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

[1muttsfan]

My neighbor had chickens for a while, and one day his young rooster wandered over looking over my flock, which was out wandering around. My rooster interestingly enough just kept an eye on him, but my Speckled Sussex hen Freckles strode over, glared at him, then ninja-kicked him into the brush. He went home quickly!

 

[speckledhen]

Some of my hens are pretty darn tough. Seems the small ones are the toughest. The only hen that petite little Snow ever ran up against that she backed down from, other than her current head hen, Caroline, was big old Meg that we lost this year. Meg was like a big red brick wall. She didn't even have to do a thing, just raise up and look down with those hooded eyes of hers and that was that. Even roosters didn't have their way with Meg unless it was her choice-she had this look she gave them, a hen's version of the eyeroll. The feistiest hen here is also the smallest. Carly is my head Belgian d'Anver hen. She's a little spitfire, tough as nails. She'd be all over Atlas, I bet, if they met up accidentally.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

As with many young men of the human persuasion, he's full of himself right now, all big and studly and looking for women, LOL. Today, when DH reached toward him and he acted like he was going to be a butthead, Snow, my 6 year old Ameraucana hen, flared up and got all up in his grill, LOL. NO one messes with her dad! And as he should have, Atlas ran from the little mean woman.

You go Snow! Maybe you should hang a mirror in his new coop so Atlas can admire his studliness.LOL! Do you think he is singling out your husband for his hormonal shenanigans because he another male?

 

[speckledhen]

You go Snow! Maybe you should hang a mirror in his new coop so Atlas can admire his studliness.LOL! Do you think he is singling out your husband for his hormonal shenanigans because he another male?

Oh, Angela, if I knew what was in a rooster's little walnut sized brain, I could make millions, LOL. I'm not really sure, but I'm betting DH gives off a different "vibe" than I do. Tonight, I was rubbing Atlas's wattles and he was closing his eyes, so sweet. Certainly, he didn't offer to bite me, acted the same toward me. He let DH reach over and do the same thing.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Oh, Angela, if I knew what was in a rooster's little walnut sized brain, I could make millions, LOL. I'm not really sure, but I'm betting DH gives off a different "vibe" than I do. Tonight, I was rubbing Atlas's wattles and he was closing his eyes, so sweet. Certainly, he didn't offer to bite me, acted the same toward me. He let DH reach over and do the same thing.

When I read your post I could just hear my husband saying, "Well, if you were rubbing my wattles I wouldn't bite you either." Sounds like progress my dear....I hope.

 

[speckledhen]

Atlas has always been like that with me. This biting thing is very recent and it's not all the time with DH, either. He's getting to be a MOOSE, too, so he can't misbehave. He'd better watch out-I can throw him in with his dad for a while and he'll learn a lesson he won't soon forget.

 

[drumstick diva]

Atlas better get his rear in gear or this thread will end up being about a different rooster.

 

[speckledhen]

Amen, diva. We do not want to change the title to "Atlas's Fall from Grace".

 

[Suzierd]

What do you do when they bite to correct them? I too am hoping he settles down.

 

[speckledhen]

You immediately, and I mean before he takes two steps away from you, grab him up, clamp you fingers on his beak, giving it a little firm shake, and pretty much shout, "NO! No BITE!" right in his face. It does work if he's smart enough to learn. Isaac learned, Rex learned and even Deacon had a session once. Deacon will sometimes little nip me on the shoulder if I grab him up suddenly while in the process of catching him if he doesn't want to go home, so sometimes I have to say, "Deacon, don't bite!" and he sort of freezes, remembering his "lessons". He's really good natured and forgets himself at times when he gets excited, but though it's not out of true aggression, I don't want him to do it.

The new coop is ready for the walls to go up now. This was our progress today. I've about decided that the bantams will live in this one and the old ladies will go to their coop, while Atlas and his girls will stay where they are.










Covered against the daily rain that's on its way and a tuckered out hubby.