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

[drumstick diva]

Not so sure I like the "mind control," business

 

[1muttsfan]

I think I confused them

 

[speckledhen]

Not so sure I like the "mind control," business

Better stay away from those thought suckers then!

I think I confused them

Yeah, probably, and they didn't know how to ask, "say WHAT???"

 

[speckledhen]

While poop-scooping this morning, was puzzling over this dwarf gene thing. It's highly probable that Atlas's sire, Rex, did not even have one. Deacon is out of Isaac over Tiny. Of course, other than some Sumatra in her Ameraucana lineage, I have no idea what other genes Tiny may possess, but we do know that the Delaware line has one or more of the types of dwarfism. So, little Rocky and his Dellie-colored brother obviously got a gene from Deacon.

As far as their mother, Sammie Jo, her parents were Rex and Delia. Both of those had BR mothers, no dwarf gene on that BR side. Rex and Delia were both sired by Isaac out of one of the Stukel BR hens. Sammie Jo could have received her gene from her mother. I would think that if she got it from Rex as well, that she would not be the decent sized hen she is, most likely would have been a dwarf or shown some of the telltale traits of possessing that gene, rather than just be a carrier of one dwarf gene. So, Deacon and Sammie both passed their copies to Rocky, certainly, and made a dwarf. The other male at least possesses the gene; he could actually be considered a dwarf for all I know. He is definitely somewhat short legged, short necked and has that not-quite-right head shape, though larger than teensy Rocky.

My purpose in saying all this is that if Rex did not have a dwarf gene, then Atlas definitely does not. Nor do the black hens, nor do Rowena or Rachel, all out of Rex over the Stukel BR hens. With the limited number of chicks hatched from Atlas over the Stukels as well as his half sisters, not one is "wrong". They all appear healthy and properly sized, other than the usual "one is bigger than the other" size differences you see in siblings. So, I feel better after having thought this one out. Both dwarf males are out of Deacon and Sammie, never one that even hinted at it out of Atlas and any of his hens.



The little goofballs today. That cockerel is still not fully feathered at 6 weeks. Maretta should be pushing them away soon so the trio will go together. Still not 100% sure on the other barred chick with Aimee. Tall, upright stance and some pink in the wattles, but very darkly barred (though super crisp) with very blackish leg fronts all the way down, no red or enlarged comb. By six weeks, you'd think we'd know who is who.

 

[speckledhen]

WHAT IS IT?????

​

So, single barred male? Tall pullet with pinkish wattles? WHAT??? 6 weeks old now.














And is it a dwarf or just carries the gene? Larger than teensy Rocky but still short with sort of curved beak, odd head shape.

 

[holm25]

That pullet/ cockerel is a tough one... I would say pullet but that's just me...

 

[chickenneighbor]

Either way, you could name it "Pat!" (Remember SLN?)

 

[1muttsfan]

It just looks very boyish.

 

[speckledhen]

It just looks very boyish.

And that's all I am really going on at this point. Usually, by now, I know for sure what I have. The only way I'd get a single barred male is if one of the black hens' eggs was put under the broody. Should not get one of those out of Atlas with any Stukel hen or either of his barred half sisters.

 

[drumstick diva]

yet another mystery of life...