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

[LukeyLux]

So my brother, without my prior knowledge, went to one of the local breeder's auctions an snagged a dark blue wheaten OEGB cockerel; BUT NO PULLETS. SO i guess until i get a few wheaten pullets, he's just a tiny yard bird

Oh, and his name is Melvin!

 

[speckledhen]

@Lucas Gomes he looks wheaten in the photo rather than blue wheaten, but could just be the picture. He's a handsome guy! Be sure to quarantine him for six weeks before you put him with any hens.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Melvin!

I love the wheaten color.

 

[speckledhen]

Hi Melvin!

I love the wheaten color.

I do, too! I've seen wheaten hens in the OEGB breed, loved them. Maretta is 1/2 Blue Wheaten and at first glance, she almost looks like a Wheaten Ameraucana, her tail feathers being black. Of course, her sire was a BW Ameraucana and mom an EE.

Oh, I was looking at the six Atlas/MaryJo babies and I'm fairly sure that I have four pullets and two cockerels. I wish I could keep a girl or two, but honestly, I don't need any at this juncture and I don't need to introduce a dwarf gene to Hector's line by giving him one of those potential carriers. It's a shame, too, because Atlas produces some fine looking progeny. I have two Hector/Jill eggs in the collection, plus four Belgian D'Anver eggs (maybe someone here wants those and can pick them up-it's a miracle that two of those hens are laying!) and about 9 Brahma eggs after I sold the first collection of 18 from Bash's pen.

 

[1muttsfan]

No chicks here until April. I'll probably do one hatch.

My Basque hen passed away, found her yesterday on the coop floor, still warm. She was a very good girl, and was the last of my Basques.

 

[speckledhen]

No chicks here until April. I'll probably do one hatch.

My Basque hen passed away, found her yesterday on the coop floor, still warm. She was a very good girl, and was the last of my Basques.

I'm so sorry, Mary! I hate for the last one of anything to go. I have Georgie left as my only Delaware and she's 9 years old this month. When she's gone, I guess that's it. And Gypsy and Snow are my last Ameraucanas and they are both 10, so not long for this world, I'd say.

How old was your hen? Again, so very sorry. Guess it was her time. Do you often open them up if it's unexpected?

 

[getaclue]

Years ago, when Dr. Spock came out with his book that was anti-spanking, anti-consequence, and all the mothers bought into it, is when the downfall of our youth began. My parents read the book. My dad was not abusive at all, but he did give me a few well deserved spankings. His take on the book was "if you can't spank them, then whack them with the book, since that's about all it's good for".

 

[1muttsfan]

She was either 6 or 7. Pretty bird.

I actually had Dr. Spock as my pediatrician briefly when I was very young. My parents never bought in to the no spanking thing, though.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Years ago, when Dr. Spock came out with his book that was anti-spanking, anti-consequence, and all the mothers bought into it, is when the downfall of our youth began. My parents read the book. My dad was not abusive at all, but he did give me a few well deserved spankings. His take on the book was "if you can't spank them, then whack them with the book, since that's about all it's good for".

Our parents weren't interested in being our friends either. I swear we were considered expendable. Now parents treat kids like they are their whole lives, which seems better, but apparently isn't.

 

[getaclue]

As with all things, there has to be BALANCE.