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

[speckledhen]

No idea what the heck is in Atlas's wing feather in the photo. Maybe he's like me, always with a piece of shavings in my hair somewhere, lol. He's 39 weeks old now.






And Rachel hard at work-she sprints back to her eggs as soon as she poops. If I didn't see to her eating and drinking, she'd probably die on the nest, she's that "in the zone". She'll probably take care of herself better the next time. Dottie still clucks periodically but she isn't sitting, so I guess I managed to convince her that now was not a good time for another of Atlas's hens to leave him for the Broody Zone.





My husband asked me what I was going to do if we lose Rex. He said he thinks Atlas should go over there so he's with the rest of the Stukel BR hens as well as taking Dottie, Rowena and, eventually, Rachel, with him. I was already thinking along those lines, seeing how serious this is with Rex. There are 8 hens in that group now, so he would have 11 hens total.

If Rex leaves us, it will affect Rita the most, I think. Rita went broody only once in her life; she's almost 5 yrs old now. Rex was her only chick (though not technically hers) and she's been with him every day since he hatched, into his adulthood. She's trying to finish up a very hard molt. I hope this stress doesn't affect her adversely because of that. She's a great hen.

 

[Happy Chooks]

And then not-so-bright Deacon could have his own place.

 

[speckledhen]

Yep. Until Isaac passes, Deacon could live where Atlas does now with Sammie Jo, Rex's Delaware-looking daughter. She is just now squatting and should lay soon. Of course, Rachel has to hatch those eggs first, which are due in just over a week and I will move her and her chicks into the broody pen at that time and clean out that coop. Deacon won't know what to do with all that room.

 

[drumstick diva]

I've lost dogs from kidney failure and they acted like poor Rex. What a distinguished gentleman he is - I feel so badly for him. If only animals could say what was wrong.

 

[drumstick diva]

Oddly for me, I've lost most of my old dogs during winter. They would get slightly off- minor things the vet would say- then go downhill fast around Xmas, and either need to be put down before New Years or just into January. Too many sad memories to feel like celebrating holidays at that time.

 

[speckledhen]

I've lost dogs from kidney failure and they acted like poor Rex. What a distinguished gentleman he is - I feel so badly for him. If only animals could say what was wrong.

That's the way I feel so many times. God love him, he's such a great boy. Makes me so sad.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Checking on you and Rex? Is there some sign he may be feeling better today?

I agree with Drumstick Diva about the kidney failure observation. We had two Labs die of kidney failure with behavior much like Rex's except for the excessive drinking.

Sending prayers your way......

 

[speckledhen]

Checking on you and Rex? Is there some sign he may be feeling better today?

I agree with Drumstick Diva about the kidney failure observation. We had two Labs die of kidney failure with behavior much like Rex's except for the excessive drinking.

Sending prayers your way......

Thank you for asking, you're so sweet. Sadly, Rex is failing and I'm sure this is his last day. His oxygen levels are decreasing as witnessed by his comb curling over. He is standing, wings hanging low, breathing with mouth open; he is not congested, just laboring to keep breathing. He is warm, under a heat lamp, unmolested by anyone. He hasn't eaten in two days. This is going to be one of those things that is just not fair. He should have lived years longer. I'm positive it's something internal, maybe brought out more by the frigid weather. I left the door to the broody cage open awhile ago so he could come outside but he showed no interest in leaving his warm bed of hay.

I dug his final resting place this morning. He will lie on the southern slope outside the main pen near Sunny, Riley, Shadow, Suede, Meg, Ellie, Fern, Barbara, Nora and Jenny.

On a brighter note, Rex will be a grandpa soon. Rachel's eggs are all doing great and Day 21 is January 19th.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Thank you for asking, you're so sweet. Sadly, Rex is failing and I'm sure this is his last day. His oxygen levels are decreasing as witnessed by his comb curling over. He is standing, wings hanging low, breathing with mouth open; he is not congested, just laboring to keep breathing. He is warm, under a heat lamp, unmolested by anyone. He hasn't eaten in two days. This is going to be one of those things that is just not fair. He should have lived years longer. I'm positive it's something internal, maybe brought out more by the frigid weather. I left the door to the broody cage open awhile ago so he could come outside but he showed no interest in leaving his warm bed of hay.

I dug his final resting place this morning. He will lie on the southern slope outside the main pen near Sunny, Riley, Shadow, Suede, Meg, Ellie, Fern, Barbara, Nora and Jenny.

On a brighter note, Rex will be a grandpa soon. Rachel's eggs are all doing great and Day 21 is January 19th.

OH NO! I am so very sorry to hear that Cyn. My heart aches for you my dear. Poor Rex, I hope he passes peacefully without difficulty.

That is good news about Rachel's eggs. Who knows, maybe she will be as a good a mom as Dottie? We still are very interested in her chicks if you want to part with them. I know with losing Rex you might want to keep the roo(s).

 

[speckledhen]

OH NO! I am so very sorry to hear that Cyn. My heart aches for you my dear. Poor Rex, I hope he passes peacefully without difficulty.

That is good news about Rachel's eggs. Who knows, maybe she will be as a good a mom as Dottie? We still are very interested in her chicks if you want to part with them. I know with losing Rex you might want to keep the roo(s).

Ladyhawk and I have so many great memories of Rex. She was visiting when he was two weeks old and he was such a brave little guy, he flogged his daddy in the side and in the face several times because Ike was dancing for Rita; that is, until LH scooped him up, telling him that daddy Isaac was about to lose his patience and they were about to have a Foghorn Leghorn moment, i.e., "Boy, I say now, boy!" LOL. He had great flock leader potential from the beginning.

Honestly, I have more roosters now than I need so I don't plan to keep any of these chicks. It's a good test hatch for Atlas and the new girls, as well as to see what he produces over Dottie. Remember, Deacon still hasn't a place to go, so he will eventually move into where Atlas is and I'll give him Sammie Jo, who is just now squatting and checking out nests. And when Isaac passes on, he and Sammie can move in there with those remaining hens (though they're not going to be too happy to see Deacon back again, lol). Sammie Jo is Rex's daughter out of my Delia I lost last year (Delia was Isaac's barred daughter with one of the Rock hens).