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

[speckledhen]

I want to say one thing about this group on this thread. We can discuss controversial stuff and all be civil and adult about things, even if we feel strongly about the subject. I love that. I wish the YouTube crowd would be as nice. Many are, but then, there are the trolls I have to vanquish, too. We are a troll-free zone here! So pleasant, isn't it?

But, back to chickens and our super nice folks we hang around.


@1muttsfan Mary, I have to tell you something about Hector. It would be so hard for me to sell Hector now. I love him. He's become a very good boy. Energetic, he is, and he acts like a goofball at times, but he does not bite, he does not flog, nothing. My only gripe about him, really, is he is not good at taking in new hens, but he may one day find himself in charge of all of his plus Atlas's girls if I lose Atlas.

 

[getaclue]

I initiate mine on mealworms when they're young. It's the first treat I introduce, since they are "bugs", and part of their normal diet, and the protein from them is good for chicks. I think they are less disruptive from their normal diet than many other things used as treats.

 

[speckledhen]

I initiate mine on mealworms when they're young. It's the first treat I introduce, since they are "bugs", and part of their normal diet, and the protein from them is good for chicks. I think they are less disruptive from their normal diet than many other things used as treats.

And they are super high in protein, too, without bulk added. Ailing birds get dried ones, like Betsy and Bailey when they had crop issues.

 

[getaclue]

I want to say one thing about this group on this thread. We can discuss controversial stuff and all be civil and adult about things, even if we feel strongly about the subject. I love that. I wish the YouTube crowd would be as nice. Many are, but then, there are the trolls I have to vanquish, too. We are a troll-free zone here! So pleasant, isn't it?

But, back to chickens and our super nice folks we hang around.

That's the way it's suppose to be. Anything I say that others disagree with, I don't take as a personal attack against me. Ideas, while I have them, are an external part of who I am, and ideas sometimes change too. The more accurate the information that a person has, the better they are able to make better decisions for themselves. We don't have to agree on everything, and it can oftentimes benefit both of us that we don't always agree. No cause for hard feelings, and never an excuse for lack of civility.

 

[speckledhen]

That's the way it's suppose to be. Anything I say that others disagree with, I don't take as a personal attack against me. Ideas, while I have them, are an external part of who I am, and ideas sometimes change too. The more accurate the information that a person has, the better they are able to make better decisions for themselves. We don't have to agree on everything, and it can oftentimes benefit both of us that we don't always agree. No cause for hard feelings, and never an excuse for lack of civility.

Absolutely. There are things I feel very strongly about, some I never bring up on the forum because I'd just rather not get into that here and bring up hard feelings, even if we discuss civilly. I prefer this be almost 100% about chickens and our hobbies and such. I don't care for politics here-good grief, we surely get enough on the news, don't we? That's why I avoid the Random Ramblings section and even the Family section, partly why I quit moderating, the super touchy subjects that I couldn't follow my heart and gut on, but had to go by forum rules, which, if I ran the world, would be more stringent than they are now, though overall, I think BYC does a pretty decent job of keeping it cool for everyone. Sure better than Facebook and YouTube, which in their essence have an agenda I don't agree with, but I just keep my head down and do my videos on stuff I think I can contribute to in some positive way.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Got nothing to add, but a good morning or good afternoon depending on where you are.

 

[speckledhen]

Got nothing to add, but a good morning or good afternoon depending on where you are.

Hey, Lisa! I wish you were closer. We'd sit on my porch and watch the rain fall and drink coffee or whatever floats your boat. That's the problem with friends all over the country, can't do a porch sit!

Aimee, my Belgian D'anver, has decided not to be broody. She's laid 5 eggs, a rarity. She had not laid since Carly passed away. And Sissy looks like she's in a nest. She is about 3 years old and hasn't laid an egg past her first year. Crazy.

I sold a set of Brahma hatching eggs to a lady who lives near me and bought a Brahma trio last year from me. She's coming, I think, tomorrow to get them. No Brahma broodies yet, but I'm sure they're coming.

And I think I have an egg from Jill, finally! I hope so. If I get a broody, I want a Jill egg under that broody hen with the Brahma eggs.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hey, Lisa! I wish you were closer. We'd sit on my porch and watch the rain fall and drink coffee or whatever floats your boat. That's the problem with friends all over the country, can't do a porch sit!

Aimee, my Belgian D'anver, has decided not to be broody. She's laid 5 eggs, a rarity. She had not laid since Carly passed away. And Sissy looks like she's in a nest. She is about 3 years old and hasn't laid an egg past her first year. Crazy.

I sold a set of Brahma hatching eggs to a lady who lives near me and bought a Brahma trio last year from me. She's coming, I think, tomorrow to get them. No Brahma broodies yet, but I'm sure they're coming.

And I think I have an egg from Jill, finally! I hope so. If I get a broody, I want a Jill egg under that broody hen with the Brahma eggs.

Or we could sit on my porch with our thick coats on chattering our teeth. Rain sounds lovely because I haven't seen it for months and I have forgotten about the mud. I would love a cup of coffee, and to actually see your birds. Pictures can never do chickens justice. I bet your Brahma rooster is as tall as me, and I could look him square in the eye.

The sun is slowly getting higher in the sky, the days are brighter and so is my mood. Those cold dark days of winter drag me down. Now there's hope of spring, and I can start officially dreaming of what this year will bring. Please no more surgeries, I need a year off or two.

I have a single broody bantam hen, it's too early to let her set eggs, so I'm just letting her set for now.

 

[speckledhen]

I bet your Brahma rooster is as tall as me, and I could look him square in the eye.

If he's standing on the big portable nest box we built, you would be looking him in the eye. I sure do! And I hug him and tell him what a good boy he is and he just eats it up! Gosh, I love my roosters. Well, Aubrey, not so much- he's a stupid little jerk, but he's my little jerk. Spike, I have a fondness for because if I hold out my arm, he'll fly to me as long as he thinks I will feed him scratch away from his daddy. He only bites if I don't give him food fast enough.

Oh, yes, NO MORE SURGERIES for Lisa! You do need a long, long break.

 

[1muttsfan]

Yay for Jill! And I'm happy to hear about Hector. Maybe he would be better if he got a bunch of new hens at once - sometimes that seems to confuse them.

I agree Lisa, and hope you can take some time off. Wouldn't it be fun if we could all meet for tea and chat? Compare birds and projects, trade goodies?

I find freeze dried mealworms so much easier to deal with than live worms. I wonder if there is any way to freeze dry them at home? Not that I want any in MY freezer.