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

[speckledhen]

I love those girls, very sweet, though Emily hates to be picked up and messed with. If the males had not had side sprigs, I might have kept one, but more than one did, plus Emily, so I decided to keep the blue girls and Em. The next year, I got more of them, but only hatched Gloria Jean from that batch, plus a splash male, if I remember right. They've been fun to have, and of course, beautiful girls.
Check out the Hector thread for a bit of not-so-great news....

 

[speckledhen]

Now that the five chicks are over 6 weeks old, I am second-guessing my decision that Drea is a pullet. Still does not have the base of the comb like a male, but this is a tough one because of her barring. Definitely a Stukel, and the entire body, everything is different than the obvious cockerels. What do you think? Is she a pullet for sure?

For comparison, the cockerels, both with bright pink-red stand-up combs:

and the two Hector pullets:

 

[1muttsfan]

hmmmm...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think you have a sneaky cockeral, those with lower hormones often make the better roosters in my opinion, but I guess you will know for sure in another few weeks.

 

[speckledhen]

hmmmm...

Exactly.

I think you have a sneaky cockeral, those with lower hormones often make the better roosters in my opinion, but I guess you will know for sure in another few weeks.

I don't recall a cockerel showing up like this, but anything is possible with chickens, as you know. We shall see. If Drea is a male, then I have only one usable pullet. The smallest one is just too small, IMO. What do you think? You see the huge size difference in the two dark pullets?

I could be completely wrong about who is who. Could be that Drea is a Stukel male and the other two are both Jill & Hector sons, with one pullet from Jill and the other from Dru or Wynette. Maybe it would be a good thing to just sell them all. I knew it was probably a mistake to put Dru and Wynette's eggs in that batch under a broody.

Right now, I'm just so tired and sick of the whole thing and summer coming on doesn't help. I never feel great all summer long because of the headaches brought on by the heat/humidity and all the outside work that has to be done in that. I'm about ready to sell Hector with Tessa and Lizzie and put Jill, Thea and Ro in with Atlas, who is bound to lose one or two of his in the not-too-distant future, considering their ages and Ida's pendulous crop. And then, forget about breeding BRs at all, let the dwarfs fall where they may.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Exactly.



I don't recall a cockerel showing up like this, but anything is possible with chickens, as you know. We shall see. If Drea is a male, then I have only one usable pullet. The smallest one is just too small, IMO. What do you think? You see the huge size difference in the two dark pullets?

I could be completely wrong about who is who. Could be that Drea is a Stukel male and the other two are both Jill & Hector sons, with one pullet from Jill and the other from Dru or Wynette. Maybe it would be a good thing to just sell them all. I knew it was probably a mistake to put Dru and Wynette's eggs in that batch under a broody.

Right now, I'm just so tired and sick of the whole thing and summer coming on doesn't help. I never feel great all summer long because of the headaches brought on by the heat/humidity and all the outside work that has to be done in that. I'm about ready to sell Hector with Tessa and Lizzie and put Jill, Thea and Ro in with Atlas, who is bound to lose one or two of his in the not-too-distant future, considering their ages and Ida's pendulous crop. And then, forget about breeding BRs at all, let the dwarfs fall where they may.

There is quite a size difference on your pullets, though both look healthy, maybe just a runt.

You and I are having the same kind of summer, I can't tend to my poultry properly due to some hernias, and I am frustrated by it. I have threatened to fill the freezer with half of them. Now I must have yet another surgery in August to fix my multiple hernias caused by a problem incision from 2 other surgeries. I am tired too, and hate summer and hot weather.

I think you should go back to those gorgeous Orpingtons, my favorite breed.

 

[speckledhen]

There is quite a size difference on your pullets, though both look healthy, maybe just a runt.

You and I are having the same kind of summer, I can't tend to my poultry properly due to some hernias, and I am frustrated by it. I have threatened to fill the freezer with half of them. Now I must have yet another surgery in August to fix my multiple hernias caused by a problem incision from 2 other surgeries. I am tired too, and hate summer and hot weather.

I think you should go back to those gorgeous Orpingtons, my favorite breed.

Oh, you and I must commiserate more often, LOL. My Brahmas give me far less trouble than any of my other birds so that's my "big bird" of the moment, though, my BBS Orps were wonderful. I still have old Dusty, though she is half-blind now, but she is cantankerous as ever!


I swear, some days I think I should go with more low-maintenance type birds with smaller bodies, maybe those very independent, super foragers, the Egyptian Fayoumis, and some guineas. Nothing that wants to be held all the time and can get more of their own food. The guinea males just chase each other around in spring and they pair up, don't fight other times, very different from chicken roosters. And the Fayoumis are said to be highly disease resistant, which is an unusual statement to find about any chicken breed.

Hector's loudmouth caterwauling is enough to make someone go get a shotgun after him, I swear.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here is one of my Blue Rock girls.
View attachment 1047532

@speckledhen
Where did you get the blue rocks? They are very beautiful! Also, what is the temperament? Do you sell them?

 

[speckledhen]

@speckledhen
Where did you get the blue rocks? They are very beautiful! Also, what is the temperament? Do you sell them?

Thanks. I hatched them from eggs from halo in Florida (Kathy), but I don't believe she has them any more. I did not keep a rooster. Temperament is much like the barreds, friendly and sweet.

 

[robhuncor]

And then, forget about breeding BRs at all, let the dwarfs fall where they may.[/QUOTE]
But seriously, downsizing is a good thing at this stage of life. I'm doing it myself. And you do love those big gentle Brahmas. You won't be chicken-less! And think how nice it will be to not have to wrack your brain trying to figure out who to put in with who and who can go out with who. You'll have a lot less work. I think it's a good decision - if you decide to do it.