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

[speckledhen]

Look at those BIG FEET! He certainly has an air about him.

He has that special something, personality-wise, that is really appealing right now. Hope he continues to progress the way he has been.

 

[lularat]

Been following this thread and thoroughly enjoying watching Atlas grow up. He is developing into a handsome rooster.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you! Glad you're following Atlas's progress.

ETA: By the way, adding that since we've about decided just to keep all five youngsters, they all now have names. I name my birds because I find it easier to identify them, they do learn their names like any dog would, and they can be trained by using their names, not a "breeder-y" thing to do, but it works for us. If I had a hundred birds in breeding pens, it would not be that easy to do, but our numbers must be kept small due to limited funds for feed, even free ranging.

The two barred pullets are Rowena and Rachel. The two black pullets are Wendy and Robin. Wendy is named for the talk show host Wendy Williams because she is a chatterbox and loves attention, LOL. Robin is for my good friend in SC, wekiva bird, since my black Rock cockerel, Maverick, started life as "Robin", fooling me into thinking he was a pullet for weeks, but becoming Robin the Wonder Boy and needing a new name.

Maverick is a super sweet guy at almost 15 week old and needs a home, if anyone is interested. He lives with my elderly hens along with Betsy, a Buff Orpington, and Cheyenne, a NH pullet, who are also replacement layers. The old gals will not be pleased if he starts breeding attempts.

 

[speckledhen]

They have officially passed 9 weeks of age now (by about 3 days). Of the barred pullets, if I could put them together, I'd have an even better pullet. Rowena is not as wide, nor is her comb as nice, but she has the better, sharper barring of the two, though she may end up too white on the chest, like a Delaware cross. Rachel is a chunky monkey, very round and wide, but she appears darker overall, her barring being not as defined as Ro's is. She has the nicer comb of the two, though that is not top priority. Atlas is already doing roosterly things, such as delivering a resounding head thunk to the pullet who shows up late to the group when on range. Dottie is now leaving them from time to time, but she will come running if any one of them starts sounding distressed.
I am really liking Atlas's body type. He has a thick neck, broad chest and back and super nice comb and carriage.



This pullet is Rachel, the broader of the two barreds.

Rowena at bottom.

 

[1muttsfan]

Thank you for the evaluation, it makes it easy to see what you are looking at - pics can be harder to evaluate than a bird in real life.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you for the evaluation, it makes it easy to see what you are looking at - pics can be harder to evaluate than a bird in real life.

Though I realize there are some super serious breeders who would scoff at what I'm trying to do, using a single barred male as the sire with these higher quality hens, I felt that his Stukel line BR half would win out in some of his progeny, boosted by the mother's fine traits, and it shows in Atlas. I don't have hundreds of dollars to buy fancy stock like some folks seem to nor do I have lines and lines of breeding pens, so I must make do with what I have and can manage (Thank you, Bob Blosl, for telling me I could do this) I still love the look of a high quality Barred Plymouth Rock and I know what it should look like. I may not carry it much further, but I wanted to get back to the proper type male for breeding over my BR hens. Atlas may not be what the original Rex was, however, he has some very fine qualities, is a step up from his sire in a couple of areas, and I am very pleased with him so far.

My future tentative plans are for Atlas to be over Rowena, Rachel and the four pure Stukel line BR hens I currently have, though three of those have passed three years of age already. I would concentrate on the eggs from the pure Stukel hens when hatching, but I was a little hesitant to let Rowena and Rachel go just because they are not bad looking, young and healthy, and I do need up and coming layers. Those two could finally end up in the laying flock, depending on what they produce with Atlas. Atlas's sire, Rex, will lead the laying flock since he's a proven free range flock leader with excellent temperament, just like his own sire, Isaac.

ETA: Just came back in from realizing that Dottie is DONE with her chicks at going on 10 weeks of age. She came away from the group with a hostile expression and someone's feathers in her mouth and a very upset little Wendy and Atlas, so I put her back with Rex and the chicks back in their cage to rest and recover from the shock of their mama being so stern with them. So, for three or four more weeks, they will be on their own, until they reach a size that they can go into the group of adults.

 

[lularat]

Thanks for the update. I really love Rachel...she is so pretty. Atlas is shaping up nicely!

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks for the update. I really love Rachel...she is so pretty. Atlas is shaping up nicely!

Thank you for checking in on the thread. Thank you! Yes, I think Rachel is very pretty. She's also very round, like a softball, LOL.

 

[crazyhen]

Cyn, I may need some of your barred rocks later on. My new to be sister -in-law calls them zebra chickens,

She wants some of them but not till after they get married in Jan. So yours has plenty of time to grow up too. I love to watch the progress of yours. They do lay well too.

 

[speckledhen]

Cyn, I may need some of your barred rocks later on. My new to be sister -in-law calls them zebra chickens,

She wants some of them but not till after they get married in Jan. So yours has plenty of time to grow up too. I love to watch the progress of yours. They do lay well too.

Well, you know where I live, GJ! You're welcome to eggs or chicks anytime.