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

[speckledhen]

Here are the two little 16 day old hoodlums. I think my first gut reaction on the barred chick as a cockerel may have been correct, but I'm still not really sure. It looks very much like its sire, Rex, did at that age, though Rex had a much larger comb. If it's a cockerel, it's definitely single factor barred like daddy Rex, not another Atlas.

Black pullet and barred whatever-it-is. They are sold already, pending pickup on Saturday. The comb is larger than the black pullet's, but the barreds almost always seem to have larger combs than the blacks anyway, at least the ones I've raised here. And the down color seems lighter like a cockerel, but hard to say since it's close to a solid black bird and would naturally seem lighter anyway next to her.










Not a great photo, but it shows the leg fronts on the barred chick:



And to compare, daddy Rex at the exact same age:


And a couple weeks older:

 

[1muttsfan]

I'll still say boy. Hope you can keep track of him so we find out!

 

[speckledhen]

I think his new owner will let me know. He is fine with this chick being a cockerel, if it is one, because he's admired Rex's build, he told me. So, I think we'll find out, maybe we'll even get a photo later on of how he/she turned out.

 

[speckledhen]

This week, Atlas has been putting on height and is beginning to appear slightly gangly. It's always funny how they grow up, then out, then up some more, then fill in better as they get closer to that one year mark.

These are not the best pics, but may try to add more later for his 16 week session. What I'm hoping is that as his tail fills in/lengthens and he matures, he will have the same fabulous tail as his late Uncle Rex did. So far, so good in that department, I think.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Handsome boy! Does he have a long neck, or is it just part of the growing stage? His barring is really nice.

 

[speckledhen]

Handsome boy! Does he have a long neck, or is it just part of the growing stage? His barring is really nice.

That neck is part of the "lengthening" process. Grow up, then out. Just like on a stallion, the neck becomes thick as he matures from a colt into a sexually mature male. Atlas's legs are thick, though these pics don't show that very well, and I am hoping that is what he grows into-Maverick's are not as thick. I do think his barring is pretty great for a male who isn't 100% pure BR and whose sire is only single barred, thank you.

 

[Happy Chooks]

His tail is going to be so full and beautiful, I can see it already. He is very handsome.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Thanks, Kelly, I appreciate the input. I will be interested to see how he blossoms when Maverick isn't around and he's the only male in that group. I haven't heard him crow yet.

 

[1muttsfan]

He has a lovely underline too

 

[speckledhen]

He has a lovely underline too

Thanks, I appreciate anything anyone has to say. Sometimes, in getting my hopes up, I become afraid that I see too much good and gloss over faults. Helps to have outside opinions to see things I may not.