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

[speckledhen]

Ha, I remember that commercial! Hope I don't look as old as that makes me sound!

 

[drumstick diva]

Speckled Hen, I just turned 67 but, am much younger on the inside. I'm sure I must have learned the pepsodent jingle from my OLDER sister. You probably learned it the same way.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm a little younger than you and I don't have an older sister to blame it on.

 

[lularat]

I remember those commercials as well...guess that makes me a "a little less young"...

Just as corn can cause the brassiness in chickens, a diet high in vegetables with a lot of Vitamin A can cause skin to look a little bronzed or yellowed. When my son was a baby, he loved carrots, sweet potatoes, and yellow squash. His skin started turning a yellowish bronze color and being concerned, I took him to the doctor and was told the vegetables were what caused the skin color change.

Love the name Hawkeye...he is a beauty.

 

[speckledhen]

I remember those commercials as well...guess that makes me a "a little less young"...

Just as corn can cause the brassiness in chickens, a diet high in vegetables with a lot of Vitamin A can cause skin to look a little bronzed or yellowed. When my son was a baby, he loved carrots, sweet potatoes, and yellow squash. His skin started turning a yellowish bronze color and being concerned, I took him to the doctor and was told the vegetables were what caused the skin color change.

Love the name Hawkeye...he is a beauty.

That is true about the carrots and other veggies high in beta carotene-I've heard of folks eating so many, their palms turned orange.

There are other reasons for brassiness in some birds, including being out in the sun a lot, however, in Hawkeye's case, it was definitely his inadequate diet prior to coming to live with us when he was about 10 months old. He did become a teensy bit brassy later on in his life, but that was from being a free ranging rooster and loving the sunshine, not a bad diet as it was when we got him.

Hawkeye died years ago, but he was a fabulous rooster, a true gentleman, and fathered many sons and daughters before he left us, including my own beloved Zane, who has also gone on to that Great Roost in the Sky. The bar was set high for roosters who came along after him. Atlas has big spurs to fill.

 

[drumstick diva]

lulurat the same thing happened to my son - I thought he was jaundiced and ran to the doctor. He told me to cut back on the carrots. What a relief.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Speaking of color, I saw some BRs recently with what I call "gravy-colored" legs. And they were supposed to be high quality. Then, folks talk about feeding corn to get leg color? HOGWASH, I say! That is genetics, pure and simple. If it ain't in the genetics, you shouldn't be feeding to try and get it. You need different genetics. If you overfeed corn, you get all sorts of bad stuff in addition to what you're trying to get, like brassy whites you really don't want.

I agree. Yellow eggs will not be helped by feeding corn. I have fed corn in the past and not seen any improvement in anything. I have seen the feathering discoloration with corn as well. I no longer feed scratch, they get other things as treats now - like goats milk, greens and refrigerator leftovers.

 

[speckledhen]

Atlas's broody mama is broody again. She never managed to fit back into the flock since letting them go so I guess she did the only thing she seems to feel comfortable with, working toward being a mom again. I don't want to allow her to sit because, not only has she just gotten back to her full weight after raising those chicks, her sister, Wynette, is on Day 19 with four eggs herself, so the main broody area is occupied. Plus, it's HOT! I have just dealt with having my husband in the ER and hospital unexpectedly-he was in from Saturday until this morning- and he won't be up to full speed for about a week or so, therefore, I am the only one taking care of everyone in this brutal heat and humidity. Not wanting to add a broody to worry about.

 

[lularat]

Don't blame you...sounds like you have your plate plenty full. Hope your husband makes a full recovery soon. Sounds like you could use a good rest or better, a vacation.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I hope your DH recovers quickly Cyn!