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

[1muttsfan]

My parents always declined to get involved with our squabbles as well, unless someone was going to get physically injured (he would tell us nobody likes a tattletail!). Glad that Hector is starting to get a little more involved. Sometimes the rooster will do it, sometimes it is the head hen if he is lucky enough to have a good one.

 

[speckledhen]

My parents always declined to get involved with our squabbles as well, unless someone was going to get physically injured (he would tell us nobody likes a tattletail!). Glad that Hector is starting to get a little more involved. Sometimes the rooster will do it, sometimes it is the head hen if he is lucky enough to have a good one.

Haha, it was the head hen who was fighting this time! That Thea, she's a little spitfire, I gotta say!


ETA: Removed 3 infertile Brahma eggs from under Bonnie. One of Athena's started development but has a meat spot attached to the side just under the air cell and no clear veining so I believe I'll be pulling that one by tomorrow sometime. So, that would leave 3 BRs and 1 Brahma still going under Bonnie. It's only Day 4 on Brandy. Both are sticking to the eggs perfectly. I hope they don't "do a Wynette" and slaughter the alien being as it hatches under them, not understanding what's happening the first time ((((shudder))) That was awful.


Xander is not going to make it, I feel. His crop is not impacted with fibrous stuff, it's doughy like the hens I've lost in the past whose crops just ceased to function and the food that was inside mixed with water to form a paste-like substance and just sat there. Nothing we did with those birds would kick-start the crop. We've been massaging it, pushing stuff through, but it is not moving on its own. He is drinking a lot, something I've seen chickens do when they are in that predicament and also, when they are dying.

I went back to check and Xander will turn 4 years old about March 1. So, he's older than I thought. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/800904/my-old-lady-orps-new-rooster-meet-xander

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry to read that Xander is not doing well again.

 

[holm25]

Cyn I'm sorry to hear about little Xander. Hopefully this is the last of your bad luck spell.


I do have a question. Do you still have your Tiny Terror Hen? I don't remember of hearing about her passing? And dont hear anything about her anymore?

 

[speckledhen]

Cyn I'm sorry to hear about little Xander. Hopefully this is the last of your bad luck spell.

I do have a question. Do you still have your Tiny Terror Hen? I don't remember of hearing about her passing? And dont hear anything about her anymore?

Oh, yeah, just must have missed this post about her: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/884330/the-evolution-of-atlas-a-breeding-thread-from-a-breeder-without-the-heart-of-a-breeder/4520#post_18037245
Husband had a dream not long ago that he told me about. He said all the chickens were killed by something, every last bir..except one. You can guess which one. That's actually a nightmare in more ways than just the predator story!

Xander is out there standing and sleeping. It's exactly what Suede did the last two months of his life, though his crop was always fine. But, a bantam I would think would have more issues than a 14 lb Orp. Every little thing with them is not so little, their body mass being what it is.

 

[Wyatt0224]

I'm sorry to hear about Xander. At least he will be with the girls he loves. I watched all the videos you posted a link to about Xander when he was younger. Quite the persistent little guy, also very entertaining. I'm sure he lived a long happy life with all of them.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm sorry to hear about Xander. At least he will be with the girls he loves. I watched all the videos you posted a link to about Xander when he was younger. Quite the persistent little guy, also very entertaining. I'm sure he lived a long happy life with all of them.

You know, I kept saying that it's the hens I lose and the boys, for the most part, keep trucking up into old age like Isaac and Suede. So, I'd be upset to lose Atlas or Hector or Apollo, but it would be preferable to losing a laying hen/pullet in her prime like sweet Mary. I guess old age for a bantam Cochin rooster is just not all that old in comparison to some others. He is four years old. Isaac was 6 yrs 7 mos, Suede was 5 yrs 8 mos. Rex and Deacon were both about 3 years old but they passed from internal damage due to injury so they might have lived a few more years each if that had not happened. It is what it is. Xander, at four, is an older bantam Cochin rooster. So, sad as it is, they all go before we're ready. Xander was a joy and a fun little guy to have. He never had little girls, only great big ones, and he liked it that way.

 

[speckledhen]

A few days ago, this conversation happened:

Me: You know, lately, I've had these irrational fits of happiness.
DH: (without missing a beat) That is irrational.

So, I'm doing this today:

 

[1muttsfan]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have been a bit happier lately too. I think it's the increase in daylight, my roosters are starting to fight and I'm feeling optimistic about spring arriving early. Another beautiful quilt. Glad you are feeling happier too, you've had a rough month.