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

[1muttsfan]

Gloria Jean, you will really be in trouble if you start talking to your tomatoes and petting the onions

I found out quickly after starting to keep birds that I just did not have the heart to eat the birds I had raised from chicks. Not that I mind that others eat them, or that I mind eating birds I do not know personally, but the ones I do know - they just do not taste good.

 

[speckledhen]

Rachel is broody again. She just started it today. No way I'd let her sit even if I wanted chicks because she's still bone thin. She never gained back her weight after raising the other batch. I wormed them, thinking maybe that's what she and the others needed, but nope, she's still so thin. She seems to have gained a few ounces but not nearly enough to go back on near starvation rations.


ETA: I've about decided to keep two of the BR pullets, company for the dwarf males living with them. I might sell them later, depends. With little Rocky will stay Cora, the largest and friendliest pullet. With Jet, the one I've named Lizzie, the one with the spectacular barring. I will sell the remaining pair, who are both good looking chicksters.



Lizzie.



Cora (from Last of the Mohicans):







The pair for sale.

 

[speckledhen]

@cnnrklly , check your PM's. Our notification system isn't working but maybe you'll see this on your email.

I put up an ad at the county co-op today for the BR pair. If someone begged and pleaded, I might be persuaded to sell Cora and Lizzie, too, but they'd have to pay some extra for those two pullets. Lizzie, especially, is just gorgeous, back to the true Stukel standard, though at this point, I would say they are my line, since I created Atlas and came back around again, so to speak.

The co-op has chicks this year, first time in many years, but they are from Mt. Healthy hatchery, just the usual RIR and Black Australorp pullets and some BR cockerels, some of which will probably turn out to be BSLs.

ETA: Completely off topic, baked my Lemon Lovers Pound Cake for DH to take to his study group tonight. Told him to leave it there, ALL of it! LOL. It's great with or without icing. Love our Applebee's plates. They're huge and perfect for holding a bundt cake or as chargers for smaller plates.

 

[1muttsfan]

I was hoping you would not let Lizzie go! She looks to be just what you have been breeding toward, and I'm glad to see that you have decided to keep her.

 

[speckledhen]

I was hoping you would not let Lizzie go! She looks to be just what you have been breeding toward, and I'm glad to see that you have decided to keep her.

I'm glad you approve and think she's a keeper! Yes, this is what I hoped to see out of Atlas with his mother, aunts and cousin, Dru. I don't know which hen is her mother, was just concentrating on getting eggs from the barred hens and leaving out eggs from the blacks. I guess I succeeded this time, but it's hard. Wish I could remove Wendy and Robin from that group and I did try but until I get a top on the Orp pen, they keep flying out and I can't keep them there.

 

[speckledhen]

Adding some Free Range Atlas pictures.






















Wynette, Dru upper left, Robin on the right.



And some Atlas kids, too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Those Rock hens always look like bottoms-up teapots

 

[speckledhen]

Those Rock hens always look like bottoms-up teapots

I really love my (as Cetawin would say) "big boneded" women! Dottie is my favorite because she is a big lovebug, follows me around, especially if she sees me digging or turning over rocks. And she is a fierce mama, too. Druscilla is a sweetie, but she hates to be picked up. You may pet and talk to her, but you must not hold her. Wynette likes to be picked up and insists by grabbing a pants leg, along with the flesh underneath, ouch!

Ida barely allows you to speak to her. She's gotten better as she's aged, but she usually lumbers around growling under her breath with a chicken scowl on her face, LOL. She is large and in charge in that flock. NOBODY messes with Big Ida. Gotta love my Big Ida, though, first because I just love the tough ones, but mainly because she gave me Indy and Rex, may they rest in peace, and she gave me my Atlas, who I've come to love a lot.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Love the new pics! Thank you for sharing Cyn.

 

[drumstick diva]

Love the photos