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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

(Perhaps it's shocked that the large door is now small.)

Well that's a secret door now. It will be hinged so that middle front section can be opened up during the summer into that larger opening, and the smaller opening for the winter. We will put wooden fence posts to hook it on so I will have better ventilation in the summer.

 

[getaclue]

Dummy me, forgot to offer my condolences about Ida when I posted earlier. Was sorry to hear of her demise.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would free range more but it would not take long before there would be no more chickens to worry about. They have a nice big pen, fence buried around the edges, covered with heavy netting. Between the raptors, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, coons, mink, bear, .... Well you get the picture

 

[speckledhen]

Dummy me, forgot to offer my condolences about Ida when I posted earlier. Was sorry to hear of her demise.

No worries! You are busy with this nasty storm, much more important stuff.

I would free range more but it would not take long before there would be no more chickens to worry about. They have a nice big pen, fence buried around the edges, covered with heavy netting. Between the raptors, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, coons, mink, bear, .... Well you get the picture

We have them all, too, though maybe not a mink, but weasels, surely. We have been really lucky. I guess the roosters positioned at various locations, plus our good cover, have helped tremendously. It does amaze me that we've dodged that bullet so far. I've caught predators eying the birds from above and on the ground but never lost a bird. It's practically a miracle around here.

 

[kitkat5505]

We aren't allowed to free range here, stupid city rules. But I still let mine out about 1/2 hour before dark 3-4 nights a week. They love it. We have some predators around- hawks, mink, raccoon, even an occasional mountain lion, and my neighbor had a badger in her window well a month ago. But mostly I worry about my dog, we have to have him on a leash or his underground fence collar on (he won't even leave the garage when it's on) when they are out.

We tore up some dying grass in our yard yesterday and found it full of big ugly grubs that had eaten the roots. I was saying I wished I could just bring out the chickens to get them lol, but it was right by the road. Little neighbor boys were loving picking them out of the dirt and putting them in a bowl to bring to the chickens. The chickens went crazy when they threw them in the run.

 

[speckledhen]

I'd hate subdivision rules. We do technically live in a subdivision, loosely. The only real covenants are no mobile homes and no pigs. But, I can have cows, horses, goats, chickens, guineas, really anything except pigs.

My entire biological family lives in Miami/Hialeah area. They own a plant nursery, which will likely be devastated by this storm. I have almost no contact with them, but I guess I could look at my cousin Elizabeth's facebook page to see how they fared, though she's not much of a Facebooker and rather odd, LOL. She is on my DH's FB friends list, though we have zero in common with the family other than I am related to them.

 

[kitkat5505]

Hope your FL family stays safe.

Our HOA rules actually say no chickens, but many families here have them, including some of the HOA board. My next door neighbor is on the HOA board and has chickens and said those rules are old and a lot of them are never enforced. They really should be re-written but nobody has bothered too because it kind of just gets around what is enforced and not. They are really pretty easy going for an HOA. Probably helps that we're at the end of town where people who are more inclined to a rural life end up.

 

[speckledhen]

Hope your FL family stays safe.

Our HOA rules actually say no chickens, but many families here have them, including some of the HOA board. My next door neighbor is on the HOA board and has chickens and said those rules are old and a lot of them are never enforced. They really should be re-written but nobody has bothered too because it kind of just gets around what is enforced and not. They are really pretty easy going for an HOA. Probably helps that we're at the end of town where people who are more inclined to a rural life end up.

The problem is that they really should be re-written because if a new person moves in and wants everyone to abide by them, they could be enforced.

 

[speckledhen]

Our weather alert for here:

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
- Blue Ridge

* WIND
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
- Peak Wind Forecast: 25-35 mph with gusts to 55 mph

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Elevated
- The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the
previous assessment.

- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited

* FLOODING RAIN
- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Flash Flood Watch is in effect
- Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 1-3 inches, with locally
higher amounts

- CURRENT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Elevated
- The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from
the previous assessment.

The mountains beginning at our elevation usually get the stronger wind gusts, but this particular property is surrounded by mountains that are 200-400 ft higher so we are semi-protected from some of that. Watson Mtn on the western side and Vance Mtn in NC on the northern side surround us. There is some mountain on the southern side, but I don't know if it's a named peak.

 

[Leahs Mom]

What are your current conditions?