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

[drumstick diva]

I like that name too.

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks, Angela. Posting a few more-had trouble with that this morning for some reason.






That little Asa is such a flirt! And Rowena is eating it up.



Have to post these because Nugget was being a nasty old *insert bad word here*, growling and lowering her shoulder at Dottie. Dottie's pen is next to her coop area and they fight inside as well. Nugget has become so cantankerous in her old age! She will be 7 years old in April.



See that threatening dropped shoulder? Bad Nuggs! Poor Xander just steps back and lets them go at it. She could hold the little rooster down with one foot.




And my boy, who, as far as I can tell, is behaving just fine.






ETA, Sept 29: Tonight, Atlas may have bought his ticket out of here. They had to stay in most of the day due to rain. They did get out for a couple of hours, though. He went back in just fine at roost time, but when DH bent down from the outside to clean shavings out of the bottom track of the sliding pop door, Atlas attacked his hand from inside the coop and gave him a pretty good scrape across the back of it. I clean out the track just the same way, but he's never done that to me. Must be the way he reacts to my poor husband, who is great with the birds, but not this one.

This year has been a very difficult one on several fronts. I just don't have it in me to deal with a problem child so this may not be the best time to get my breeding group up and running, unfortunately. Atlas is really compounding it with this behavior. He's sweet to me but I would guess he needs more "out" time than he's been having lately. Just too many other things going on so they haven't gotten to free range as I'd like.

 

[gojira]

I am sorry to hear that. Atlas is looking great. The pair here are growing like weeds. The cockerel started trying to crow last week.

 

[MistyMountain]

I hate to hear that about Atlas. He is beautiful, but I understand not having the energy to deal with him. I have a mean rooster. He started off great, having saved a pullet from a hawk attack and stood guard over her in the coop while she was in shock. Then he got overly protective. So much so that when he is focused on trying to flog me, one of the friendliest hens in the flock will come over and peck him on the head. I can only hope that she is trying to knock some sense into him. I ordered a couple more roosters and one was lost at two days old. I had hoped that these two would grow up together and work together as Alpha/Beta to protect 27ish hens while free ranging. Willie (mean Roo) was on his way to a career change to the kitchen. Well, Willie Roo continues to flight off hawks and do all the things that a rooster is supposed to do… so he stays. He even tolerates the now grown EE Roo, Cielo. One of these days he will lose to the hawk and will need to be replaced. Until then, I tolerate him and deflect his attempts to flog. Sometimes I forget and am thankful for my high boots. Sometimes it gets old having to watch my back. His ability to fight off the hawks is too valuable to me, though. And I keep a closed flock, so no adding any newbies. I do have two of his 14 week old sons that have taken up residence in the pine tree. Not sure if they are worthy replacements or not.

I was really hoping he would behave for you!

 

[speckledhen]

I am sorry to hear that. Atlas is looking great. The pair here are growing like weeds. The cockerel started trying to crow last week.

He sure is, isn't he? I got an analysis from another Rock breeder last night and it was exactly as I suspected, a couple of flaws, but he said that Atlas was definitely worth going forward with, a true compliment from someone who is very critical and knows what he's looking at/for. I think he is really not bad, temperament-wise, but it's more person-specific at this point. As my friend says, he's a mama's boy and mama is me. I bet that little guy's crowing is comical, Andrew!

I hate to hear that about Atlas. He is beautiful, but I understand not having the energy to deal with him. I have a mean rooster. He started off great, having saved a pullet from a hawk attack and stood guard over her in the coop while she was in shock. Then he got overly protective. So much so that when he is focused on trying to flog me, one of the friendliest hens in the flock will come over and peck him on the head. I can only hope that she is trying to knock some sense into him. I ordered a couple more roosters and one was lost at two days old. I had hoped that these two would grow up together and work together as Alpha/Beta to protect 27ish hens while free ranging. Willie (mean Roo) was on his way to a career change to the kitchen. Well, Willie Roo continues to flight off hawks and do all the things that a rooster is supposed to do… so he stays. He even tolerates the now grown EE Roo, Cielo. One of these days he will lose to the hawk and will need to be replaced. Until then, I tolerate him and deflect his attempts to flog. Sometimes I forget and am thankful for my high boots. Sometimes it gets old having to watch my back. His ability to fight off the hawks is too valuable to me, though. And I keep a closed flock, so no adding any newbies. I do have two of his 14 week old sons that have taken up residence in the pine tree. Not sure if they are worthy replacements or not.

I was really hoping he would behave for you!

It's exactly what you said, Michelle, not having the energy to deal with him at this point in time. He's not really a bad boy, generally, but if he's a problem for my husband, well, I know what it's like to have to watch your back around a rooster who has a grudge for whatever reason. I've been there. It's not fun and it is just hard right now to deal with. Shame, really, because I was becoming fond of Atlas, certainly proud of what he turned into. As I always say, all chickens plans are subject to change. I'm not letting him go yet, there's something I must check on first, but will keep everyone informed who has been following his thread and keep doing progress reports.

 

[1muttsfan]

 

[speckledhen]

yeah.

 

[drumstick diva]

aw

 

[Happy Chooks]

I really hope it's hormones and it will pass.

 

[speckledhen]

He needs more space to run, IMO, just like his late uncle Rex did. This morning, I opened the human door and he was there, head down, a ball of nitro ready to explode, lol. I kept the door partially closed so he couldn't run out, said, "Atlas, hang on, I'm gonna let you out, buddy!" and I reached down, removed the nail and pulled up the door quickly. He zipped through it and took off after Rowena, who was none too pleased. They are not squatting for him yet and he's rather frustrated since he had older hens in the other coop who did. That may be part of it, but again, I have things going on that he is complicating for me right now so I may just find him a new home so he can be the breeding rooster he should be and have more hens than I can give him.