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

[speckledhen]

Since the two windows will be on adjacent walls and the one on the end will take up almost the entire width of the wall, I think they'll have good views. The front of the coop faces the east so that they don't get the hot afternoon sun, the end wall window faces south and the back wall will not have a window because it gets full sun and the storms blow against it, but I do want to put ventilation in it and will be insulated very well on that side. The current bantam coop where the old hens will live has a trio of humongous oaks directly behind it that I call The Three Sisters so it gets more shade. Those three oaks may throw some shade at the new coop at certain times of the day.

Atlas's two week old sibling (male? female?), posting especially for Andrew.

 

[drumstick diva]

What is that pretty white chick in with Atlas' sibling?

 

[speckledhen]

What is that pretty white chick in with Atlas' sibling?

That is my surprise chick out of Rex and Delia, both barred parents, though both are Isaac's kids, so the parents are 1/2 Delaware and 1/2 BR. She's also Atlas's sibling since they have the same father. This was a shocker, expected barred or even solid black, but not Dellie colored. Here she is in a different photo:





And they're also running with Isaac, Jr., who has already been claimed. This cockerel is 100% Delaware. Both white chicks are 5 days older than the barred youngster.

 

[crazyhen]

We used window shashes and put hinges on them. We put the wire on the inside so the windows would be flush when closed. We let them down when it is hot and put them up in the winter. Also we have some extra ones under the built on back roof. They stay dry. I wish I had more windows. The roost is always more used near them.

 

[1muttsfan]

Boy I think

 

[speckledhen]

We used window shashes and put hinges on them. We put the wire on the inside so the windows would be flush when closed. We let them down when it is hot and put them up in the winter. Also we have some extra ones under the built on back roof. They stay dry. I wish I had more windows. The roost is always more used near them.

I wanted to do that, but Tom thinks they're too heavy. The roost will be where they can see out of either window and the vents will be above the window.

Boy I think

It's sort of looking like a single barred male to me, too.

 

[gojira]

As far as the barred chick, I am hesitant to guess. The comb does not look as big as the comb of the barred chick I have from his pictures you posted at 16 days of age, making me lean towards pullet, but this chick has less wash on the front of the legs, making me lean towards cockerel. The barred chick that I have is looking more like a cockerel. The comb is getting larger and brighter red. The tail is looking nice (for the age) also.

I guess the Cochins my son and I have make me more patient in making gender determinations in chicks. I can't even begin to use the combs until close to 8 weeks, although I am getting better going by how slow they are to feather at 2-3 weeks of age (females are very slow, and males and painfully slow). Even then, I can only make guesses if I have several to compare in a given hatch. Hopefully in a couple of years I will be better in evaluating the Rocks.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, of course, Dottie won't let one of these go yet, though little Ike, Jr. is already spoken for by the last person who had his full brother up in Tennessee, so we have plenty of time to figure it out. The last two you got from me didn't have a mom to watch out for them so they had to find a new home or I'd have had to spend time brooding them when I really had too many irons in the fire. Can't wait to see how your two look at around 12 weeks old, Andrew.

 

[gojira]

I can't wait to see them mature also. They are looking good so far.

 

[speckledhen]

My own two black pullets are close to laying now at approaching 22 weeks old. I saw Rex mate Robin yesterday for the first time. Her comb really popped up there over the past two weeks, so not surprising.

Atlas grabbed Caroline by the head feathers today. Oh, no, big mistake! Caroline may be old, but she's tough as nails! She flared up and attacked the poor boy, chased him across the pen. That old Brahma gal is nobody's pushover. She's large and IN CHARGE, LoL.



Coop progress: