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

[Leahs Mom]

When I got my first hatchery birds, I didn't want to get them from public bins and I didn't want them shipped.

I found a "farm store" (family owned place) that takes orders for what chicks you want. The day they come into the store, you pick them up. They never go into a public bin, just straight from the boxes they're shipped in. They had a specific delivery day (they get them every 2 weeks all season so you can choose a date that makes sense for you) and I asked them what time the truck arrived. I got there just after the truck was unloaded and I think I was the second person to pick mine up.

I think that's the most wonderful way to get hatchery birds.

Around here, TSC, RK, and the smaller farm markets get theirs from Townline Hatchery. But I think RK also gets some elsewhere (possibly Meyers) as they have other breeds as well.

The feed store where I get my grains from also does regular orders like the little farm store, but they are quite a bit farther away. I also think the little farm store handles pickup more to my liking.

You might call around to the small farm stores or grain mills to see if anyone does orders that way.

PS: I did have to give them my name, but you could do a alias.

 

[speckledhen]

When I got my first hatchery birds, I didn't want to get them from public bins and I didn't want them shipped.

I found a "farm store" (family owned place) that takes orders for what chicks you want. The day they come into the store, you pick them up. They never go into a public bin, just straight from the boxes they're shipped in. They had a specific delivery day (they get them every 2 weeks all season so you can choose a date that makes sense for you) and I asked them what time the truck arrived. I got there just after the truck was unloaded and I think I was the second person to pick mine up.

I think that's the most wonderful way to get hatchery birds.

Around here, TSC, RK, and the smaller farm markets get theirs from Townline Hatchery. But I think RK also gets some elsewhere (possibly Meyers) as they have other breeds as well.

The feed store where I get my grains from also does regular orders like the little farm store, but they are quite a bit farther away. I also think the little farm store handles pickup more to my liking.

You might call around to the small farm stores or grain mills to see if anyone does orders that way.

PS: I did have to give them my name, but you could do a alias.

Yup, I think that may be a good way to get chicks. Usually, I was there the morning the shipment from the hatchery came in. A few years ago, I ordered dark and buff brahmas from one of the local feed stores owned by a veterinarian, but before the shipment came in, we had the house fire and no way I could brood chicks, so we had to cancel. Then, I talked to Tom Theilemann(sp?) about his Brahmas and it took three years for us to get it arranged. I really love them, but this crop thing is not fun in the least.

Yeah, fake name, or really, not fake, just one that would not be traced to me, my birth name, would be the only thing I would give them. If I pay cash, I think they shouldn't ask in the first place, but after all the hoopla about NAIS, everyone started doing the list.

This a.m., Betsy's crop is down quite a bit, though not completely gone. She is back with Bash and they are on a no-scratch diet. I gave them chopped chicken breast warmed and mixed with coconut oil and a scrambled egg with some plain yogurt and Betsy ate it when influenced by the others.

I put Bailey in the hospital cage. Hers is a big ball and she's lost a lot of weight. I swear, those two must have been together and ate the same thing out on range. So, here we go again. This is making me rethink the Brahmas after having one of my hatchery gals with persistent pendulous crop that had to be managed for years. I have enough to do with arthritic old hens in a retirement/hospice pen. Makes me wish we'd done what we said we would and put one pen full of wall cages just for times like this, rather than just one cage on the wall. I have two dog crates in there, but it's cold on the floor and hard for us to get up and down to deal with them.

 

[getaclue]

I am one pooped mam today. I was already tired from fixing Thanksgiving for everyone. My cousin took me Black Friday shopping with her. I have to admit, it was well worth it. I got just about everything I'm buying for the grandkids this year, at Toys R Us. I've never seen prices so low. After Toys R Us, we headed to the outlet mall. Gymboree is a kids' clothing store, with really nice clothes. Everything in the store was either $7.00, or $12.99. I got some dresses for the girls, that had been over $35.00 for only $12.99. All their pajama sets were $7.00. I can't even get them that cheap at Wal Mart. Vera Bradly was 80% off in the entire store. I got a few things for family, and friends. Every store we went into was 50% or more, off almost all their inventory, or selected inventory was even lower. We started shopping at 11:30 am, and I got back home at 9:30 pm. By the time I unloaded the truck (Dh was at work), I was exhausted, but happy.

 

[speckledhen]

My husband ventured to Walmart today only because we needed a sprayer nozzle for the hose. Ours broke, just in time for winter, and he may have to go to Home Depot to get one since Walmart is always so seasonal with their inventory. I am making another mandala throw, and may pull out my tubs of other stuff already constructed to see what I can pass around to family. I don't give Christmas gifts, technically, but I do give family stuff because we see them so seldom. Some years, we don't give anything at all except hugs, some years I take goodies I've baked or crocheted/quilted stuff I've made, but I am going to be more stingy with quilts from now on with some particular family members who cvan't even be bothered to say thank you. How rude! I don't want undying gratitude and bows, just show some manners, people. Geez.

My friend Robin in SC sent me an email this a.m., showing she is wearing this morning a cowl that I made for her last year. Guess SC got a tad chilly, though folks who live up north and out west would be in flannel shirts with no jacket in her coldest weather.

 

[1muttsfan]

Cute! It's been in the 30s here and if it hadn't been raining I probably would just be in a sweatshirt myself

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yep.... when you have to go outside for chicken chores in the cold you get acclimated to lower temps. I seldom wear a winter coat - unless it's in the teens - because I'm acclimated.

In BC days (before chickens) I was in a heavy coat at 40 F. in the fall!

Then, of course, in spring it feels like a heat wave when it's around 28F!

 

[kitkat5505]

The only Black Friday shopping I did this year was online, I bought matching PJ pants for all the kids. I’ve always made them Christmas PJ pants, but with 8 now it’s just so much time to do, plus with the cost of good fabric it was just as expensive to buy them lol. $5 each isn’t bad. I also bought myself an early birthday present from my aunt who makes jewelry and has 50% off this weekend.

 

[speckledhen]

We ran 50' of 5' welded wire fencing on the other side of the driveway from the gate around the corner and starting downhill, all before breakfast. Typical farmer, eh? We did the first side over the summer, if I recall, and never got back to it. So, DH suddenly decided he was going to pound the 6' posts and get it done. Because welded wire does not flex like woven wire, to keep it level as you leave the driveway and start down the mountain, it ended up being about 7' tall with a gap at the bottom. We cut the last section, the one that is curled up in the center of the roll into long sections and attached them at the bottom to fill in the gaps. We raked the leaves back against it so it's not obvious that it is pieced at the bottom.

So, the prison fencing is done, or that part of it. We will have to buy another roll of fencing to replace at least one more section that travels down the hill and around the bottom corner curve of the property where it finally meets up with livestock fencing, though, but it will have to wait for a bit. I told DH that folks might think we're unfriendly. Fine by me. That high fence, plus the Beware of Dog sign on the driveway gate, may make someone think twice before entering for nefarious purposes.

 

[speckledhen]

It looks like Lizzie may not be able to go back with Atlas for a long, long time, if ever, but she's recovered enough to go in with a hens' group so she, Tessa and Georgie's Old Hens' Group #2 are out in the pen together. They'll be hassled and get into fights but at least, Liz won't have some rooster jumping on her.

DH was resting in the hammock and when Georgie saw him, she made a beeline for him and tugged on his pants to be picked up. She lay on his chest and stretched out her neck across his shoulder. He commented on her looking older when we noticed she was open mouth breathing a little here and there. In a few minutes, he said he needed to go inside and get some pain meds for his back (after the fence installation this a.m) and I took Georgie off of him. I put my hand under her belly and found the reason for her labored breathing. She is very bloated, first time ever. Georgie is my last Delaware hen and she will be 9 years old in February so she's an old gal now. She was laying at the beginning of the year, but only a handful of eggs before she quit again, maybe a half dozen or fewer. I guess she is on her downhill slide now.

I have 32 large fowl birds and 6 Belgian D'Anvers. Of the 32 LF, three are roosters, so that leaves 29 LF hens. Of the 29 LF hens, 14 are 7 (or almost 7) to almost 11 years old.
Of the 14, 6 hens are 9+ years old, 4 will turn 8 yrs old in February, with Amanda being the oldest, turning 11 yrs old in March.

 

[speckledhen]

At the end of the day, I'm just weary. Really, bone weary and it's not physical. I'm sick of dealing with injured birds, crop issues, old age issues, molting issues, etc, etc, etc. I have entertained the thought of selling my sweet angel Bash and a couple of his girls as a trio and keeping whoever is left as layers. I really wanted my Brahmas and I do love them, such sweet and easy to handle birds, but if they are going to be prone to crop issues like Caroline was (I thought that was just her), I can't deal with that repeatedly.
I think I may lose Betsy and Bailey. Betsy is still not doing well. She was better, but seems to have taken a step back. Bailey is like Betsy was at the beginning. This is very time-consuming, tending to ailing or aging birds. Now, Georgie has bloated up. It's probably cancer with her, being as old as she is.
On the flipside, Amanda laid yet another egg today, her 4th in less than two weeks. And Tiny also laid an egg-that is her only redeeming quality, the crazy loon. Cora and Thea are the only two in their prime who are currently laying other than the two old gals. MaryJo is still not laying and she hates Hector, but seems to like Atlas and wants to be with him so I've let her stay to make things easier on me.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not having any fun.

If you could only see what happens when I try to do the chores in the Old Hens' Pen #1-there are Amanda, almost 11, and Snow, almost 10, who are both basically on one leg now, Gypsy, who is 10, Panda who is almost 10 yrs old and limping badly from arthritis, too; and Emily and Tiny who will be 8 in February. Em is there because she has permanent damage in one leg and walks flat-footed and limps a lot due to the resulting mild bumblefoot; Tiny is there because, well, everyone hates her and I can't figure out where to put her. Panda tolerates her unless she attacks one of us so she has a sort-of friend.

I put water and food in a two-sided dog bowl for the cripples in there, but when I place it in front of them, both immediately haul themselves up on one leg and go backwards because they have no control. When they do that, one or two of the others swoop in and try to eat their food before I can get them situated on either side of the bowl. And Tiny is in my face, wanting me to feed her so she can see to eat, and if I push her aside, she begins literally running in circles like a lunatic, stomping on Snow and Amanda like they aren't even there. It's like Keystone Cops. Every day, several times each day, we go through this in that one pen. It's old as these hens. I realize they won't be with us much longer, but it is wearing on me, especially when you add Liz being separated and the two crop issue Brahma girls.