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

[Leahs Mom]

It's definitely a bad virus season this year. I haven't had anything seasonal in years but got it this year worse that I can ever remember. When I got up this morning I felt like it was worse than it was 5 days ago but this afternoon it's feeling like it's going uphill instead of down. We'll see how it is tomorrow. I haven't been to work since Tuesday and I shouldn't have gone that day.

 

[speckledhen]

We both got something that has had us in unusual positions. Neither of us is a sickie, but we can't be completely immune to everything. This year must have been extra bad for the flu as well as other bugs.

 

[h2oratt]

I keep trying to post a picture from the chicken show I went to yesterday.

 

[h2oratt]

 

[LukeyLux]

View attachment 1255929

Oh was that was your Barred Rock? He was gorgeous!

 

[h2oratt]

I wish. I was stalking them. Did you find a trio?

 

[getaclue]

h2, I hope you talked to the breeder about getting some hatching eggs from his stock.

 

[speckledhen]

@h2oratt let me critique this BR rooster for you. He has a very short back making his whole body out of proportion to his head and chest, chevron barring and tail angle way too high, almost a squirrel-tail. He really looks more like a hatchery BR rooster than anything else. He is actually quite similar to Atlas, who, though handsome and 3/4 Stukel, is also not pure Stukel and out of a single-barred sire, so he has similar issues, though Atlas's back is not as short as this guy's. Bred with the Stukel hens, Atlas does produce superior males to himself, but still, not all that wonderful as a stand-alone rooster, other than temperament, head and size.

Unless that rooster in the picture has better hens than himself, I'd pass on the eggs if you want something closer to the Standard.


ETA: if you recall, Atlas was the only male in the group hatched that time so I had to go with him or wait until another batch to choose a male.

 

[speckledhen]

Remember, this is what a show quality rooster should look like, Atlas's uncle Rex. His only flaw was a too low wing carriage. I'm not saying the one pictured isn't a handsome rooster, but if you want one that is close to the Standard, he isn't, not really. If he's sweet, he's a good one, of course. You know me and temperament!

 

[speckledhen]

I remember now why I rarely buy from Joann online. I hate this. Four days in and I just now get this email. If was available when I put it in my cart. Thousands of Bolts doesn't do this. If I put it in my cart, it's there and I get it, they immediately take it out of the inventory. If Joann cancels the 3 yards of quilt back that I ordered for the Buttercup quilt, I'm done with them forever. All I ordered was the 3 yards for that, 2 yards of a different quilt back for the second quilt I'm working on and 1 yard of something else. That's it. $3 shipping is fine for the quilt backs but if I'm left with one yard of something, then that is ridiculous.