog, who he has seen about every day of his life and who ignored him completely. A good start.

 

[speckledhen]

I love when the young roosters start acting on their guardian instincts. My little almost-8-wk old Delaware cockerel is da man around the barnyard, such an independent little cuss and alert and on guard already.

 

[drumstick diva]

A video of that would be really cute

 

[speckledhen]

Big announcement! Both Wendy and either Rachel or Rowena laid their first eggs today! Robin has been laying for a couple of weeks now already. Here are the eggs side by side. Wendy's first is noticeably lighter in color than the others and really a great size for a first egg, as is Atlas's girl's. Next to our business card for size reference. They'll be 27 weeks old tomorrow.




Their 27 Week Photos--piglets would not quit eating, LOL






And we had to add a much larger, lower roost for these three since butts are MUCH wider now, and jumping down from that height wasn't safe any longer. Found a 2x12, 10 ft, in cull lumber at Home Depot, had them cut it at the 6'/4' mark, put the 6' in Atlas's coop and put the 4' section in the Old Hens' coop, formerly the bantam coop, to widen the 2x3 roost they didn't appreciate much. The board that did two jobs cost only $2.55.

See that short 2x3 roost at window height? That was what Atlas, Ro and Rachel were roosting on. He took up half of it himself. Now, they can use either, or both. And when Dottie gets in there, she'll probably oust them all and keep the top one for Her Highness, LOL.


The old ladies have an easier platform now, all sanded and oiled and ready for poop.

 

[speckledhen]

Both are laying now ,yea!

 

[1muttsfan]

Yay for first eggs! They each have a very pleasing shape too. As far as roosts go, mine always all want the highest one regardless of anything else - do they use the lower one?

 

[speckledhen]

They still want to sleep on the upper narrow one next to the window. I would have to take it down to discourage that, but since Dottie will be going in there, I left it up. She'll probably take it over and eject those youngsters she raised, LOL. They use the wide board as a landing board most of the time, which at least suits the main purpose for which I installed it, making it safer for them to get down from the other roost.

They've been getting spooked by something in there, not sure what. I don't see a thing. But yesterday, all three shot out of the pop door like their tails were on fire. When I went inside, the feeder was swinging, but I saw nothing. I think they're scaring themselves for no reason. Silly birds. Tried to take pictures, but my stupid camera wasn't cooperating, super slow shutter speed. Atlas has some comb scrapes on the front blade you may see, story at the bottom of this post.



Atlas's little brother, Levi.



Now, the story of Atlas's minor comb injuries: I'm pleased to say that Atlas has some common sense, much more so than his cousin, Deacon. Deacon was hurt by Isaac so has been spending time in a cage, some neurological problem (Isaac jumped on him and hurt his neck or back). He's somewhat better so we've been letting him out to get his dustbath, but he fights with Atlas at the fence. The other day I was very busy with my website re-setup and asked DH to let Deacon out but to put Atlas in so they woudn't fight. DH forgot to block off the chicken wire inner door in the front storage area, and Deacon went inside and started jumping at Atlas through that. He shredded his feet, leaving splatters and literal puddles of blood all over the floor-a cop coming across that mess would have drawn his gun and started searching for the stab victim. Pretty much all the blood was on Deacon's side of the door. Atlas had a few scrapes on the front comb blade, a couple of scrapes on his toes, but had obviously quit the useless fight, while Deacon continued to shred his feet, comb and wattles fighting a door. When DH snatched up Deacon, Atlas was just standing there watching him. I think I know which rooster has more common sense.

The idiot rooster: