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

[1muttsfan]

EE's can be quite skittish by nature, I have had some that acted like I carried an Axe around with me, despite being hand-reared and in a pen with much more social birds. Since I do not love that, they were rehomed. A little gratitude goes a long way around here!

 

[speckledhen]

Easter Eggers can vary so much, being of mixed genetics. Ameraucanas, on the other hand, I've found to be super sweet birds, at least the ones have out of the Cree Farms line. I've had blue, black and splash, still have one black and one splash, 7 years old, and golly, we'll miss those hens when they're gone. They're even laying now! Great hens.

My EE hen who is 1/2 true Ameraucana is friendlier than my hen who was a project for a new Ameraucana color, but they are both good girls. And the one I made by breeding my late BR rooster over one of the blue Ameraucanas is a doll (when she isn't in a molt-then, she's a crazed lunatic, flies into walls to keep from being touched)

Generally, food is the way to a bird's heart. Sit quietly with food in hand and let them come to you and don't try to grab at them. Eventually, most learn to trust and you'll be able to pick them up.

 

[farm316]

Thanks.. I did that too my ducks and they love it when They feed out of my hand, though they hate to be picked up..

How do they accept you too pick them up??

 

[speckledhen]

Same way. But just know that some never warm up to being handled. Personality is different with different birds. My almost 7 year old EE hen, June, doesn't want to be held 99% of the time, but she will come to our rescue against one of the aggressive hens (you'd have to read about the Tiny Terrorist and her aggressive tendencies from her Sumatra lineage). June is a no nonsense gal, very sweet, just not a cuddle bug.

link to Tiny's story: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-attack-hen-will-she-become-a-suicide-flogger


off topic alert!

Made some Red and Green Winter "Stoup", a Rachel Ray recipe, with Homemade Gump Bread (BYC recipe, thanks again Stacey, easiest bread ever) for lunch today. Raining, with gusts of wind up to 60 mph.

 

[speckledhen]

RACHEL is BROODY! Ack! Bad timing, bad, bad, BAD! No, Rachel, not NOW!

Should have expected it, her being Dottie's daughter, but I wish she'd wait until Spring. I will not be giving her eggs, just can't do it. She's only been laying about six weeks, I think. It's 60*, sunny and very windy, but will be at freezing tonight and back to normal late fall weather.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

RACHEL is BROODY! Ack! Bad timing, bad, bad, BAD! No, Rachel, not NOW!

Should have expected it, her being Dottie's daughter, but I wish she'd wait until Spring. I will not be giving her eggs, just can't do it. She's only been laying about six weeks, I think. It's 60*, sunny and very windy, but will be at freezing tonight and back to normal late fall weather.

They always have terrible timing, don't they?

 

[speckledhen]

They always have terrible timing, don't they?

That, my dear, is an understatement.

 

[crazyhen]

Yes, they are predicting wet snow on wed.. Thats for me and you I believe.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, they are predicting wet snow on wed.. Thats for me and you I believe.

I saw that, Gloria Jean. You be careful if we do get that!

 

[crazyhen]

You be careful too. My HB is here and watching after me during this time of cataract surgery. He has been so sweet. I am not to bend over and pick up anything for a wk. at the time. I do my second eye on the 3rd of Dec. He is caring for my flock but I still go and gather the eggs.
We had some trees cut today that threatened the power lines to our house. I am glad it was a pretty day. Tomorrow they will cut three more. Whew!!! I can't afford to cut anymore at this time. But they were the main ones.