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

[speckledhen]

I am out of guesses. I say it's both.

LOL, well, that makes you right no matter which it is! Now, if it is Drew, I want him to CROW and get it over with, ack! If it's Drea, well, not sure what she could do to convince me she's a she.

I looked back at Apollo at that age. He had a smaller, tighter comb, but was still so obviously male, it still didn't help me much. Maybe it was because I had little to compare him to, him being the only male in the group.

 

[robhuncor]

I one time rescued a bunch of about 30 2 week old hatchery chicks from a guy who had no clue and was keeping them in a hamster cage! He was overwhelmed and glad to have me take them off his hands. They were a total mix of breeds. I asked some of my chicken-keeping friends over to help themselves to a few each and I would keep what was left over. There was one big black chick already beginning to get a red comb and nobody wanted that one! So of course, that was one of the left over ones I ended up with. Guess what - she turned into a beautiful big black hen! I think a sex link because she had a little gold in her neck feathers. But what a great hen she has been - a laying machine even now- must be at least 9 years I've had her. (I forgot to write down in my chicken diary when they came) She outlived all the rest of them. My point being - sometimes they can fool you!!

 

[speckledhen]

I one time rescued a bunch of about 30 2 week old hatchery chicks from a guy who had no clue and was keeping them in a hamster cage! He was overwhelmed and glad to have me take them off his hands. They were a total mix of breeds. I asked some of my chicken-keeping friends over to help themselves to a few each and I would keep what was left over. There was one big black chick already beginning to get a red comb and nobody wanted that one! So of course, that was one of the left over ones I ended up with. Guess what - she turned into a beautiful big black hen! I think a sex link because she had a little gold in her neck feathers. But what a great hen she has been - a laying machine even now- must be at least 9 years I've had her. (I forgot to write down in my chicken diary when they came) She outlived all the rest of them. My point being - sometimes they can fool you!!

Haha! Those sex link pullets can have larger combs than folks realize! They sure can fool you. I hope it's a pullet because I have none from Wynette or Druscilla and I adore those hens. I know that there is a chance that she could have a dwarf gene, coming from Atlas, but maybe not, and she would go with Hector anyway, not Atlas. Hector the Tyrant needs more girls, he really does.

 

[speckledhen]

My son in Korea is leaving for a few days to go to Dublin, Ireland to find housing for his school year at Trinity. He was talking via FB to his dad this morning, saying he was enjoying my videos, especially seeing my crazy butternut squash plant. A 1/2 squash in Korea costs about the equivalent of $10 US dollars. Food in Ireland will be much, much cheaper, though housing is quite pricey. The dorms cost $1100/mo, but they do include quite a bit and seem very nice, but he's trying to find other housing off campus. He is getting a severance check of $12K so he has the money to pay for housing, plus he was approved for a student loan in case he needs it, but I think he's already paid for tuition for the year.

The coveted squash plant. Foliage is dying off and the squash is ripening. Should have lots of puree to freeze or can for breads and pancakes and such.

 

[getaclue]

If Drew crows, then you'll know, if not when Drea lays an egg, then you'll know. Wasn't I helpful...NOT! LOL

 

[speckledhen]

Well, the crowing would come way, way before an egg popped out. And so would saddle feathers!

 

[robhuncor]

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The coveted squash plant. Foliage is dying off and the squash is ripening. Should have lots of puree to freeze or can for breads and pancakes and such. View attachment 1080890[/QUOTE]
Those squash look huge!

 

[speckledhen]

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Those squash look huge! View attachment 1080890

They are certainly big ones, larger than the ones I tried to grow last year, and way larger than the sickly ones at Walmart I just saw.

Thea, once again, is clucking her head off. Stay tuned. Will she sit or will she just cluck incessantly? This and more news from The Broody Zone coming at 6!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My squash plants are still small. This year stuff seems to be growing much slower than normally. I won't see my squash until September or October in a normal year. This year I may not get much. Last year I harvested about 80 off about 8 plants.

 

[kitkat5505]

Wow! That is nice big squash! I picked my first zucchini yesterday. The kids are begging me to make zucchini bread now. my summer squash and acorn squash plants are getting huge now so hopefully I'll have some soon. Also got a few dozen cherry tomatoes and have so many tomatoes growing I don't know what I'm going to do when they are all ripe lol. Might need to learn how to make and can salsa.

I'm still placing my bets on Drew/Drea being Drew. Although for your sake I hope I'm wrong so you can have a nice big girl with that amazing barring.