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

[speckledhen]

We are up to 20 degrees, from an overnight low of 4. Whew. It is snowing, but only lightly. I think Miss Ungrateful will be heading back out in a little while. I may capture her back for the night, depending on how she does and how warm it stays.

Naked chickens, good grief. Cora is missing neck feathers, but quills are coming in for her 9 month mini-molt. Tiny is going bald, but she's still laying, crazy as that is. She is missing neck feathers on front, sides and back, plus her head. Everyone else is pretty well-feathered now. Still no eggs from Jill or the Brahmas.
Amanda is not loving this cold weather at all. Her color is off a little. But, that old gal will turn 11 years old in March if she makes it. This last laying spurt of hers produced only 4 eggs in November. The previous Nov to April, she laid 17. Any egg could always be her last, but she's a wonder still laying at her age. Four eggs in one month at basically 11 years old is crazy enough.

 

[1muttsfan]

Well, the reintro did not go well, the other birds chased her around until she ended up on the outside roost. And while it is warmer, it is also windy and snowing, and she looked miserable. So back into the garage (Major ingratitude) until those pin feathers open. Then, she will have to go into a wire cage in the coop until everyone learns to get along again

 

[speckledhen]

Well, the reintro did not go well, the other birds chased her around until she ended up on the outside roost. And while it is warmer, it is also windy and snowing, and she looked miserable. So back into the garage (Major ingratitude) until those pin feathers open. Then, she will have to go into a wire cage in the coop until everyone learns to get along again

I hate reintroductions. They don't have to be out of the group long, either.

My porcelain D'Anver rooster, Aubrey, and his crew went out late this afternoon to dustbathe, first time in a few days they could get out. They were all six crammed into the same hole and Aubrey was turning a dusky purple and he was open mouth breathing on just the exertion of dustbathing. He will be 7 on April 6 just like Wynette and Gloria Jean and Maretta. I hatched from several sources at once that week. So, I almost expect to find him dead under the roost one morning. This cold isn't doing him any favors. Spike's color was fine. He's about a year younger than his daddy.

 

[speckledhen]

New uploads:

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, my, well, Atlas almost got his wish today. He wants to kill Hector and he got his chance at him. Not sure how it would have turned out if DH had not been johnny-on-the-spot to grab him, but it went down and Hector was up for it, too.

We were doing our normal morning barn chores (thank GOD it is much warmer today!) and Tom wanted to put some extra shavings in Atlas's pen. Hector was already outside with his girls. I was in Bash's pen cleaning up when I heard Tom yell, "No, come back!" and I thought maybe one of Atlas's hens slipped out the door when he came in with the shavings bag. Nope, Atlas did. He's wanted at Hector for a long time now-I have to put something in front of Hector's pen when Atlas is out to keep him from trying to get at Hector over the front barrier and skinning himself up on the plywood. Hubs yelled, "I NEED HELP!" so I ran out of Bash's pen just in time to see Tom come back in the barn door with Atlas in his arms, all out of breath (both of them).

The battle was ON! He said Atlas went right after Hector, who didn't hesitate to engage him, but Atlas was on top of Hector when he grabbed him up. Hey, treachery beats youth, Hector! Atlas's spurs and experience give him a big advantage and I think that adrenaline would keep him from feeling his stiff joints too much while in the thick of battle. I think Atlas's lungs and heart are fine, unlike his poor grandpa Isaac's. Ike was a scrapper, but his lung capacity had him out of breath very quickly if he had to engage one of his sons. I knew if Isaac and Rex had continued the last battle they had, Ike would have fallen simply because of that disadvantage, plus his bad joints would also be in play.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Whoa. What a morning!

 

[speckledhen]

Whoa. What a morning!

Yeah, we can do without the drama. Maretta screaming around the yard in her broody condition is enough, thank you. Geez.

 

[kitkat5505]

Oh boy! I’d bet my money on Atlas in that fight lol, glad Tom was able to separate them though.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Spring is coming and rooster hormones are gonna start raging again. Glad you were able to stop them. I've had my bantam roosters fighting, but never the big boys, so it must have been quite the sight to see them go at it.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh boy! I’d bet my money on Atlas in that fight lol, glad Tom was able to separate them though.

Me, too! I'm not fond of mopping up blood. And Wynette just laid her first egg in months, plus Zara is getting into a nest to lay as well. And, of course, I got an egg from the Tiny Terrorist. I so wish Wynette was with Hector, no dwarf gene issues. But, Wynette usually produces males, or so it seemed in the past. I think MaryJo is her daughter. And she won't lay long enough to be sure a chick is not Atlas's, even if Hector would accept her today.