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

[speckledhen]

There is something about a line of pavers that I enjoy looking at, the rest is frosting on the cake.

I have a question, have you ever seen a young chick try to mate with younger chicks? I am trying to add my 3 barnevelder chicks, a little over a week to my other batch, about 3 weeks but I have one that was pecking them excessively on the head, that I swear fake mated the ground while holding the chicks head. Needless to say I will keep my barnevelder separately for now. The older chick in question could be one of my roosters but is too young to be definite, but it does have thick legs. I haven't observed something like that before at that age.

Yes, and I've had a 4-5 week old chick fake-mate his broody mama, too! It's weird!

Speckled, your place is really looking nice. Especially the garden. I LOVE butternut squash! Glad you got volunteers.

Just to let you know, I cry like a baby on processing day, or when I have to cull. I hope I will always be that way, having respect for life. I never want to be so callous that taking a life doesn't bother me. While it may upset me, there are times that culling an animal is the most humane thing to do. Our animals trust us with their lives, and well being, but they trust us to deal with their overabundant, prolonged suffering too. It still hurts though. My heart goes out to you both.

On a positive note, I'm in lockdown, already have an external pip, and plenty of the eggs are rocking.

Thanks, I know you understand. Carly was a little spitfire in life, flogging her own rooster, keeping everyone in line, tugging on our pants legs for attention. We sure loved her and will miss her terribly.

Hi, I don't know why I never get alerts when there are new posts here. Sorry for all your losses. I know it must hurt.

Thank you. Go back through your settings again and re-save them, maybe that will help.

 

[speckledhen]

The driveway game cam location came in handy. Caught two strange vehicles in my driveway, coming all the way to the house, one on June 2 and one on June 4, which makes me very nervous. Considering where we live, this is not normal, not at all. The first time, I can tell that both our vehicles are home, but the second time, the Rogue is gone, which means Tom was in town and I was home alone-when we go together, the driveway gate is shut with a chain around it. He's gotten lax about closing it when he goes to town by himself because of his back, getting in and out to do it, but from now on, he's going to close it. It's usually closed when we are both home, too, but apparently, he'd come home on June 2 and left it open. Not anymore!

 

[kitkat5505]

The driveway game cam location came in handy. Caught two strange vehicles in my driveway, coming all the way to the house, one on June 2 and one on June 4, which makes me very nervous. Considering where we live, this is not normal, not at all. The first time, I can tell that both our vehicles are home, but the second time, the Rogue is gone, which means Tom was in town and I was home alone-when we go together, the driveway gate is shut with a chain around it. He's gotten lax about closing it when he goes to town by himself because of his back, getting in and out to do it, but from now on, he's going to close it. It's usually closed when we are both home, too, but apparently, he'd come home on June 2 and left it open. Not anymore! View attachment 1037656 View attachment 1037657 View attachment 1037658 View attachment 1037659

Creepy! Hopefully it was just people that got lost and used your driveway to turn around, and not weirdos up to something.

And your pathway is looking great. I love a nice defined path, organized space makes me happy.

 

[speckledhen]

Creepy! Hopefully it was just people that got lost and used your driveway to turn around, and not weirdos up to something.

And your pathway is looking great. I love a nice defined path, organized space makes me happy.

That last part sounds like my husband. Our farm and all the wild stuff is chaos to him.

As far as the two strangers in the driveway, they could have turned around without coming all 200 ft down to the house-that part creeps me out big-time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We aren't as isolated as you, but I still get nervous about people in my driveway. That's a great placing and use of a game camera. Trust no one is my motto.

Thank you for the information about young roosters and their shenanigans. I haven't ever personally witnessed such behaviors. I have already decided that that one won't be staying long term. I prefer more lazy gentle roosters with manners. I believe a few of my Orpington and barnevelder that I hatched are boys, especially since some are still nearly naked where the others are feathering nicely.

 

[1muttsfan]

Maybe a sign at the end of the driveway that says "SMILE FOR THE SECURITY CAMERAS"

I am more like you, my yard blends in well with the surrounding woods. I like the organic edge-of-wilderness look.

 

[speckledhen]

I like order, but I also don't like stuff truly "manicured". Good thing, that, since no way this couple could keep it that way!

Was checking out signs online.

 

[speckledhen]

My brother-in-law has been taken to the hospice facility. They were coming once a week to check on him in his apt, but he has taken a fast downhill slide over the past few weeks. Last night his oxygen level dropped to 52 while on oxygen and was there for an unknown length of time until the hospice nurse came and put a mask on his face. So, I'm sure his organs have begun to shut down, though to what degree, we don't know for sure. But, this is what cigarettes will do to you. Both his parents died with COPD and his dad added lung cancer and leukemia to that as well. Thankfully, Tom never smoked and neither did I, though we did get some second hand smoke, him more than me since only my mother smoked.

Apparently, he may be moved to a care facility if he improves, but we all know that COPD is terminal and he is in the last stages of it. So, it's stressing my husband and his sister. His other sister just left on a cruise vacation after her job was over for the summer so she doesn't know yet.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry. As a person that was dumb enough to smoke I know what a wicked addiction smoking is, you can never imagine it will be you that dies from it. I'm glad to be free, the stuff should be as illegal as any other drug in my opinion. It is a horrible end, again I'm sorry.

 

[1muttsfan]

I'm sorry to hear that, although expected either that or worse news.