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

[speckledhen]

That's really interesting. Lucky and her sisters were silver spangled hamburgs that came in a hatchery mix order. They were a bit doomed from the start. They are smaller than the rest of the chickens and sometimes wander off by themselves, even as much as going deep into the woods all alone and making a big fuss about it the entire way. The crazy thing is, of them all, I would have thought this breed to be more predator smart. They are super flighty and can really fly well. Sigh. I paid the free range tax yesterday. Let's hope I can hold out a while before payment is due again. It was a bit cold yesterday, and super windy, so I had the dog in the house with us. That probably didn't help even though she can not go down to the coop.

Anyhow, love watching the chicks grow! Is it spring yet??

I'm not sure that flying is a predator preventative. I think they fly up, right into the clutches of a hawk or owl. Remember, I've had Delawares free ranging for years here among the BRs, RIRs, various blue/black/splash in different breeds, EEs, Wyandottes, Buff Orps, etc. The most camouflaged birds I've ever owned are the mille fleur color Belgian D'Anvers. They can fly very well, but they also dart into a pile of oak leaves and are completely invisible. They are so small, however, that I don't free range them at all except on the rarest of occasions in warm weather when I can be outside with them.


More baby pics!! Just look at this barring on a couple of them! Wow! It's almost as good as the original Stukel Rocks and one in particular is super sharp. I'm sort of guessing two cockerels, two pullets and little unknown tie-breaker. Could be wrong, but I'm veering toward that. Input gladly accepted.


Check out the little one in the far back facing left-that is the one with the sharpest, finest barring.











Bottom right, you can already see the cockerel's comb showing up at just over 2 weeks old.

 

[lularat]

I just love looking at those little chicks! They sure look like they are growing up strong! Every time I look at a pic of Atlas or your beautiful hens, I just swoon. You're kinda making me fall in love with this breed, LOL! How are they with aerial predators? It seems like I read somewhere that the barring is hard for hawks to see?

I am a bit upset with myself. We are located on the hawk highway and I made a plan not to free range between the end of Nov to the beginning of March. Well, mean old Willie Roo has been doing a spectacular job of protecting his girls along with the other two amigos. I watch him warn the girls, get them to safety, and stand brave in the open fighting off the hawk. I knew I should have kept them locked up yesterday. The day before a large red tail made too many low passes. But… I forgot and let the three out of the broody coop (used to house a Roo and his two sisters at night. I don't want to push my luck by having 3 roosters wake up together in one coop… so far no fights). Those three were broody hatched and raised and about as wild as it gets. There was no catching them once they were free. So I let the big group out. Safety in numbers, right? Plus then WIllie could help protect. Well, not so much. I lost poor Lucky. Her little head peeking out from under the fluff of someone else was missing at head count. She was found next to the coop in the tree line, right where they run for cover. I try to distance myself, her breed was destined to fail here. The only breed that I have lost to hawks, and she survived the first attack. A little fighter she was, and I can only hope her end came quickly.

So, Black and white spotted does not work on our farm… RIP Lucky

Sorry for your loss.

Those little chickies are growing so fast. I'm little help as far as sexing chicks, but pretty good at guessing

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Have you noticed that the men sit still longer at night? Your cat has. We women are up and down most of the time. When a man sits down its for a longer time.

You are brilliant!!! That has to be what is going on! They probably don't like having to rearrange themselves every time we get up. Cats are so practical.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

I just love looking at those little chicks! They sure look like they are growing up strong! Every time I look at a pic of Atlas or your beautiful hens, I just swoon. You're kinda making me fall in love with this breed, LOL! How are they with aerial predators? It seems like I read somewhere that the barring is hard for hawks to see?

I am a bit upset with myself. We are located on the hawk highway and I made a plan not to free range between the end of Nov to the beginning of March. Well, mean old Willie Roo has been doing a spectacular job of protecting his girls along with the other two amigos. I watch him warn the girls, get them to safety, and stand brave in the open fighting off the hawk. I knew I should have kept them locked up yesterday. The day before a large red tail made too many low passes. But… I forgot and let the three out of the broody coop (used to house a Roo and his two sisters at night. I don't want to push my luck by having 3 roosters wake up together in one coop… so far no fights). Those three were broody hatched and raised and about as wild as it gets. There was no catching them once they were free. So I let the big group out. Safety in numbers, right? Plus then WIllie could help protect. Well, not so much. I lost poor Lucky. Her little head peeking out from under the fluff of someone else was missing at head count. She was found next to the coop in the tree line, right where they run for cover. I try to distance myself, her breed was destined to fail here. The only breed that I have lost to hawks, and she survived the first attack. A little fighter she was, and I can only hope her end came quickly.

So, Black and white spotted does not work on our farm… RIP Lucky

I am so sorry for your loss. She was a pretty little thing.

We had local BYC club breed showcase last week and the person who brought a Barred Rock and gave the presentation on the breed said that the barring is hawk deterrent. That comment piqued my interest and I asked him after the meeting if he had ever lost a BR to hawk and he said that no that he had lost several other breeds in hawk attacks but his BRs were always ok. Maybe there is some truth to the barring being a deterrent?

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Love this pic! Those two on the right look like they are headed out to stir up some trouble.

All of the babies are so gorgeous and look so healthy.

 

[speckledhen]

I am so sorry for your loss. She was a pretty little thing.

We had local BYC club breed showcase last week and the person who brought a Barred Rock and gave the presentation on the breed said that the barring is hawk deterrent. That comment piqued my interest and I asked him after the meeting if he had ever lost a BR to hawk and he said that no that he had lost several other breeds in hawk attacks but his BRs were always ok. Maybe there is some truth to the barring being a deterrent?

I'm not sure if it's a deterrent or just makes them less visible in leaves and brush. I know mine are much more camouflaged than the solid black birds are. But, then, I've never lost any of any color to hawks, not even the white or splash ones.

Love this pic! Those two on the right look like they are headed out to stir up some trouble.

All of the babies are so gorgeous and look so healthy.

I may check out the leg color, not the dark wash or not, but the actual shade. It seems the ones I think are male have more yellowish undertone in the leg color and the ones I think are pullets, like the one in the front lower left have more grayish color. I may be all wet on this one and I didn't have much time today to really observe-it was Tom's birthday and we left the place more than once, didn't hang around here all day. Any cues of any type we can pick up on with these other than the head spot could be helpful with sexing.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

I'm not sure if it's a deterrent or just makes them less visible in leaves and brush. I know mine are much more camouflaged than the solid black birds are. But, then, I've never lost any of any color to hawks, not even the white or splash ones.

I may check out the leg color, not the dark wash or not, but the actual shade. It seems the ones I think are male have more yellowish undertone in the leg color and the ones I think are pullets, like the one in the front lower left have more grayish color. I may be all wet on this one and I didn't have much time today to really observe-it was Tom's birthday and we left the place more than once, didn't hang around here all day. Any cues of any type we can pick up on with these other than the head spot could be helpful with sexing.

With my limited knowledge I was thinking that one in the front lower left looked feminine. Those two in the back right, especially the one on the left looks to have meaty little rooster legs unless the size is distorted from the motion of them walking.

Well, it seems we have something else in common. My husband's birthday was yesterday! Please tell Tom Happy Birthday. Did Finn bring him a mouse?

 

[speckledhen]

With my limited knowledge I was thinking that one in the front lower left looked feminine. Those two in the back right, especially the one on the left looks to have meaty little rooster legs unless the size is distorted from the motion of them walking.

Well, it seems we have something else in common. My husband's birthday was yesterday! Please tell Tom Happy Birthday. Did Finn bring him a mouse?

Tell your hubby Happy Birthday, too! Ha, yes, Finn brought a mouse home. Well, it was smart and ran up a tree and he tried to go up and get it, but it kept going higher so he gave up and sat looking up. DH decided to help him and took out his BB gun and shot it down so he could get it. But, it wasn't dead just injured near the back leg, so Finn played with it awhile and then got bored and left it. And the poor injured thing went off into the leaves somewhere. Finn gave up and let it go.

Poor thing. He'll find it dead there tomorrow, I guess. I wonder how many he'd eaten before he brought that one home as a toy.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Happy birthday to Speckled Roo!

 

[speckledhen]

Happy birthday to Speckled Roo!

Thank you!