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

[speckledhen]

Well, I have a lot of hens molting now. Jill, Hector's girl, molted to almost completely bare. Now, Athena is in a dead molt, too. And someone in the Atlas pen is molting horribly, however, Lizzie is back to laying after her chick-raising period. Can't eat the eggs because the wormer withdrawal is not over yet.

Hey, there isn't a withdrawal after you dust with permethrin, is there? I did that probably a few days after I used invermection, which was just over a week after I used Valbazen. Geez, they really should be pest-free now, though I know I have to dust again in a few days to be sure no one has mites. It's been over two weeks since Valbazen.

My latest two videos. Still getting the pro-FF crowd criticizing me, saying they're doing it and folks have done if for centuries (have they, really?) and it's safe, blah, blah, blah...:

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Lots of exploding molting birds here too. Lots of feathers come off of 100+ poultry. I'm happy for windy days to carry them away.

I never thought there was a withdrawal when using a pyrethrin based poultry dust. I do wash my eggs, so if you don't I might do that to remove any residue.

Good videos, I don't do YouTube, and I definitely wouldn't pay someone to watch stuff on line, I'm too old to get on that band wagon. I like just grabbing my remote, if it's too complicated I don't want to do it.

As far as zealots and FF, you won't ever change their mind. I wonder if dead birds at some point would change their mind. I never knew about all these crop and egg problems until I joined here. My birds have been all around very healthy birds.

My pet peeve would get me in trouble around here too. I don't care for all the bashing of the use of the heat lamp to brood chicks. If done correctly in the correct circumstances it's a great way to brood chicks. I have never lost a chick to chilling like other methods. It makes me sad to read of weak chicks not being able to get warm.

Here's one of my turkey hens in molt, she has turned cranky aggressive since it, the whitener turkey hen is displaying in response to her aggressive posturing to me.



Baby bunnies

 

[Pyxis]

My pet peeve would get me in trouble around here too. I don't care for all the bashing of the use of the heat lamp to brood chicks. If done correctly in the correct circumstances it's a great way to brood chicks. I have never lost a chick to chilling like other methods. It makes me sad to read of weak chicks not being able to get warm.

I don't know why people bash it. I myself don't use them much any longer, I use a heat plate from Premier 1, but it's not because I think a heat lamp is inferior. I just like that it's a more natural type of heat for them and that it uses much less power. A heat lamp is still perfectly fine to use - in fact, I actually do have two in use right now for some older chicks that have gone out to the coop, just in case they get chilly at night.

There's a certain group on this forum that likes to go around bashing the heat lamp and promoting their heating pad method, you probably know the ones. They also bash the heat plates.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't know why people bash it. I myself don't use them much any longer, I use a heat plate from Premier 1, but it's not because I think a heat lamp is inferior. I just like that it's a more natural type of heat for them and that it uses much less power. A heat lamp is still perfectly fine to use - in fact, I actually do have two in use right now for some older chicks that have gone out to the coop, just in case they get chilly at night.

There's a certain group on this forum that likes to go around bashing the heat lamp and promoting their heating pad method, you probably know the ones.

Definitely. I have bumped a few elbows when answering people's questions about their heat lamp use. Others always say use the other way without even trying to educate them about proper heat lamp usage.

I often brood larger groups for a shorter time. I like having control of the heat myself. I couldn't sleep at night wondering if they are making correct choices out there in the dark. I can look out my window at night and see the glow and know they are okay.

 

[1muttsfan]

I also thought a lamp worked fine, but I really do like my Premier plate better.

Haters just got to hate, don't they?

My Arkansas Blues are hardy, active foragers that eat an amazingly small amount of food for the number of XL eggs they put out. Such big eggs for such small birds! They are cautious, and while not flighty they definitely move away if you get too close. I notice that the ones raised by my friendly Basque hen are more social. They are curious and don't freak out like some birds (I had some fruitcake silver Ameraucanas once, acted as if I was going to kill then the whole time I had them from 3 days old, lovely though they were).

 

[holm25]

I am getting out of heat lamps and more into the plates... I can't afford the heat lamps... A $300 a month electricity bill is too much... They are nice just too expensive for me.

Cyn I have 9 roosters and they are all in a run together and I never ever have fights. Most will be locked up in cages in a month or two and then next June when I let them out again there will be a few scuffles but after that they will go back to normal.

 

[speckledhen]

I also thought a lamp worked fine, but I really do like my Premier plate better.

Haters just got to hate, don't they?

My Arkansas Blues are hardy, active foragers that eat an amazingly small amount of food for the number of XL eggs they put out. Such big eggs for such small birds! They are cautious, and while not flighty they definitely move away if you get too close. I notice that the ones raised by my friendly Basque hen are more social. They are curious and don't freak out like some birds (I had some fruitcake silver Ameraucanas once, acted as if I was going to kill then the whole time I had them from 3 days old, lovely though they were).

I am getting out of heat lamps and more into the plates... I can't afford the heat lamps... A $300 a month electricity bill is too much... They are nice just too expensive for me.

Cyn I have 9 roosters and they are all in a run together and I never ever have fights. Most will be locked up in cages in a month or two and then next June when I let them out again there will be a few scuffles but after that they will go back to normal.

I use heat lamps in a couple of places, but usually put the low light black reptile bulbs in them. You MUST secure any heat lamp two or three times and watch the connectors that they are not failing or becoming frayed. I've used heat lamps ever since I had chickens, though fire scares me after having a house fire. It was just wiring, nothing was even left on in the house.

Isaiah I wish I could have roosters in a pen. I think it's too late to try that with Atlas and Hector. DH especially hates mopping up blood.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Whoa. Just catching up after being away from the computer and there's a lot on here. Dogs, Cats, ff, heat lamps, heating pads, heat plates, "haters" and "know-it-alls"....and probably more that I don't remember.

@speckledhen
I don't have time to watch the videos right now but I'm looking forward to listening when I get a chance. (Busy with work and going to be doing some overtime on a project for a couple weeks.)

@oldhenlikesdogs
I currently use a heat plate and have a heat pad that I "could" use for backup for a larger group. [I don't like the idea of using the heat pad because it wasn't designed for that use. I prefer to use something that was designed for the purpose it was made.]

There are things I like about the heat plates and would encourage folks to look into them. But I don't find it necessary to disrespect folks that use a heat lamp.

I have heat lamps for certain circumstances but primarily use the plate. I do believe that there are health-related reasons for not using the 24 hour light. But I am also a person that only has a very small number of chicks at a time and that makes a big difference in what you have to use.

In my observation, if you have a larger group of chicks, you still need to keep the plate or pad relatively small and add several of them so that chicks don't get crowded into the center where they can't escape or can get suffocated. That doesn't happen if several are used with space in between them. But how realistic is it for someone that is brooding 20 or more chicks to set up several?

The guy where I got my buckeyes has an Ohio brooder but they make me a little nervous because the lights are way closer to the chicks and I imagine the potential for them getting hurt on those bulbs while the hatchmates are running around and playing. I would personally choose a heat lamp over the Ohio brooder.

Anyhow..
There is a certain crowd on (probably many) forums that really harass and belittle people. I have my theories as to why. However, a forum is a place to share lots of ideas, talk about them, and decide if any of them make sense for our situations. I really find no excuse for rude, belittling communications. When health is involved (which it is in some of those discussions) and people don't allow for information on both sides of the subject to be discussed - or even proper directions on how to achieve a particular thing - it is just downright discouraging.

I've had to figure out, in some subjects, if I should put in my .02 on forum, discuss with certain individuals that I might be able to help in pm, or just let it go and not participate in those topics at all.

I've done all of those at one time or another.

 

[Leahs Mom]

There is a particular thread that someone started a long time ago with a title something to the effect of: Non-GMO Soy and Corn-Free Feed

The person was asking if anyone used this kind of feed, for results, and any recipes or feed mill recommendations.

Any time someone would communicate on that thread, a particular forum-dweller would jump on and just attack anything that was said in favor of avoiding soy. "He" would talk about how none of those things was harmful and just blast anyone that wanted to have a polite discuss on the topic.

I later found out that this "forum-dweller" was a seller of a particular brand of feed that was the opposite of all the things the folks on that thread wanted to talk about.

It just wrecked the discussion and, from "his" side, it was all emotion-based marketing stuff designed to shut down the conversation.

Even now, after several years have passed, if anyone revives that thread to try to have a civil discussion, this person (and another) comes on and makes life miserable. And I've seen the same person on multiple forums doing the same thing every time there is a topic on that subject. I do know that there are "industry" people that comb the forums to do exactly what this guy is doing. It makes life miserable on the forums.

That's the kind of thing that we should use the reporting buttons for.

 

[MistyMountain]

I'm following along still! Just so so busy this time of year with work, animals, kids and sports!! I can't comment on the puppy fever, I've been sick with it for the last two years (and have been on a Westie breeder waiting list for that long, too). My time will come!

FF. Tried it... too much work and uncertainty for me. I was also was not impressed.

Brooding with a heating pad... also tried it, and won't do it again. The heat lamp works fine and dandy... and often I don't even need to put a heat bulb in it. The heating pad kept me up at night wondering if they were under it or smothering. Also, the fact that it was not made to be on 24/7. Fire also scares me. I agree, Cyn. Check over your lamp well before using it for any wear and tear, secure it in a number of places and you should have no worries.

Sigh... back to my corner... Might see more of me once the wood stove is rolling and we settle in for winter!