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

[speckledhen]

While it would be disappointing if Hector did shoot himself in the foot, from what has been said and discussed on here recently it seems like Apollo has really come into his own. All the times you've put on here about Apollo being chased off by another more dominant rooster, it seems he is really starting to prove himself as a good flock leader. Just like his dad and great-grand dad.

I really don't want Hector to disappoint me, I really was beginning to like him a lot, what I call "The Good Hector". Apollo is still afraid of Hector but he has matured a great deal in recent weeks. I have faith in this line of males, though they each have their own personalities, they are all so trusthworthy.

I was on my youtube and found this short video of Atlas's sire when he was beginning to go downhill from his internal injuries sustained in the fight with Deacon. He still went out onto the ramp to watch over his hens, though you can tell he is feeling poorly. Such a good boy.

 

[speckledhen]

I had to share. I've watched this at least ten times and crack up every time. Reminds me of my boxer/retriever, Cody, who had a good "guilty face".

 

[h2oratt]

Lol, that's funny

 

[1muttsfan]

Unfortunately when you are limited to small numbers of birds there are issues that can creep in with interbreeding over the generations. While achieving a specific type to a line involves inbreeding, it needs to be thoughtfully done, and usually while hatching out many, many birds to be able to select the best individuals with no significant flaws to use for the inbreeding. Cyn is not able to do that, and over time some stagnation arose. Since Stukel birds are apparently no longer available, hopefully these birds will provide some new blood but still allow her to work towards her goals. Even if she could get a few chicks out of Hector that would mean he had also contributed.

I love Neufchatel cheese, it is a little softer than cream cheese and easier to use in cooking. It a little sharper than Cream Cheese, but I like that.

 

[speckledhen]

Unfortunately when you are limited to small numbers of birds there are issues that can creep in with interbreeding over the generations. While achieving a specific type to a line involves inbreeding, it needs to be thoughtfully done, and usually while hatching out many, many birds to be able to select the best individuals with no significant flaws to use for the inbreeding. Cyn is not able to do that, and over time some stagnation arose. Since Stukel birds are apparently no longer available, hopefully these birds will provide some new blood but still allow her to work towards her goals. Even if she could get a few chicks out of Hector that would mean he had also contributed.

I love Neufchatel cheese, it is a little softer than cream cheese and easier to use in cooking. It a little sharper than Cream Cheese, but I like that.

It's a real shame that there are so few Stukel birds available. We need there to be several really great lines to keep from over-interbreeding. You are right, I just cannot hatch that many chicks, not to do it right.

I think Jill and Mary are lovely, especially Mary's shape, very wide and round. And I love Zara's color and super crisp barring-hers is the best barring of all the younger girls. I wish I could put Lizzie with Hector, too. She has gorgeous barring and is larger than Tessa, though her comb is not very pretty, has a wave in it from somewhere. I bet I'll have a broody by Jan-Feb sometime and certainly, they will be laying by then, so we'll see what Hector throws. I don't like denying a broody her chance to raise chicks as long as I feel they can stay warm enough.

I think maybe Hector was just too full of himself the other morning and as long as he doesn't do anything worse, he will probably stay. We'll see how that tail develops over the winter by the time he's as old as Apollo. We may all be surprised! I really hope so because he has a really nice eye and head on him. I like Hector, I've found, and I just want to be able to really trust him more.

ETA: This morning, you should have seen my DH petting and talking to Hector, who jumped onto the nests for a chest rub. He can be such a pet sometimes. Truly aggressive roosters just don't do that.


The cake turned out nice, not too sweet. The frosting was great, too. DH liked it a lot so it's a keeper.

 

[speckledhen]

I was trying to do a short video when I heard a huge scuffle in the barn door. All I saw was a blur of Brahma-Barred Rock-Brahma. Apparently, Bruno finally got on Hector's last nerve. Bruno's feathers are littering the barn aisle now. Yup, I guess when he has to, Hector can put his foot down.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Is Bruno alright? Any blood drawn?

 

[speckledhen]

Is Bruno alright? Any blood drawn?

I didn't see any, but Bruno is definitely missing a few feathers. Hector seemed pretty much done with him grabbing the BR girls. Bash is just as bad about it now, too. So, Hector and Apollo have to be on their toes more now or I'll have to let them out w/o the Brahmas, which mucks up my routine I had going when they were all babies. Dang it. At least, Hector and Apollo can be out together. Xander's group and Rita's group can be out together. Atlas has to be out by himself as does the Old Hens' group (or the oldest old hens group, I should say).

Athena is still not laying. I hope she starts back just so I know she's okay. I'm not getting any from Hector's girls, the Brahma girls or Zara, having to rely on the older hens like Georgie, the Blue Rocks, and Tiny, plus Wendy, Rowena, and Tessa and Lizzie. Maretta, the 1/2 BW Ameraucana hen, started back and I have those gorgeous deep turquoise blue eggs, though they are very small for some reason. The older Stukel hens are not laying and haven't in awhile.

 

[1muttsfan]

There is no way you could run all of those boys together with such a small number of girls very long once they became big boys. now they are teenagers, and once they become adults it'll get more serious. Boys will be boys!

 

[speckledhen]

There is no way you could run all of those boys together with such a small number of girls very long once they became big boys. now they are teenagers, and once they become adults it'll get more serious. Boys will be boys!

Yeah, I know. It was nice while it lasted, though. Just the individual groups don't have enough girls for the guys as it is.

Oh, I put a reptile night spot heat bulb in a fixture on the pen wall at the end of Hector's roost. It also serves as a very low light night light-three other groups have those as well. Guess who is parked right underneath the dim glow, soaking up the little bit of warmth? Yeah, that's right. Prince Hector. He's never seen one before, but he sure figured out the best place to sit quickly.

Atlas manages to get himself right under his, too, but he has it because of his bad leg, just like Isaac did. Amanda in the Old Hens' group has a 250W red heat lamp hanging on the wall she sleeps against since she cannot get off the cold floor and, if someone is really cold and wants to risk being that close to Amanda, they can share in the warmth. But the reptile bulbs don't put off a lot of heat, only provide a very limited spot of warmth and low light for Atlas, Xander's roost, Rita's group (June is looking off again, poor girl) and now, Hector's. The Brahmas don't need it at all, certainly. And Apollo's group does not have one-Apollo's roost area is next to the wall Amanda's heat lamp is hanging on, plus that pen is very narrow and their body heat would be sufficient for that trio. If I didn't have so many older hens with arthritis, or roosters with huge combs (and Atlas's hock issue), I would have only Amanda's lamp. All are very well-secured on the welded wire fencing with hardware cloth screens over most of the bulbs. When you have so many with arthritis, I don't feel it's a bad thing to make concessions for that. Hector's is for his big honkin' comb, in case we have really frigid weather this winter.

I got a good deal on Amazon for 100W night heat spot bulbs, a package of 3 for $17. Most of the time, they are about 8-10 each at the pet store. And you really have to keep them on all winter because turning them on and off shortens their life, not something you want with an expensive bulb. They only provide a minimal heat spot directly under the bulb and almost no light, not like the big heat lamps that keep them awake too much.
This one, but the 100W, not the 150W.