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

[speckledhen]

The video of the chicks is a riot. Love the way you say "you little snot". The sidewalk project is shaping up very nice.

That little brat has been especially evil today! I wanted to call him something else, but that was family friendly, LOL.

@1muttsfan, @oldhenlikesdogs what do you think of "Drea/Drew"? That one is still making me go back and forth.

 

[1muttsfan]

I can't do a fixer upper at this stage, it's just not in me anymore.

I would say not, especially after all the work to recover from the fire.

Like the Avatar, I may be slow, but did you change it recently?

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh and at this point kind of looks like maybe 3 boys, unfortunately. But time will tell, and sometimes we get a surprise.

 

[speckledhen]

I can't do a fixer upper at this stage, it's just not in me anymore.

I would say not, especially after all the work to recover from the fire.

Like the Avatar, I may be slow, but did you change it recently?

Yes, I got a better photo of the big guy. Such a love, he is. It was Bash before, just not as good of a picture. Hector may have to earn his way back or he may never be my avatar. I call him a goober several times a day.

Oh and at this point kind of looks like maybe 3 boys, unfortunately. But time will tell, and sometimes we get a surprise.

That is the slowest boy, if it is one. But it's a big chick, too, so who knows? If that is the case, though, would you keep the smaller pullet since there are only two, or would you let her go with one of the boys? The larger one, I'm calling MaryJo and she will definitely stay. All of them are so sweet and follow me everywhere. I WILL NOT KEEP A BOY THIS TIME, I WILL NOT! someone, help me and take these fast

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That little brat has been especially evil today! I wanted to call him something else, but that was family friendly, LOL.

@1muttsfan, @oldhenlikesdogs what do you think of "Drea/Drew"? That one is still making me go back and forth.

I think Drew. Your Brahma boys, wow, they are really going at it, and so young too.

 

[speckledhen]

I think Drew. Your Brahma boys, wow, they are really going at it, and so young too.

And they've been at it all.........day...............long.

Well, regarding Drea/Drew, of course, there can be individual differences as well as difference in the lines. Hector matured super fast, as you probably recall, so maybe one or both of the known males are his and Jill's. The other one is a Stukel, no doubt in my mind, but I'm guessing as you are now, that it's a slower maturing male. And it's so sweeeeeet! Ack! Maybe that's a clue, the boys are sweet and the girls take longer to get there. Ladyhawk always said that was her sexing method. If it was a cockerel, it would come right up to her without hesitation, could almost bank on it every time, LOL. Going by that, it's Drew.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would not keep any hen for breeding if she was significantly small for her breed. Only a small percent of offspring are likely to be good enough to produce the next generation. Since you have a small flock, you need to be especially cautious about the birds you keep or pass on. You will, I am sure, have more than enough better birds to pick from. And it seems like you always find homes for the extras.

 

[speckledhen]

I would not keep any hen for breeding if she was significantly small for her breed. Only a small percent of offspring are likely to be good enough to produce the next generation. Since you have a small flock, you need to be especially cautious about the birds you keep or pass on. You will, I am sure, have more than enough better birds to pick from. And it seems like you always find homes for the extras.

I do feel she is quite small, compared to MaryJo, certainly. She is more like 4 weeks old rather than 6 weeks, IMO. She will be a pretty girl, of course, but I think the best thing to do is just keep MaryJo for now. I'm sure I'll have another broody by and by and she will get eggs from only Hector's pen, so no question of who is who.

 

[speckledhen]

Almost done, almost. Have to get more of the M10 from the pile (there was a mama mouse and her three babies clinging to her under the tarp that covered the pile of paver base, LOL). Need some plants, more creeping jenny and maybe some thyme. DH got the rest of the edgers when he was in town to get chicken supplies, but I'll have to get the plants on payday.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Very nice, gravel in the walkway? I see Hector is your new avatar, very handsome.