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

[speckledhen]

Even though in your mind you know the loss is coming, your heart is never prepared. Yes, the dynamics will change some, and everyone will seem a bit "lost" at first, but within several days, they will resume normal coop life.

Glad Finn came home safely. I'd have a firm talking-to with him, because of the wild pack animals, and stray dogs in the area. Will he listen? Probably not, but it's worth a try. I did the "stay in your yard" command with mine, every time I let my dogs out. While it did not work every time, over time, it worked more often than not.

My disadvantage with Finn is that he had a year and a half of life before deciding to live here, if the vet was correct about his age. He's smart, but he's such a cat sometimes, if you know what I mean. Not sure I could get him to stay anywhere.

 

[getaclue]

Yes, cats are independent thinkers. They have their own ideas about things. Being a bit older when he adopted you, means he's probably a little more set in his ways too. I've got two cats myself, so I fully understand. I have a "brat cat" too. There are things she knows she's not to do, like jumping up on my kitchen counters, and going into the garage. For the most part she's good, and stays off the counters. When we first moved in here, she simply had to inspect every square inch of this place, including the counters, and garage. She seemed to think that moving into a new home meant the rules were temporarily suspended for her, or something like that.

 

[speckledhen]

Pictures today.

Hector's group. Mary and Jill on the bar next to him.






Apollo and Hector, sort of together, with their girls.



My reduced-by-two Old Hens' group, poor gals. It looks so sparse in there now.



and, this is truly the other Old Hens' group, though there are some slightly younger gals in it. The larger EE hen, June, is almost 9 years old, Georgie the Delaware is almost 8 years old. The blue girls and Rita the red hen are going on 7 years old. Maretta, the smaller EE hen, will be 6 years old in April, so she's the "baby" of the group.





Xander, the Munchkin Dictator, has Atlas's sisters, Wendy and Rowena, as well as almost 9 year old Blue Orp, Dusty.





And poor, poor Lizzie, trying to get over her first big (and really bad) molt. Her comb is still shrunken and gray, she's still thin, but oh, those gorgeous barred feathers are back. And Gloria Jean, the splash Rock, who is the same age as the original Stukel hens and Maretta, going on 6 years old in April.






Color on Piney Mtn...soon it will be all gray and yucky for months.

 

[getaclue]

BEAUTIFUL!

 

[Wyatt0224]

All of the birds look great!

 

[holm25]

Beautiful birds as usual Cyn!!

 

[speckledhen]

All of the birds look great!

Thanks!

BEAUTIFUL!

Thank you.

Beautiful birds as usual Cyn!!

Thanks, Isaiah! Hope you're ready for winter out there!


In Chicken Asylum news today, Hector was good. Yes, he was good. He jumped onto the nest to get closer to DH, who petted him and told him what a good boy he was. Hector didn't mind. So, he's been a very good boy lately. Maybe his brain is catching up to his body at last, lol

Second story: Ida jumped Tessa under the feeder in the food tray today. Not sure what Tessa did, but Ida was livid about something and wouldn't let her go. I saw her come out with feathers in her mouth, then Atlas jumped Ida to mate her. Not sure what kind of punishment message that sends, but whatever. Ida kicked Tessa's butt.

Third story: Atlas tried to mate Wynette on the roost shelf. She struggled so much, she fell backwards between the steps and was hanging from Atlas's beak holding her head feathers, scared me to death! I thought she was going to break her neck when she finally dropped to the floor. Smooth, Atlas, real smooth.

Fourth, Atlas is having lots of issues with his right hock joint. He flexes and holds his leg back a lot in recent days. I hope it doesn't get as bad as his grandpa Isaac's was, poor guy. I trimmed his spurs a little (they were clacking together) as well as trimmed little Xander's yesterday. They both still have quite respectable length spurs but maybe they can both sit down better, at least.


Oh, almost forgot! Dusty, my big old Blue Orp hen, has a "thang" for Apollo. She flirts shamelessly and follows him around, putting him in mortal munchkin danger from Xander. But, when Apollo dances for her, she stares him directly in the face and growls at him, LOL.

 

[GabrielBane]

Gorgeous flock, @speckledhen !

 

[speckledhen]

Gorgeous flock, @speckledhen !

Thanks a bunch! They are a pretty good bunch for old folks, youngster groups excepted. Some show their age in their faces, others don't.

 

[GingersHuman]

Great recent stories and events!

Mine, not so great. Lost 2 to a hawk attack, including my favorite bantam cockerel