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

[crazyhen]

Have you noticed that the men sit still longer at night? Your cat has. We women are up and down most of the time. When a man sits down its for a longer time.

 

[speckledhen]

Have you noticed that the men sit still longer at night? Your cat has. We women are up and down most of the time. When a man sits down its for a longer time.

You're RIGHT!!! HAHA!

 

[1muttsfan]

I have heard many guys say "I don't like cats - but This cat is OK" as they lovingly stroke their little friend.

 

[speckledhen]

I have heard many guys say "I don't like cats - but This cat is OK" as they lovingly stroke their little friend.

Maybe Finn is "in like Flynn" (or in like Finn, haha) because he's a dog-like cat. He meows to be let out, never looks to potty in the house, etc. He's pretty low maintenance and he is doing a job. He's also getting a little tummy on him. I can't resist rubbing it when he's sleeping off his "mouse coma".

 

[crazyhen]

Are you sure its a HIM?????? So many have thought they had hims and then the cat delivers kittens.

 

[speckledhen]

Are you sure its a HIM?????? So many have thought they had hims and then the cat delivers kittens.

oh, trust me, it's a him, lol. He had his family jewels when he showed up and the vet removed them, so unless the vet took off something she shouldn't have, Finn is most definitely a male!

He's just getting fatter, eating mice all night plus his two meals he insists on every day.

 

[MistyMountain]

I just love looking at those little chicks! They sure look like they are growing up strong! Every time I look at a pic of Atlas or your beautiful hens, I just swoon. You're kinda making me fall in love with this breed, LOL! How are they with aerial predators? It seems like I read somewhere that the barring is hard for hawks to see?

I am a bit upset with myself. We are located on the hawk highway and I made a plan not to free range between the end of Nov to the beginning of March. Well, mean old Willie Roo has been doing a spectacular job of protecting his girls along with the other two amigos. I watch him warn the girls, get them to safety, and stand brave in the open fighting off the hawk. I knew I should have kept them locked up yesterday. The day before a large red tail made too many low passes. But… I forgot and let the three out of the broody coop (used to house a Roo and his two sisters at night. I don't want to push my luck by having 3 roosters wake up together in one coop… so far no fights). Those three were broody hatched and raised and about as wild as it gets. There was no catching them once they were free. So I let the big group out. Safety in numbers, right? Plus then WIllie could help protect. Well, not so much. I lost poor Lucky. Her little head peeking out from under the fluff of someone else was missing at head count. She was found next to the coop in the tree line, right where they run for cover. I try to distance myself, her breed was destined to fail here. The only breed that I have lost to hawks, and she survived the first attack. A little fighter she was, and I can only hope her end came quickly.

So, Black and white spotted does not work on our farm… RIP Lucky

 

[speckledhen]

I'm sorry you lost her. Used to have SLWs, such pretty birds. I've never had a predator loss here, not one. We live on a mountain in the woods with many types of hawks. I credit our great cover and the roosters, but you can't dodge a bullet forever. I know we'll lose someone one day. So far, no hawk has been able to surprise a chicken here and I've seen them dive.

 

[1muttsfan]

Came home to find this lovely thing checking out the bird feeder last night. No free ranging here unless I can be out with them - too many predators.

 

[MistyMountain]

That's really interesting. Lucky and her sisters were silver spangled hamburgs that came in a hatchery mix order. They were a bit doomed from the start. They are smaller than the rest of the chickens and sometimes wander off by themselves, even as much as going deep into the woods all alone and making a big fuss about it the entire way. The crazy thing is, of them all, I would have thought this breed to be more predator smart. They are super flighty and can really fly well. Sigh. I paid the free range tax yesterday. Let's hope I can hold out a while before payment is due again. It was a bit cold yesterday, and super windy, so I had the dog in the house with us. That probably didn't help even though she can not go down to the coop.

Anyhow, love watching the chicks grow! Is it spring yet??