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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There seems to be some people who like to brag how soon their chicks are out in the coop. Every batch is different and every one feathers out differently. I don't care for one size fits all information.

oldhens, I hatched some out late this year, and it was in the low 90's in the daytime outside, and in the mid 80's at night. I kept them in the brooder 2 weeks, then put them in the big dog crates on the back porch. That's the only time I would ever do something like that.

I tend to wait until June to get my chicks so it's warm so I don't have to brood long either as it's 80 degrees out. They still go back to the brooder at night until they are well feathered.

There seems to be bragging rights to moving chicks to the coop early. Things need to adjust for each situation. No one size fits all mentality.

 

[getaclue]

That seems like a silly bragging point. It's not in the best interest of the chicks, nor their comfort at all.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That seems like a silly bragging point. It's not in the best interest of the chicks, nor their comfort at all.

A lot of stuff I read on here seems like a competition, but it's hard to take an opposing view without getting in an argument. I guess that's why I hate all the heat lamp bashing. One way isn't always the right way over the other, drives me bananas. Same with the FF, people should be told the bad as well.

 

[getaclue]

FF, worming with pumpkin seeds, and garlic, DE only for mites....yeah, there is a lot of misinformation out there, and always some that want to challenge anyone with good, solid information.

 

[speckledhen]

A lot of stuff I read on here seems like a competition, but it's hard to take an opposing view without getting in an argument. I guess that's why I hate all the heat lamp bashing. One way isn't always the right way over the other, drives me bananas. Same with the FF, people should be told the bad as well.

FF, worming with pumpkin seeds, and garlic, DE only for mites....yeah, there is a lot of misinformation out there, and always some that want to challenge anyone with good, solid information.

Agree with you both. I just had to fight that stuff on a FB homesteading group. And someone added in using ACV for worms as well as pumpkin and sunflower seeds. ACV does not worm. Garlic does not worm. Though the pumpkin seeds are beneficial and may help paralyze a few roundworms so they can be expelled, they are only the mildest natural preventative and will not touch capillaria or tapeworms. Sunflower seeds are full of vitamin E, good for keeping the reproductive tract pliable and "lubed up", so to speak, but do zippo for worms. And DE is a dessicant, which can kill some soft bodied bugs, yes, sure. But, it does it over time, does not really help with almost microscopic mites, doesn't touch internal worms, and in an overdose in the feed like some do, thinking more is always better, can actually harm the insides of a chicken. Think...it is a dessicant! So, it naturally would dry out the intestines and anything else in the digestive tract, not at all what you want.

Why is everyone so set against deworming their birds once or twice a year with something that really works? Worm overloads are bad for a chicken, much worse than some Valbazen a couple times a year! In trying to help, they are actually hurting, especially if they overuse DE by putting a lot in the feed. I found that less time outdoors on range made it necessary for me to worm more than I used to, plus having very old hens that rarely get outside and never dustbathe also has changed a lot of things. Making birds suffer for some lofty principle is just irresponsible.

 

[getaclue]

The new trend is organic, natural, and if you really want to charge big money for a product, and sell lots of it, include the word SUSTAINABLE. No one is exactly sure how it applies, but it's the latest buzz word, and must be good, right?

 

[speckledhen]

The new trend is organic, natural, and if you really want to charge big money for a product, and sell lots of it, include the word SUSTAINABLE. No one is exactly sure how it applies, but it's the latest buzz word, and must be good, right?

Natural can also be deadly, but the folks with common sense know that. Foxglove is a beautiful flower, but it is deadly poison-it contains digitalis, the heart medicine. You eat enough of those lovely flowers, you die.

 

[getaclue]

Dog poop is natural too. So what? It's pretty much useless.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm off to bed. We split all those logs between the two trees with the electric splitter and stacked them on the new wood rack so they would be out of the rain coming in this weekend. My back, arm, shoulders and neck all are screaming for me to pack it in for the night. Goodnight, my friends.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yikes that's a lot. Hopefully you get a good night's sleep.