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

[1muttsfan]

He looks like a Tank in the pictures, but also unbalanced - due partly to the missing tail, no doubt.

 

[speckledhen]

He looks like a Tank in the pictures, but also unbalanced - due partly to the missing tail, no doubt.

I do think that's it, the lack of a tail. He is very, very broad. His chest could be rounder/deeper, but he's also still young. If he'll keep improving in his interactions with me, we'll see what he turns into, finally. It's just taking awhile!


I've been meaning to tell you that when I found the eggs that day from both Athena and Zara, I think they were both Athena's. I believe I just missed her first one and only found it the next day when there were two eggs. I have not seen Zara in a nest one time, nor have I seen her submit to Apollo. She is 30 weeks old now, too, so I have a normal layer and a very late layer. I'm hoping that Jill and Mary lay soon. Hard to gauge when Thea will. Jill seems the most mature in her face. Those girls are 21 weeks old, along with Hector.

WE NEED EGGS! We are feeding so many non--producers and almost-never-producers since my elderly hens just keep on trucking, plus several hens have gone through two full molts this year for some reason, including Atlas's sister, Wendy, one of my very best layers. She's thin and bare right now, again.

 

[GingersHuman]

WE NEED EGGS! We are feeding so many non--producers and almost-never-producers since my elderly hens just keep on trucking, plus several hens have gone through two full molts this year for some reason, including Atlas's sister, Wendy, one of my very best layers. She's thin and bare right now, again.

I know what you mean! I've been having to buy eggs, which stinks. We have 17 birds and have been getting 1 egg per day usually, 6 days a week, from my WLH Cotton. Everyone else is too old, too young, broody, molting, or a rooster!

 

[speckledhen]

I know what you mean! I've been having to buy eggs, which stinks. We have 17 birds and have been getting 1 egg power day usually, 6 days a week, from my WLH Cotton. Everyone else is too old, too young, broody, molting, or a rooster!

I am relying on Tessa and Athena, Atlas's daughters, plus Rowena who is Atlas's other sister, right now. Lizzie, who is slightly older than Tessa, is in her first really big molt, not feeling well at all. Six year old Alice is laying every couple of days. This is her first laying session in close to a year and it will dry up soon, I'm sure. I have about nine pullets on the verge of laying and if they start, we'll be good again, but until then, it's one or two per day, not enough for folks who use almost a half dozen each day.

 

[GingersHuman]

I am relying on Tessa and Athena, Atlas's daughters, plus Rowena who is Atlas's other sister, right now. Lizzie, who is slightly older than Tessa, is in her first really big molt, not feeling well at all. Six year old Alice is laying every couple of days. This is her first laying session in close to a year and it will dry up soon, I'm sure. I have about nine pullets on the verge of laying and if they start, we'll be good again, but until then, it's one or two per day, not enough for folks who use almost a half dozen each day.

I've got 3 pullets about to start laying hopefully. That's not counting the bantams as they are notoriously bad layers. And another 2 that should start laying after molting.

 

[1muttsfan]

So how many eggs did Lizzie lay before she molted? 5 or 6?

I have 5 young pullets who have just started laying, cute little blue eggs. Since I gave away most of my layers they are very welcome.

 

[speckledhen]

So how many eggs did Lizzie lay before she molted? 5 or 6?

I have 5 young pullets who have just started laying, cute little blue eggs. Since I gave away most of my layers they are very welcome.

No, Lizzie has been laying for quite awhile now. She was a late layer, yes, but she laid quite a few, THANK GOODNESS! I can't recall how old she is but well over a year, you know, the age for the first molt, probably around 18 months old. She and Tessa were my workhorses, followed by Wendy and Rowena, who are same age as Atlas, 2 1/2 years.

 

[GingersHuman]

I've got 3 pullets about to start laying hopefully. That's not counting the bantams as they are notoriously bad layers. And another 2 that should start laying after molting.

Counted the weeks and my 3 pullets will be 20 weeks tomorrow! Come on eggs!

 

[speckledhen]

Counted the weeks and my 3 pullets will be 20 weeks tomorrow! Come on eggs!

Let's hope they are nothing like Lizzie and Zara and make you wait two more months or more!

 

[GingersHuman]

Let's hope they are nothing like Lizzie and Zara and make you wait two more months or more!

I sure hope not, but I'm afraid the shorter days are only going to extend the time til that first egg. Their combs are getting more pink now though, but not red yet, and they haven't started squatting for my rooster Smudge yet either. Though nobody squats for him, poor guy, haha.