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

[speckledhen]

Thanks for asking about the Big Guy! He's doing pretty well, though he kicks his bad leg out behind him quite a bit, like he's trying to get it to behave like he wants it to. Amanda does exactly the same thing, which is what worries me. She has no feeling in that foot any longer and cannot walk and I'm afraid for Isaac to deteriorate to that point. So far, he's still kicking butt and taking names!

I have to get this coop and pen ready for occupancy ASAP! Atlas is not as afraid of Caroline as he once was and that's not good.

 

[speckledhen]

Change of plans, temporarily. Atlas, Rowena and Rachel will move into the new coop at first. We are worn out, my back is even hurt and that rarely happens, so instead of continuing with the fence stuff, having to cover it for the bantams like we'll have to do, we can move Atlas in there until such time as Dottie finishes raising her chicks and I can give her and Dru to Atlas. The new coop is plenty big enough for the three birds and he will be separated from fighting with Xander, the bantam Cochin rooster currently in the next pen. Amanda needs to get back with her "sisters". Later, we'll make the change with the bantams. All this hinges on Atlas being able to get through the pop door, LOL.



The paint boo boo in the bottom right corner was due to a back spasm. I just left it
6

 

[crazyhen]

Ouch!!! I have also had it tough. I picked up a resp. inf of some kind on the coast. I have coughed and coughed. I had planned to give a friend a roo that I have but apon inspection one week ago Noooooo He had red mites all over him. I have treated the hens and roos, cleanned sprayed etc the coop. I am pooped. I will have to be careful and re-treat for sure. Its the first time I have ever had mites in my flock. What do you do to prevent and treat them. I used Ivermectin and seven dust. I sure hope it works and they will get retreated with permethrin in another two wks.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Thanks for asking about the Big Guy! He's doing pretty well, though he kicks his bad leg out behind him quite a bit, like he's trying to get it to behave like he wants it to. Amanda does exactly the same thing, which is what worries me. She has no feeling in that foot any longer and cannot walk and I'm afraid for Isaac to deteriorate to that point. So far, he's still kicking butt and taking names!

I have to get this coop and pen ready for occupancy ASAP! Atlas is not as afraid of Caroline as he once was and that's not good.

You are welcome! Whenever I read one of your posts about Isaac I always send him a mental hug. Your post about your husband comforting him while he was roosting brought a tear to my eye.

The new coop is looking great, y'all did a fantastic job on it. Now maybe you all can rest a bit (Rest? What is that you say?

) and let your back recuperate.

 

[speckledhen]

Ouch!!! I have also had it tough. I picked up a resp. inf of some kind on the coast. I have coughed and coughed. I had planned to give a friend a roo that I have but apon inspection one week ago Noooooo He had red mites all over him. I have treated the hens and roos, cleanned sprayed etc the coop. I am pooped. I will have to be careful and re-treat for sure. Its the first time I have ever had mites in my flock. What do you do to prevent and treat them. I used Ivermectin and seven dust. I sure hope it works and they will get retreated with permethrin in another two wks.

So sorry to hear you're under the weather again, Gloria Jean. And mites, too? Ick.

You are welcome! Whenever I read one of your posts about Isaac I always send him a mental hug. Your post about your husband comforting him while he was roosting brought a tear to my eye.

The new coop is looking great, y'all did a fantastic job on it. Now maybe you all can rest a bit (Rest? What is that you say?

) and let your back recuperate.

Rest, well, not yet. We still have to get some trim on the corners, around windows and where the two pieces of plywood meet in the center of the walls, but we don't even have that yet. At least, other than that, it's finished, including the roof shingles. We had a complete package of architectural shingles left from when they did our house after the fire, thankfully, as well as the underlayment stuff.

The roosts in this coop are 2x3's, made for the bantams (who currently have a 2x2, plenty for their tiny feet) and if I had made this coop specifically for Atlas, I'd have made them with the wider 2x4s, but he and his two girls roost on a temporary 2x3 hastily put up across a corner in the old hens' coop anyway, so they're used to it. And it won't be forever. There is over 6' of roost linear space so it's enough area for those three, certainly. Need to figure a feeder since I have no extra small ones. I guess I could give the old ladies back one of my original big metal hanging ones and let Atlas take their small plastic one, or buy a rectangular hanging rabbit feeder for the wall. We'll see, not a huge problem to solve.

As soon as the inside floor paint Is completely dry (I laid it on thick in there) and Tom paints the front of the coop and we zip to town for a package of shavings, we'll move them in there, maybe today, if we get that done.

Since Atlas tried his hardest to breed Caroline this morning and I had to run and rescue her, he will be moving into the new coop today, come heck or high water. Hubby in town buying shavings, etc., and I have a fan blowing across the floor to dry the thick paint I put on it yesterday, which was still very tacky in some spots.

Atlas, exiled to a separate pen today for his antics, though it's not his fault. He's just a normal, healthy young, but very large rooster. He and the girls will be 23 weeks old Friday.

 

[drumstick diva]

When I look at Atlas the Mighty. I miss baby Atlas the mini. He was one of the cutest little chicks ever. Ah, they grow so fast

 

[speckledhen]

Atlas the Mighty better watch himself. He bit DH again today, but he was also stressed by being in the pen all day and being herded into a strange coop. He was the same as always with me, wanting to bite the buttons on my shirt when I leaned over, silly boy.

Here they are tonight in their new temporary digs. Still have to paint the front and get the trim on, which DH picked up today. And we got good wood to replace ramps in the Old Hens' Retirement Home & Hospice as well as in Isaac's coop.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

When I look at Atlas the Mighty. I miss baby Atlas the mini. He was one of the cutest little chicks ever. Ah, they grow so fast

"Atlas the Mighty" I love that! What an appropriate name for him. He is such a beautiful rooster.

 

[speckledhen]

"Atlas the Mighty" I love that! What an appropriate name for him. He is such a beautiful rooster.

The mighty will fall when he comes up against Dottie and Dru, LOL.

Adding the 19 week photos that were on my computer when it was hit by lightning and I didn't get to post-it's back from the shop so here they are, and looking back to four weeks ago, you can see how much Atlas has filled out, comparing the pics I just put up yesterday. Wow!









To make it easier, here is 19 weeks next to 23 weeks:

 

[crazyhen]

Looks like he is broadening. I like a very broad bird. Love his lines too.