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

[drumstick diva]

Hugs to all who need them

 

[speckledhen]

Hugs to all who need them

You're a dear, you know. Thanks. Poor Michelle. I haven't lost any to predators yet, but I am so afraid my number may be up with the pressure I feel around here, hearing foxes all the time. Saw a dead coyote on the highway near me yesterday, hear them occasionally, so they are all around me. Finn even slept in the house all night last night, not his usual at all. He must have been nervous about something out there.

 

[crazyhen]

Cindy,

A few yrs. ago we had cyotes up the kazu but I have yet to hear them this yr. strange how preditors come and go. I do have hawks again now so no free ranging for my hens on my big grassed areas. Sad they would really enjoy it. I saw a hugh hawk grap a mallord duck two days ago. I never realized they were that strong before. Scary. I want to take in the back hill in the woods with a fence to let the hens in it.It has lots of tree cover. But that hawk is scary. The run they have is a nice one behind their coop but it is down to just the soil now. It is covered. Some of my hens are molting NOW! I didn't think it was that time already. Have any of yours started it yet this summer. I have a fan bringing air through the coop so they are not getting to hot. Lots of water available and flock raiser higher protein feed. No reason to molt. I checked for buggies too. Non seen.

 

[speckledhen]

Cindy,

A few yrs. ago we had cyotes up the kazu but I have yet to hear them this yr. strange how preditors come and go. I do have hawks again now so no free ranging for my hens on my big grassed areas. Sad they would really enjoy it. I saw a hugh hawk grap a mallord duck two days ago. I never realized they were that strong before. Scary. I want to take in the back hill in the woods with a fence to let the hens in it.It has lots of tree cover. But that hawk is scary. The run they have is a nice one behind their coop but it is down to just the soil now. It is covered. Some of my hens are molting NOW! I didn't think it was that time already. Have any of yours started it yet this summer. I have a fan bringing air through the coop so they are not getting to hot. Lots of water available and flock raiser higher protein feed. No reason to molt. I checked for buggies too. Non seen.

GJ, many of mine have had multiple molts, not just one. Must be the weird weather patterns, not sure what else would cause it.

 

[holm25]

I was told by a breeder that when birds molt early they r poorer egg producers

 

[speckledhen]

I was told by a breeder that when birds molt early they r poorer egg producers

But what's early? They molt around the age of 18-20 months of age, so whenever they turn that age, that's when their first molt is, whether winter or summer. There isn't a specific time of year for the molt, as far as I can tell. Mine all molt at different times, not at the same time of year. Could be because they range in age from 9 years down to 18 weeks. Of course, when a hen has been broody, she goes into a molt automatically, from the reduced feed and water.

 

[speckledhen]

Son of Atlas and Ida is calm and sweet and seems to have the perfect little comb. He is almost 3 weeks old and naked as he can be, LOL. He needs a name, whether or not he stays here. I removed Dottie from her eggs I let her have yesterday because she refused to settle in the broody cage and I will not allow her to brood in the main coop with Atlas. It's too hot and too much of a hassle to check those eggs and remove others every day, risking the incubating ones being cracked. I'm tempted, though, to give her three of her own back. I know, I'm bad.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

I was told by a breeder that when birds molt early they r poorer egg producers

I believe this! I have a 1 year old Buff who has been in a soft molt since May and she has never been a great layer. When she first started laying everything was fine for a few months and then she started laying soft shells. I tried everything to fix the soft shell laying problem and nothing worked. She hasn't laid an egg since the middle of May but I am actually glad because she is more of a pet than anything and since she is obviously predisposed to laying issues I would rather her not lay than risk the problems that can come with internal laying.

 

[speckledhen]

I think it's not early molters but long time molters that are poorer layers, overall. Molting is not a certain time of year thing but really depends on age of the bird from what I've seen, certainly, the first molt is at 18-20 months of age, whenever that happens. The short period molters being better layers I can verify to some extent. One of my best ever layers would lay 7 days a week, which blew my mind. She took 2 weeks off to molt and was right back at it. She only took a day off every couple of weeks, though it is said that can't happen. Sadly, that also can shorten their lifespan, never taking a decent break. So, it's a tradeoff, IMO.

 

[speckledhen]

Oooh, lookie what I have! Two very, very rare heirloom Ruby Orr tomatoes! The largest one is 26.75 ounces! The Goliath we grew that I'm holding next to it is 12.5 oz, huge, but still less than half the size of the Ruby Orr, which is found only in Robbinsville, NC. A farmer friend here in the county gifted us with these and we will save the seed and try to grow these next year. Very excited! He says they are the best sandwich tomatoes.
Here is the only right up I could find about Ruby Orr: https://myfolia.com/plants/10-tomato-solanum-lycopersicum/varieties/132276-ruby-orr