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

[speckledhen]

@speckledhen
Good points in the video. I think that people often don't think through what might be going on in a rooster's mind. Some good old-fashioned observation and common-sense go a long way!!!!

I had one boy that did like you described about the one you were putting in a separate pen at night. I had this boy in a separate pen also (on a temporary basis), and he started attacking me and my husband every time we'd bring him food or water. We worked with him a bit, but he was a big boy and not to be trifled with. He went to the pot. However his brother, who had been taken by another person and began the same behavior but to extreme, was sent to a different situation. The new family was able to take this attacking boy and make him a better man. I imagine it helped that he wasn't the only roo in the flock and was the new kid on the block. He lives today as a friendly, enjoyable fellow.

I imagine you are correct. A change of scenery often will change a rooster's behavior if it's not fully ingrained, I think. My rooster, Dutch, seemed to chill a little when he went to live at Karen's, but he did flog her as well. He did get to live out his life there, however, and she just found him dead one day, no idea why.

 

[speckledhen]

Cute video of a bird vet, Dr. Laurie Hess, treating a rooster on a follow-up exam for an extremely swollen ankle area. He's a sweet boy and a big boy, too. Reminded me a little of Isaac. He weighed 10.5 lb and actually stood on the scale for them at the end, so cute.

 

[speckledhen]

I told my husband, a disabled vet who tries to power through everything in spite of his pain, that everyone is making these 2018 homestead goal videos. Then, I asked him what he'd say what he would say his goals are for our homestead, as if I didn't already know. He said, "To get to 2019". Poor guy!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Everyone survived -18 last night. Yay. They are talking 20's by next weekend. Gonna feel warm for sure.

I still have 3 birds still molting. I have no clue what's up with that.

 

[Leahs Mom]

-18. It always amazes me how they survive that.

Can't imagine sleeping standing on a board in my bare feet at any temp. below 70!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

-18. It always amazes me how they survive that.

Can't imagine sleeping standing on a board in my bare feet at any temp. below 70!

It always amazes me too. Nature thickens up their coats. Now hopefully nature finishes my poor birds molts.

 

[speckledhen]

It always amazes me too. Nature thickens up their coats. Now hopefully nature finishes my poor birds molts.

Their feet must be pretty darn tough, though, to take that without even socks! Amazing. This morning made me wish I'd bought the metal cat litter pooper scooper. The plastic ones just bend in the face of concrete-like frozen poop on the roosts.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Their feet must be pretty darn tough, though, to take that without even socks! Amazing. This morning made me wish I'd bought the metal cat litter pooper scooper. The plastic ones just bend in the face of concrete-like frozen poop on the roosts.

Chicken boots would be adorable.

Mine pull their legs up to their chests or they sit down on their feet to warm them.

I have that frozen poop all winter. You should try the ankle breaking donkey turds, those are killer. I have broken many plastic kitty litter scoops. A metal one would stick to my hands.

 

[1muttsfan]

I am amazed at how ducks happily stomp around on snow and ice and swim in freezing cold water, curling up on the ice for naps, in the coldest temps. Brrr.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I am amazed at how ducks happily stomp around on snow and ice and swim in freezing cold water, curling up on the ice for naps, in the coldest temps. Brrr.

I know, my muscovy ducks continue to sit in the water pans daily, though if you think about it the water is warmer than the air temperature. If I don't give them a big rubber tub to bath in they start crawling in the buckets and pans used for drinking. They are quite hardy.