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

[1muttsfan]

Wise people can admit that they are wrong and apologize, even if the other person is wrong as well.

 

[getaclue]

Normally, I'm tolerant of people like that, since I know they're out there. Today, I responded with brutal honesty, which hurt their feelings. I really don't want to be an unkind, or rude person.

 

[kitkat5505]

Wise people can admit that they are wrong and apologize, even if the other person is wrong as well.

Well said

 

[getaclue]

Very true, 1mutts

 

[speckledhen]

Cheryl, I completely understand losing your cool in the face of comments like that. I usually default to the tact I learned both as a realtor and then, as a moderator on BYC. But, seriously, I may talk calm but in my head, I'm often screaming at the monitor, trust me. Ignorance of chickens is rampant, even with folks who have had them for awhile. And it covers all areas. A man who bought a cockerel from me that he loves now at the time in our conversation said something about layer feed making hens lay. I had to gently correct him that nothing can make a hen lay, she does it naturally, that layer feed only provides the nutrients her body needs to support that function. He had no idea.
It was very kind of you to apologize to her. I have done that myself, but it's not easy sometimes in the face of something so insanely crazy (crazier than what she said, I mean). Survival of the species in chickens dictates many things that seem quite brutal to us. That's just one of them, the act of a hen leaving unhatched eggs that may never hatch to care for healthy, hatched chicks, even if one or two of the unhatched may perish because of it.

I have to say that I'm very grateful for the lovely folks who frequent this thread. Love you, ladies (and a few gents, too...ISAIAH!)

 

[kitkat5505]

It often surprises me how some people don't do any of their own research about things. On forums like this I usually read much more than I post, learning from everyone else's experiences. When we got our chickens I spent so many hours reading up on what they needed and various health issues and everything I could find so that I'd have a basic understanding of any issues that could come up. I'm the type of person who wants to learn everything I can about whatever I'm dealing with.

 

[speckledhen]

It often surprises me how some people don't do any of their own research about things. On forums like this I usually read much more than I post, learning from everyone else's experiences. When we got our chickens I spent so many hours reading up on what they needed and various health issues and everything I could find so that I'd have a basic understanding of any issues that could come up. I'm the type of person who wants to learn everything I can about whatever I'm dealing with.

Me, too. I was a member of BYC (before this rebirth of it) before I even had chickens, doing research and building my coop, making it predator-proof. But, it seems simple facts of life elude folks if it involves a bird. I had a doctor ask me if a rooster was needed to hatch chicks. Um, what?

 

[getaclue]

I had my first group of chickens thrust upon me, so I didn't have time to do the research beforehand. Thankfully, my daughter, who had owned the chickens, did know a good bit, so that got me off to a good start. Yes, I too did a lot of reading, and research, not posting much so as not to show my ignorance.

 

[Leahs Mom]

It often surprises me how some people don't do any of their own research about things. On forums like this I usually read much more than I post, learning from everyone else's experiences. When we got our chickens I spent so many hours reading up on what they needed and various health issues and everything I could find so that I'd have a basic understanding of any issues that could come up. I'm the type of person who wants to learn everything I can about whatever I'm dealing with.

@kitkat5505 and @speckledhen
Me too! I always feel like I have to know as many contingencies as possible before taking on any kind of animal.... or any new endeavor like making my own cheese, etc.
I'm a self-educator...I'd be afraid to take an animal species I know nothing about unless I've researched quite heavily first. Then get on forums and ask questions and, based on "book knowledge" try to decipher what is good and what isn't.

I love having the resource of people on a forum that have had lots of real experience (as opposed to my "book knowledge" before I've really experienced a thing). But you really do have to have a base of "book knowledge" before you can even judge the advice you're getting on forum.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I guess I should say that I come from the perspective of trying to provide my animals husbandry that is as close as possible to how they'd live if they weren't in captivity. I know that's only possible up to a certain extent with the limitations of the specific situation in which someone is raising them, but there are things you can do even with just a shed and a run to make things as healthy as possible with what you have.

Those are the things that I now like to help others think through. How can I accomplish that with my specific situation? If there's an illness, lets look at what "may" have caused it and try to improve husbandry methods and the environment for PREVENTION rather than treating "mistakes of husbandry" after the fact, etc.