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

[1muttsfan]

Right now he is a mix of really nice parts, they just don't quite go together yet. I love adolescent animals, they are so funny looking in some of their growing stages! There are though certain things you can say, and he has some strong foundation conformation.

 

[speckledhen]

Right now he is a mix of really nice parts, they just don't quite go together yet. I love adolescent animals, they are so funny looking in some of their growing stages! There are though certain things you can say, and he has some strong foundation conformation.

Ha, that crazy awkward stage! Don't ya love it? His late Uncle Rex, the one Bob Blosl said was one of the best Barred Rock males of the last ten years, was a "mix of really nice parts", too. Actually, now that I look at today's pics, Atlas's tail is rather similar to his. Let me check for a picture of Rex #1 at this age.

 

[speckledhen]

Here are some pics of Rex #1 at around that same age.

 

[1muttsfan]

I love the way his floofy feathers make his barring go every which way - like a printer test pattern in 3-d.

Tails are very similar.

And that photobomb in the last pic!

 

[speckledhen]

The two Rock chicks are on their way to their new home now. Andrew says he'll let us know what the barred one turns out to be. I'm still vacillating on the sex of that one. I gave him the three D'Anver cockerels, too. His young son will probably go nuts for all the new babies.


You know, I'm considering selling my 21 week old point of lay pullets, the Buff Orpington and the New Hampshire. There's nothing wrong with them unless you count them being so much smaller than the breeder quality birds I'm used to at this age. They are hatchery stock but should lay fine for someone. I just can't get over my 16 week olds out of Rex and his girls being as large and larger than Betsy and Cheyenne are, who are over a month older. At least, they each have the proper leg colors for their respective breeds.



I'm very pleased that you guys think Atlas's tail is good and even similar to the original Rex's. Makes me all warm and fuzzy, I tell ya! Maverick just went to his new home (thanks, Matt!) so Atlas is THE man in that coop now. Maybe he'll even start crowing.

 

[chickenneighbor]

SpeckledHen, your birds are all so beautiful I don't know how you can part with any of them. Good luck, Maverick!

 

[speckledhen]

SpeckledHen, your birds are all so beautiful I don't know how you can part with any of them. Good luck, Maverick!

Aw, you are so sweet to say that! It's hard, it really is. Maverick is such a super sweet boy and if I had a separate coop for just him and Atlas and some girls right now, I'd have kept him. Hopefully, he will make my new friend Matt a great rooster for his hens. It does give me a twinge when I have to rehome one this age because I become attached to all of them, especially the friendly roosters, but I simply cannot keep them all and I had to choose between Atlas and Maverick at this point in time.

 

[1muttsfan]

It is hard, much easier if you can move them while young, but then you don't have the opportunity to evaluate them properly for size, color and temperament.

I set up a small pen yesterday for the young roosters, behind the garage where I dont have to listen to the in the morning, but I will not be keeping them all. And Tarzan the SFH (AKA Sir Crowsalot) has to be gone by next weekend, which may mean the freezer - too excitable, a constant crower, and not that great an example of his breed - but I still like him.

 

[speckledhen]

It is hard, much easier if you can move them while young, but then you don't have the opportunity to evaluate them properly for size, color and temperament.

I set up a small pen yesterday for the young roosters, behind the garage where I dont have to listen to the in the morning, but I will not be keeping them all. And Tarzan the SFH (AKA Sir Crowsalot) has to be gone by next weekend, which may mean the freezer - too excitable, a constant crower, and not that great an example of his breed - but I still like him.

I knew I wouldn't be keeping Maverick and have been trying to find him a home since he was much younger, so I didn't intend for him to grow up to maturity here. I usually don't name the birds who are going, but we do train them somewhat and they respond to their names just like dogs do. I did have the privilege of seeing him blossom into a very handsome young rooster and was able to verify that his temperament was just as good as I've come to expect of Isaac's sons.

Quote: I understand completely. That's why Deacon is still here, the goober.

In spite of the fact that he's Tiny's son, and will never have more than one spur, don't even know that he's fertile, he's ingratiated himself to us and has become the farm mascot, self-appointed, of course. That boy is not like any we've had here. He likes to be petted, actually likes it. Never seen a grown rooster who loved petting so much. I put four eggs from my Blue Rock hens under Dottie, thinking that if Isaac was indeed not fertilizing them, at least Deacon would have that covered....nope. Not one of them was fertile. Shocked the heck out of me. He does manage to catch them away from his dad and it never dawned on me that they just would not be fertile by either rooster. I'm beginning to wonder if he has more flaws that are even evident.

 

[speckledhen]

I tried for better photographs today and managed some with Rachel and Rowena.