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

[speckledhen]

He is a gorgeous rooster. I am so happy to hear that he has mellowed out into the temperament that you had hoped for.

He really didn't like being in that other, smaller coop and as soon as we moved him back to what he considered home, he was fine again. I think we were blackmailed, LOL. Hey, Angela, I thought you were coming to visit me last month, lady! If you're ever coming up, I'll PM you my phone number and you can call and come visit Atlas in person.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

He really didn't like being in that other, smaller coop and as soon as we moved him back to what he considered home, he was fine again. I think we were blackmailed, LOL. Hey, Angela, I thought you were coming to visit me last month, lady! If you're ever coming up, I'll PM you my phone number and you can call and come visit Atlas in person.

Well, we did make a trip to NC but while we were gone my father-in-law found out his cancer had come back so we had to cut our trip short and didn't have time to swing by. We are hoping to get back up that way maybe in late February. I am hoping this time I can see you and your gorgeous rooster in person. Maybe if it is late in Feb/Mar you will have some Atlas babies that I can bring home with me?

 

[speckledhen]

Well, we did make a trip to NC but while we were gone my father-in-law found out his cancer had come back so we had to cut our trip short and didn't have time to swing by. We are hoping to get back up that way maybe in late February. I am hoping this time I can see you and your gorgeous rooster in person. Maybe if it is late in Feb/Mar you will have some Atlas babies that I can bring home with me?

That's too bad, sorry to hear that. Hope he beats it.

As far as chicks go, I'm not sure when I'll be hatching anything, not really needing to add to my own numbers-that is, unless Dottie goes broody, but she's raised two broods over the past year so she may not be so inclined this coming year. I'll happily give you hatching eggs if you'd like some, even if I don't have chicks, if you're come up here. The last time I incubator-hatched, it was for someone on contract that they take all chicks hatched and by a certain time. My problem is I have no real place to grow out chicks at this point in time or I might hatch more than with just the occasional broody. Once they outgrow a brooder in the house, there's no good place for them to go, at least not in cold weather.

 

[speckledhen]

I was so proud of Atlas today! He did his first real predator defense. My goofy cat, Finn, was full of spit and vinegar and was having a great time "chicken bowling", i.e., running at them to watch them jump and cackle. He started up with Deacon, who is very dramatic and that got him going. Then, he started on Rex and those girls. Rex beat a hasty retreat with his hens out to beyond the compost pile to stay away from Finn. We watched Finn, who has never shown that much interest in the birds before, but he seemed to be full of energy and having a great old time with their dramatics. He never actually touched one of them, but we stayed out there a long time to be sure since we've never seen him do this other than once or twice with Deacon.

When it was Atlas's turn to free range, I was out there watching to see how Atlas would handle him. Finn began the stalk. When Atlas saw him, he started toward the cat. Finn charged, Atlas jumped about 3' in the air, came down and went right back to stalking the cat, didn't retreat as the other roosters have done. He kept an eye on him, hens way behind him scratching around the compost pile. When Finn ran under the bantam coop, Atlas bent down and cocked his head, watching the cat under the building, pacing around the perimeter of the building. Finn would run at him, Atlas would jump to avoid the charge and go right back to stalking the cat. When the cat approached me, Atlas ran between me and the cat and patrolled back and forth. He even came up to me and looked up into my face, as if to inquire what the deal was with this crazy cat. I kept telling him he was a good boy, to get that nasty cat. So, he kept the cat from getting to me the entire time I was out there. Once when the cat ran under the bantam coop, Atlas went to the back of his pen where one of his girls had decided to trap herself rather than come out with the rest of us, but when I called to him, his head popped up and he came running; sure enough, Finn charged him and he held his ground between me and the cat. I'm very impressed. Atlas reacted as if he was guarding me against the cat as well as his hens. That cat better watch it when Atlas's spurs come in fully.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

That's too bad, sorry to hear that. Hope he beats it.

As far as chicks go, I'm not sure when I'll be hatching anything, not really needing to add to my own numbers-that is, unless Dottie goes broody, but she's raised two broods over the past year so she may not be so inclined this coming year. I'll happily give you hatching eggs if you'd like some, even if I don't have chicks, if you're come up here. The last time I incubator-hatched, it was for someone on contract that they take all chicks hatched and by a certain time. My problem is I have no real place to grow out chicks at this point in time or I might hatch more than with just the occasional broody. Once they outgrow a brooder in the house, there's no good place for them to go, at least not in cold weather.

Thanks Cyn. This is the second time he has had a bout with bladder cancer. They caught the first go around very early but according to the doctor this time it seems more aggressive. We are praying for the best.

Eggs would be great! I guess I need to put an incubator on my Christmas list. Do you ever ship eggs? The reason I am asking is that I would love the opportunity to let our older girls hatch some babies when they go broody, but who knows when that will be?

It sounds like Finn needs to re-evaluate his stalking target. LOL!!

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks Cyn. This is the second time he has had a bout with bladder cancer. They caught the first go around very early but according to the doctor this time it seems more aggressive. We are praying for the best.

Eggs would be great! I guess I need to put an incubator on my Christmas list. Do you ever ship eggs? The reason I am asking is that I would love the opportunity to let our older girls hatch some babies when they go broody, but who knows when that will be?

It sounds like Finn needs to re-evaluate his stalking target. LOL!!

I don't ship eggs, no. I used to years and years ago, but I'm not NPIP so I'd rather not do it illegally.

Finn is cruising for a bruising today, I swear. He jumped up and ran headlong into Isaac. Isaac didn't even flinch-he lowered his head and raised his hackles and if Finn hadn't beat feet, he was going to be flogged. Ike's had enough of that critter, LOL. And he has the spurs to make it happen, too.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

I don't ship eggs, no. I used to years and years ago, but I'm not NPIP so I'd rather not do it illegally.

Finn is cruising for a bruising today, I swear. He jumped up and ran headlong into Isaac. Isaac didn't even flinch-he lowered his head and raised his hackles and if Finn hadn't beat feet, he was going to be flogged. Ike's had enough of that critter, LOL. And he has the spurs to make it happen, too.

Well, it would make a nice road trip to head up your way to pick up some eggs if the timing isn't right the next time my husband and I are up that way.

I wonder what has gotten into Finn? Didn't you say he normally ignores your flock?

 

[speckledhen]

Well, it would make a nice road trip to head up your way to pick up some eggs if the timing isn't right the next time my husband and I are up that way.

I wonder what has gotten into Finn? Didn't you say he normally ignores your flock?

Yes, he normally ignores and even avoids the chickens, but I guess he's getting used to them and was bored this morning, full of energy and decided to have a little fun. I've never seen him act like this, not once, but maybe Deacon's over-excited reaction to him running toward him was just a little too encouraging. I really don't see him actually trying to catch them, just scatter them, but he may end up being hurt if he annoys Isaac too much one day. Isaac is old and experienced and is gunning for bear. I've never known Isaac to be like that, either-mostly, he removes his hens and himself from perceived danger, but he wasn't giving an inch today.

Watch out Finn, buddy. Puncture wounds hurt. If my friend, Ladyhawk's big Blue Orp rooster, Lancelot, was here, Finn would already be licking some wounds, or worse. He's killed stray cats before. He leaves the ones that belong there alone, but he has a zero tolerance policy for ones that don't.

 

[1muttsfan]

Good boy Atlas!

There are many opinions on whether animals have emotions. Personally I think they feel many of the things we do - devotion, joy, tenderness, anger. Atlas obviously has special feelings for his non-avian Mom.

 

[speckledhen]

Good boy Atlas!

There are many opinions on whether animals have emotions. Personally I think they feel many of the things we do - devotion, joy, tenderness, anger. Atlas obviously has special feelings for his non-avian Mom.

He does seem to respond to me and I'm really becoming attached to him now. This morning over the baby monitor in Rex's coop, I heard what sounded like Isaac crow in the far distance. It should have been loud since Ike is just on the other side of the door from Rex, very close to the monitor. I realized that it was Atlas, sounding very much like his Grandpa Isaac. That only endeared me to him more.


ETA: Dec 16. Though unrelated to Atlas other than maybe the hand-to-hand combat part, LOL, this story made my day. Made me laugh and cheer at the same time http://empirenews.net/bin-laden-sho...-thugs-seeking-to-collect-debt-from-neighbor/

I especially loved the Seal's statement:


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