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

[robhuncor]

Quote:

We had been working on cleaning up the place before our little spills so most of it was already done, thankfully. DH had to stand and get up and down for 12 hours to do the smoking for the BBQ so he was beat. We're slowing getting better, making plans for a new, better coop that will house ALL the chickens rather than these separate coops. It will be expensive, but I hope to get some $$ from Dad's estate to do it, though not sure how long that will take. Maybe you guys can help me with the details of that, how about it?

Consolidation - that's the dream of a lot of people! Especially those of us who have expanded way more than we planned! I have 4 pens at the moment - ok for now but not good in the winter!

Here's pic of my Fluffernutter - she was so cute.

 

[speckledhen]

Consolidation - that's the dream of a lot of people! Especially those of us who have expanded way more than we planned! I have 4 pens at the moment - ok for now but not good in the winter!

Here's pic of my Fluffernutter - she was so cute.

Aw, so precious. Poor little dear.

We have planned a coop for awhile now so this isn't something new, just may be easier now. I don't count on anything, though, never do, just hope for things, basic stuff. This one will be on more level ground and the main coop and the old ladies' coop will end up being storage barn and workshop. The one Deacon is in now will be torn down. It was the first one built but not as a coop, so it is not ideal and the foundation sank a bit, twisting the building and the door frames. Mice can get into those, unfortunately, especially since some door trim rotted in the weather. I started putting mouse traps in the front storage of Deacon's side. Haven't seen evidence of them on Xander's side. Caught one each night.

 

[robhuncor]

I hope you are able to build your bigger better coop! And before winter sets in too. It's so nice when you can make things easier for yourself. If I had one big coop, I could cut down on the chore time dramatically and it would be a lot more fun. So I hope it all works out for you!

 

[speckledhen]

I hope you are able to build your bigger better coop! And before winter sets in too. It's so nice when you can make things easier for yourself. If I had one big coop, I could cut down on the chore time dramatically and it would be a lot more fun. So I hope it all works out for you!

I doubt it will be before spring that we can even dream of getting started on it. We also need a pad and carport for our vehicles as well as another vehicle to replace my 1996 Lumina, which looks pristine but is losing antifreeze, typical of this engine with 150K on it, I've found out. Already tried to fix it once but apparently, didn't work right. We'll just have to play it by ear. The new coop will have separate pens for Atlas's breeding group, Deacon with the layers, the old hens who can't be bothered with a rooster, the bantams (who are being phased out) and one extra for a broody with chicks or a bird who needs to be separated for healing up from injury, etc.

 

[1muttsfan]

Last year I made a vow to only have one pen of birds for the winter. That meant only one rooster, and rehoming both mature and young hens. I have three roosters on a separate pen that will go soon, and two pullets in with the keepers, to achieve that goal this year. But doing chores and keeping water in front of multiple pens and for the horses in the brutal cold we have been having the last few years was just too much work, and was affecting my enjoyment of having chickens at all.

 

[speckledhen]

Of course, all mine live here until they die unless it's just juveniles I'm rehoming after picking my keepers, so I have lots of old non-producing hens here, though most lay an egg on occasion. Even Amanda laid the other day and she can't even walk.

I went out for the third time this morning to see what the heck was up with all the chaos and found a Cooper's Hawk hanging on the side of the D'Anvers' covered pen. This is what has been freaking out my birds, all of them, for a week, at least in part. I saw a Redtail over Isaac's pen a couple days ago, but they're big birds so not as vulnerable as the little guys. Hawks are literally hunting my birds for the first time since I've had them, at least that I'm aware of. I've seen one or two dive for them on rare occasions, but this has been a daily occurrence with everyone hiding and freaking out. Poor little bantams are scared out of their minds.

See the two little guys in the concrete block? Good idea, boys. Note the largest cockerel is out in front of the women, though, like a good rooster should be.

 

[MistyMountain]

Cynthia,

Been following along, but so busy that I have not had much time to reply. I loved all the family pictures!

A new coop! How exciting!! Mine is on hold now that it is half done. It looks more like a covered bridge right now. It is built like a brick chicken house, though, and should outlast us even. I am excited to get everyone in there, which will happen before winter. No more dealing with the metal shed and sliding doors!

I am so sorry you have to deal with hawks. After the mess that happened in July, my birds have been stuck in the run unless we are outside. No problems for two years and then BAM. The good news is that I am seeing more bunnies, so it may be a safer time now just before the leaves fall and the hawk migration moves in.

Big decisions around here picking a new king of the coop. Blackbeard is OK, but he is no protector like Willie was. I am at no shortage of young roosters, either. Both broody hatches gave me about 6 or 7 to 2 males to females. UGH. I have a few pretty ones, but I am drawn to this less than flashy young cockerel that I have named "Marshall". He seems to seek me out and want to be near me. He will probably turn into a monster, my luck.

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

[speckledhen]

Cynthia,

Been following along, but so busy that I have not had much time to reply. I loved all the family pictures!

A new coop! How exciting!! Mine is on hold now that it is half done. It looks more like a covered bridge right now. It is built like a brick chicken house, though, and should outlast us even. I am excited to get everyone in there, which will happen before winter. No more dealing with the metal shed and sliding doors!

I am so sorry you have to deal with hawks. After the mess that happened in July, my birds have been stuck in the run unless we are outside. No problems for two years and then BAM. The good news is that I am seeing more bunnies, so it may be a safer time now just before the leaves fall and the hawk migration moves in.

Big decisions around here picking a new king of the coop. Blackbeard is OK, but he is no protector like Willie was. I am at no shortage of young roosters, either. Both broody hatches gave me about 6 or 7 to 2 males to females. UGH. I have a few pretty ones, but I am drawn to this less than flashy young cockerel that I have named "Marshall". He seems to seek me out and want to be near me. He will probably turn into a monster, my luck.

Hope you have a great weekend!

The new coop is all about making the rest of our lives easier. All birds in one coop is a dream. I may not always have the pens filled but they'll be there and available when needed. We want to start with a concrete foundation, too, not cheap but doing it right.

Yeah, those boys, you never know which ones will turn on you until they get to mating age.

 

[robhuncor]

Of course, all mine live here until they die unless it's just juveniles I'm rehoming after picking my keepers, so I have lots of old non-producing hens here, though most lay an egg on occasion. Even Amanda laid the other day and she can't even walk.

I went out for the third time this morning to see what the heck was up with all the chaos and found a Cooper's Hawk hanging on the side of the D'Anvers' covered pen. This is what has been freaking out my birds, all of them, for a week, at least in part. I saw a Redtail over Isaac's pen a couple days ago, but they're big birds so not as vulnerable as the little guys. Hawks are literally hunting my birds for the first time since I've had them, at least that I'm aware of. I've seen one or two dive for them on rare occasions, but this has been a daily occurrence with everyone hiding and freaking out. Poor little bantams are scared out of their minds.

See the two little guys in the concrete block? Good idea, boys. Note the largest cockerel is out in front of the women, though, like a good rooster should be.

They are so cute!!
So sorry about the dang hawks - I can sympathize. With 2 breeding pairs of hawks in my yard, one would think that the rodent population would be nil but NO, the place is over run with chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits. My DH always says the hawks must have left because there are rabbits everywhere but they haven't - I think they just prefer chicken! or the songbirds they can pick off out of the sky.

 

[speckledhen]

They are so cute!!
So sorry about the dang hawks - I can sympathize. With 2 breeding pairs of hawks in my yard, one would think that the rodent population would be nil but NO, the place is over run with chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits. My DH always says the hawks must have left because there are rabbits everywhere but they haven't - I think they just prefer chicken! or the songbirds they can pick off out of the sky.

The D'Anver males are adorable, and crowing already. The 3rd one is half the size he should be and his mottling gene went wild, too, leaving him with solid white feathers instead of the proper white tipped ones of the mille fleur color.

Wish the hawks would pick off the cardinals that are making good use of the bantam pen and Deacon's pen. I've never had so many wild birds in and out of a pen. The chickens won't chase them away. And Deacon isn't chasing/catching the mice in his coop or the cardinals that just sit on the ground near his feet, either. It's the only coop that is not impervious to mice. We've caught one each night for the last three nights in a trap (not even baited the second two nights) and three half grown babies in peanut butter jars.