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

[h2oratt]

one of the early pictures of Atlas I was using to show saddle feathers to someone. This was when he was in peak condition, before he tore the back of his comb blade on the fence fighting with someone.He's showing his age now and the girls have pulled most of his hackle feathers, being stuck inside so much. And he lets them, sigh.

Note the barring on his saddle feathers is chevron-shaped-it should be straight across the feather. That comes from Rex #2 being his sire. Rex was the son of Isaac and Ida, so 1/2 Delaware, though most of you remember that.

So the barring should not be chevron, but straight across in the perfect bird.

 

[speckledhen]

So the barring should not be chevron, but straight across in the perfect bird.

Yes, you got it. Now, as far as Hector goes, Hector's barring is mostly straight, though he has a few feathers that veer toward the v-shape, but overall, he's nicely barred, a good one, except for a couple of flaws like his too-low tail angle and his comb having one extra point and the blade being too high off the back of the head, doesn't snug up to the skull quite enough. But, it's a gorgeous, balanced comb and he has a good eye, too, like Atlas. So, the goal is all straight-across feathers, though some may not be 100% straight, but the male you photographed and even Atlas have way too much v-shape going on.

I think the worse flaw in the show male is his front is so out of proportion to his back end because of his short back and high tail. Then, there is the barring being messy on top of that.

 

[speckledhen]

It's a wonder that Atlas is as nicely barred as he is because of this sweet boy being his daddy, Rex #2. Wish I'd had him longer, such a good flock leader he turned out to be.

 

[1muttsfan]

I'd love to have that poster.

 

[speckledhen]

I'd love to have that poster.

Me, too! Isn't it pretty? And it shows the standard for all those breeds in one place, at least the roosters.

 

[speckledhen]

Atlas and MaryJo's chicks at 10 days of age. The wing bars are beginning to show. I love BR chicks. In another week or so, we'll be on dwarf-watch.

 

[Pyxis]

Atlas and MaryJo's chicks at 10 days of age. The wing bars are beginning to show. I love BR chicks. In another week or so, we'll be on dwarf-watch.

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They are very cute. Fingers crossed for no dwarfs.

My ko shamo pullet just laid her first egg, so in about a week I'll being putting my first batch of eggs for the year into the incubator.

 

[speckledhen]

They are very cute. Fingers crossed for no dwarfs.

My ko shamo pullet just laid her first egg, so in about a week I'll being putting my first batch of eggs for the year into the incubator.

I hope that if MaryJo is a carrier, there will be evidence of it. Either way, I'm not keeping any of these because dwarf or not, some will be carriers, most likely.

Tell me, what do you like about the Shamos? That is one breed I can't wrap my head around, but then, I don't like Silkies, either, and it's like blasphemy to say that, LOL. If you could tell me why you like them, maybe I could see something different in them. I did not care for Orloffs until I saw one in person, then I realized how handsome they really are. And I have yet to see a chocolate Orpington in person to see what the color really looks like so I can then develop a true opinion from experience, not just photos.

 

[Pyxis]

I hope that if MaryJo is a carrier, there will be evidence of it. Either way, I'm not keeping any of these because dwarf or not, some will be carriers, most likely.

Tell me, what do you like about the Shamos? That is one breed I can't wrap my head around, but then, I don't like Silkies, either, and it's like blasphemy to say that, LOL. If you could tell me why you like them, maybe I could see something different in them. I did not care for Orloffs until I saw one in person, then I realized how handsome they really are. And I have yet to see a chocolate Orpington in person to see what the color really looks like so I can then develop a true opinion from experience, not just photos.

I actually got them at first because I liked the looks of them. The upright stance, the fierce face, it just makes them look very prehistoric. I love that about them - they remind me of little dinosaurs, and I love dinosaurs. I've also always been a fan of odd-looking chickens, lol.

Their temperament has totally won me over. Ko shamos are a bantam breed and have never been used for fighting, but they were bred to have 'the spirit of fighters'. They think they're ten feet tall. They are little scrappers, very outgoing, with flashy personalities. And, they are very friendly and not aggressive towards humans. My little stag, Darcy, has totally won me over.

And they're pretty, too, color-wise. I've always liked wheaten on chickens. The hens are very pretty soft shades and the males are striking with their blacks and oranges and reds. They also come in blue wheaten, which is pretty too, and lots of other non-accepted colors.

But, I think with them you either love them or think they're really ugly, lol. People either tell me they are very cute or very homely.

 

[speckledhen]

But, I think with them you either love them or think they're really ugly, lol. People either tell me they are very cute or very homely.

Sounds like guineas. They elicit an extreme response, negative or positive, not much in-between, LOL. I wasn't aware they were bantams, so I learned something. And you know I love Blue Wheaten! I had a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel named Levi that I rehomed to someone in TN and they loved him, again, another male that was not in the plans at the time and that I sometimes wish I'd kept because he was so handsome.