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

[1muttsfan]

A short life but a happy one, king of his territory, with good companions and friends. Many would wish for as good a life.

 

[speckledhen]

A short life but a happy one, king of his territory, with good companions and friends. Many would wish for as good a life.

I agree, still wish it was longer, though. I miss Rex's voice.

Well, I put Atlas, Dottie and Rowena into Rex's flock. He's having no trouble. He's being a gentleman, flirting but not insisting, hanging back. Even Ro and Dottie haven't been picked on, but that may be because they are a little taken aback by the big, studly new man in their midst. We'll see tonight at roost time. Meanwhile, Rachel is by herself awaiting the hatch.

 

[crazyhen]

OH! Cindy,
I get my num. down and then go abit crazy each spring. Chicken math hits me hard. Right now I am thinking of getting more of the blue/black/splash orps eggs this Spring from Beth. Maybe I will also find some Jubilee orps. eggs somewhere. I only want a few of each to hatch. And I really need a nice roo. I miss mine too. I use to wake each morning to his crow. Like yours he had no symptoms till he began to waste away. Heaven only knows what it was that took him. He was only going on two yrs old and beautiful , One of Kathy in MO. chicks.
When we get chicks or hatch eggs we know they won't live forever but we want at least 5 or 6 yrs. Or I do. I hate losing one.

 

[speckledhen]

I hate mysteries, but I do think we solved the one about Rex at least.

Finally, I got pictures of Sammie Jo. She looks more like a pure Delaware than her Aunt Serena who is Isaac's daughter with my red hen, Rita. Sammie Jo is Rex's daughter with Delia, who was barred as well, similar to Rachel, but Dee was 1/2 Delaware, Isaac's daughter with one of the Rock hens. So this Delaware-looking pullet came from two barred birds.











Pictures of Atlas's new group. Poor Rita is trying to get her feathers back and still looks ratty, but they're coming in darker red than before-she's BLRW x Blue Ameraucana. The white hen on the roost is Serena, Sammie's aunt.













And I was afraid this would happen in that coop he was in. Atlas appears to have some frostbite on his comb tips. That stupid building was not built as a coop, has super high ceilings so heat goes way up to vent out and it is single walled from 4' upward. I'm glad he's out of there, but Deacon and Sammie Jo will be there until Isaac passes away, so they'll have to deal with it. It's the coldest coop in winter and the hottest in summer.

 

[lisa67steve99]

Cynthia, I haven't been on here in ages. just saw about Rex. I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of your loss. He was a beautiful boy. I wasn't sure, was he the father of Ty?
Ty is such a sweet bird. Never aggressive and takes such good care of his girls. He is just the best rooster.

 

[speckledhen]

Cynthia, I haven't been on here in ages. just saw about Rex. I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of your loss. He was a beautiful boy. I wasn't sure, was he the father of Ty?
Ty is such a sweet bird. Never aggressive and takes such good care of his girls. He is just the best rooster.

Lisa, yes, Rex was Ty's father. They look just alike, the resemblance is uncanny. As usually happens with this line, Ty inherited that stellar temperament that starts with his grandpa Isaac. He and Atlas are half brothers. Ty's mother was one of my Blue Rocks, if I remember right. I'm so happy you love that boy and I'm glad to pass on a great rooster to another appreciative owner. I know he and the girls you got here are well cared for. Good to hear from you!

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Why do I fall in love with the roosters over the hens? I see threads about bad roosters, someone recently asking if anyone ever had a rooster they liked, etc. Gosh, it's all I can do to let the young ones go to new homes. I love them all. They just get into your heart.

Months and months ago when I first started having problems with our first rooster I posted a question about his behavior on the Buff Orp thread and your post really touched my heart. Messaging you and reading about your roosters has made me fall in love with them also and I wanted to thank you for helping me develop that appreciation. It is true they get into your heart.

Right now, I have our two Chocolate Orps inside with me because it is just too wet for them to be outside in their run. Just a few minutes ago I heard our little roo sounding his little alarm and I went into the living room so see what in the world he could be upset about. All 2.5 lbs of him was standing on the back of a chair facing the french doors that lead to the back porch and apparently he was warning the big girls (who are bedded down in front of the cat heater outside on the back porch) through the doors that our neighbor's cat was in the yard. I just love the fact that even though he has never been in physical contact with our older girls he still thinks they are his and he is doing his best to watch out after them. He is my little "fun size" rooster and he is a little button.

How is everyone doing today? Are you still dealing with the rain as well? I cannot wait to see pic of Miss Rachel's babies.

 

[speckledhen]

It's cold and very damp-feeling today so I never let Isaac out, not with his bad joints. Everyone else got out for awhile, long enough for Deacon to get his wattles bloody at the fence fighting with either Xander or Atlas.

What a goober!

Quote: Angela, I love your description of your little Orp guy. I have one of those, too, Xander, though he's a Cochin. When his two older hens pass on, I don't want to let him go so I'll have to find something to do with him. He's such a little love.

My "little button"

 

[Peanutsmomma]

It's cold and very damp-feeling today so I never let Isaac out, not with his bad joints. Everyone else got out for awhile, long enough for Deacon to get his wattles bloody at the fence fighting with either Xander or Atlas.

What a goober!

Angela, I love your description of your little Orp guy. I have one of those, too, Xander, though he's a Cochin. When his two older hens pass on, I don't want to let him go so I'll have to find something to do with him. He's such a little love.

My "little button"

Wow, Xander is so handsome! I can only hope our little choc roo will be that handsome one day. I need to come up with a new name for him. I just call him "Little Man" for now. He started out being called Coco because we thought he was a pullet.

And there are no words for Deacon....bless his heart.

What kind of feed do you use? Do you supplement their diets with products like Rooster Booster etc....?

 

[speckledhen]

Wow, Xander is so handsome! I can only hope our little choc roo will be that handsome one day. I need to come up with a new name for him. I just call him "Little Man" for now. He started out being called Coco because we thought he was a pullet.

And there are no words for Deacon....bless his heart.

What kind of feed do you use? Do you supplement their diets with products like Rooster Booster etc....?

You said a mouthful there, my dear. Deacon is just Deacon. Yup, we'll just use that old Southernism, "Well, bless his heart". For you folks who don't understand what I'm saying, let me translate, "What a MORON!".

I use Tucker Milling feeds 99% of the time, the company in Alabama. They smell fresh, not like a toxic chemical spill like Purina feeds do (to my nose, anyway), and they are rarely ever dusty. Right now, everyone is on the 22% protein Super Layer because of the cold and some molting, but I always get their mini pellets-the bantams do well with the very small pellet.

Sometimes, they'll get a concoction comprised of cooked grits with eggs mixed in, olive oil, plain yogurt, turmeric, cayenne pepper, minced garlic, maybe some vitamins in there. I used to have Avia Charge 2000, but ran out so just drop in some baby liquid vitamins without the iron if I remember.