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

[speckledhen]

Mom has AC but is refusing to turn it on. Which is fine except her room is the coolest in the house, and the guest room (mine) is the hottest. She says if I just sit still I'll be fine

No AC at my house either, but usually it rarely reaches 80, and I have ceiling fans all over.

Yeah, we don't use even the window A/C unless it gets close to 90* and we really are suffering close to bedtime. A normal summer would see that thing rarely turned on. The ceiling fan in my bedroom lost its receiver capability. It is a remote only fan and it's stuck on medium. Have to take it apart and see what's wrong. The remote is working but the receiver isn't getting the signal so I flip it on and off at the wall switch, but wish it had been stuck on high now!

Cyn everything looks great! I havent been on much lately so had some reading to do! All the babies look great!

Miss you, Isaiah! Thanks for dropping in.

 

[speckledhen]

And Baby Brahmas, 5 Days Old

 

[1muttsfan]

Well if she has her own chair she is going to have to stay

Bet those Brahmas are easier to photograph than the BR's

 

[speckledhen]

Well if she has her own chair she is going to have to stay

Bet those Brahmas are easier to photograph than the BR's

Well, she commandeered my chair! Bad Athena. I had to temporarily string an 8' section of the plastic garden fencing at the top of her pen wall between their pen and Rita's group because I'd come in to find both Athena and Zara on top of the fence, swaying precariously back and forth. Why, I have no idea. I'd sometimes find Zara in with Rita's bunch. That group is not used to them and therefore, mean to them, and it can't be comfy to sit up there. But I was afraid they'd be hurt jumping down so had to stop that nonsense. Never found Apollo up there, only the girls.

The Brahmas have nowhere to run from me, lol. They were not happy with the camera today. When they're a week old, I'll try introducing them to the Dirty Dozen, who will appear to be giants next to them, I realize, but just two scant weeks between them should be fine brooding them together.

I was counting pullets this morning and I am pretty sure I have six, maybe even seven, BR pullets. I hope so! I can't keep all of them, but it sure makes it easier to rehome the males if there's a pretty girl to go with them. Of course, I'll keep one of the boys, just have to wait and see which one is the best of the lot. There are two that look really good right now even at this age, but they change so much, you never know.


ETA: Today, it got up to 90* in the barn with all doors and windows open and all fans blowing. I opened it up about 7 a.m. and it was about 65* then. The Dirty Dozen were out in their pen almost all day.

 

[1muttsfan]

When I have combined chicks of different ages the bigger ones are usually terrified of the littles. 2 weeks would be about my max too though.

 

[speckledhen]

When I have combined chicks of different ages the bigger ones are usually terrified of the littles. 2 weeks would be about my max too though.

I've seen that happen, too, big ones frightened of the tiny ones, LOL. I am getting a feeder ready for them, and using a plastic tray to put it in this time. There's feed all over the little coop the Dirty Dozen are living in. The Brahmas are a week old tomorrow, the dozen are 3 weeks old and it's so darn hot that might be a good time for them to go out there.

Trimmed about 1/4" off each of Atlas's spurs, mainly because they stick straight out and clack against each other. He is SUPER strong! I don't think I've ever had that much trouble holding a rooster for a spur trim, but with all his struggling and his beak right against my arm, he never offered to so much as nip me. He never has, such a good boy.

We did little Xander's, which were curved up and so long that I felt he'd have issues sitting down. Now, that boy is much more likely to bite someone than Atlas! But, he's a munchkin so not a problem to hold at all. He did try to bite DH's leather gloves he wears for protection when we do the trims, but not Atlas. Love my big guy.



ETA: I think I'll move Apollo, Athena and Zara into Rita's group, no Atlas to contend with for awhile. Then, I can move the Dirty Dozen into that 5x8 pen and move the Brahmas into the little coop until they feather some more and get a tad stronger. Then, in a couple of weeks, I can integrate them with the BRs in the barn and start the weeding out process. Remember, I cannot keep these as long as is optimal to pick my keepers. I'll have to go on slightly early impressions because that 5x8 pen will not hold 21 birds for an extended period. I mean they cannot grow out to near laying age, though I could send the pullets out to live with the old ladies or with Xander's group temporarily (though Xander is really persnickety about new girls- having started with large fowl Orps, he is very partial to the big butt girls. Took him forever to accept Ro and Wendy. Maybe he'd like a Brahma, LOL)


....I moved them in with Atlas and DH put in some extra small roosts for them to have places to escape that the Big Evil Hens can't really go. A storm is coming in but after our rain event is over, maybe tomorrow or Thursday, I'll move the Dirty Dozen into the barn and the Brahmas into the other coop for a bit; I guess I could just move them to the barn. What do you think? Just put them together? It's in the 80's in the day and mid-to-high 60's at night in there. I can hang a 75W dark red reptile bulb low down for a "huddle spot".

 

[speckledhen]

The Dirty Dozen in their new grow-out pen in the barn. I counted six girls, definitely, possibly seven.







By the way, one of the pullets is a biter. She's bitten me three times. Today, when I put my hand down, she bit the meaty part of my palm, held on and flogged me with her little feet! She sure has an attitude! (yes, I'm sure it's one of the pullets).

 

[uphilljill]

They will try to eat anything lol

 

[1muttsfan]

I would name that one History

 

[speckledhen]

They will try to eat anything lol

Little minx is super feisty. She didn't want to be picked up and let me know in no uncertain terms.

I would name that one History

if she doesn't calm down, she will be! LOL. Silly little thing. See, this is probably why I fall in love with the males-they rarely give me any trouble. Crazy wenches are always in the fray, messing with my intentional solitude, ha! I commiserate with Atlas daily about his women, how they cause trouble daily. We've decided they all need a thunk in the head.

Let's just say that among the ones who are paired up with the extra males to go to new homes, she will be among them if this keeps up. Surely, at three weeks, it's just goofy chick stuff, though. I've never had an aggressive BR hen. Grouchy, yes, but aggressive, no, not unless you count Lizzie on the nest. She's worse normally than Tessa is in a broody state. Tessa is sweet even broody (to us, anyway). Lizzie will take your hand off.