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

[robhuncor]

http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/catahoula-leopard-dog#/slide/1

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yeah our other dog was 5 weeks old when we got him and he definitely didn’t learn enough about proper socializing and was way too rough with the little kids. Was a hyper, bitey pup right from the start. He’s mellowed way down with age (he’s almost 9 now), and I’m hoping having him will help with Allie’s developing social skills. Plus I know more now than I did then lol.

Every dog I learn a little more. Hopefully Allie isn't as rambunctious. Raising a puppy is always an adventure, sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating.

 

[speckledhen]

She's precious. Gee, what puppy isn't? But good luck with her! I see a few around here, lots of hounds and hound mixes in this area, along with the pits, of course. My husband doesn't even want one dog anymore, he grieves so much when we lose them. But, also, the steps were a terrible problem for Kes in her last couple of years. I really need a dog that has an outside place to sleep, in the barn or somewhere on the deck, but of course, the deck is up the steps. That is the worst thing about a dog at this place when it gets older.

Whew, finally the sixteen 9" blocks are done and I"ll have the twin quilt assembled except for the outer border. Will assemble the quilt today, though not sure I'll get to that outer border to frame it all.

 

[MistyMountain]

Beautiful quilt, Cyn! It really does make me think of spring. We're having the same heat wave you all are, in the 70's the past 3 days. I am not sure our bedroom windows have been closed since the weekend. Our pastures are starting to green up already! Looking forward to a garden this summer, as we will be staying put and not wandering all around the country this year. The boys want their own section to plant veggies to sell at the road for extra bubble gum money.

Congrats on the quick sale of the chicks! Your BRs are always so beautiful. Our neighbor down the road is getting some BR chicks this spring. They tend to go with quality heritage chickens, so I'm sure they will be nice. I'll have to find out who they are getting them from.

Looking forward to loading the incubator by the beginning of March or so--- I owe a lady two 4 to 6 week EE pullets toward the end of April as a partial trade on a nice Carhartt jacket for my oldest. We've had a big hawk set up residence across the field, so the flock is quite upset that their free range time has been quite limited. Still holding out with 5 roosters in one coop. Not sure how long my luck will hold out. I really should not keep feeding all those extra mouths. I'll look to rehome 2 to 3 of them this spring once I see a demand.

And oh the puppy!! So adorable! I have had puppy fever for going on 3 years now... which is about as long as I have been on a waiting list for my westie. I'm patient, and this particular breeder is the only one I want to buy from. I am pretty high on the list at this point anyhow.

 

[speckledhen]

Beautiful quilt, Cyn! It really does make me think of spring. We're having the same heat wave you all are, in the 70's the past 3 days. I am not sure our bedroom windows have been closed since the weekend. Our pastures are starting to green up already! Looking forward to a garden this summer, as we will be staying put and not wandering all around the country this year. The boys want their own section to plant veggies to sell at the road for extra bubble gum money.

Congrats on the quick sale of the chicks! Your BRs are always so beautiful. Our neighbor down the road is getting some BR chicks this spring. They tend to go with quality heritage chickens, so I'm sure they will be nice. I'll have to find out who they are getting them from.

Thanks, Michelle! It's insane, all this super warm weather! I have chickens actually panting! I think the really warm stuff immediately after freezing weather isn't giving them time to adjust well. But, I see upper 20's for lows within two weeks, which is back to pretty much normal for early spring.

 

[speckledhen]

Yeah, I knew it. I've said that most of the flu deaths were people who did get the shot. Now, we're seeing some headlines finally escaping into the forefront. My husband asked that question on a pro-flu-vaccine website and suddenly, it's down. Imagine that.

https://www.healthnutnews.com/8-die-of-flu-in-2-weeks-in-santa-barbara-7-had-their-flu-shot/
https://www.healthnutnews.com/8-die-of-flu-in-2-weeks-in-santa-barbara-7-had-their-flu-shot/
I hope this season is over soon, I really do. I think immune systems as a whole in this country are terribly compromised after years of chemicals in our food that we were never meant to consume, toxins we are forced to breathe in every day, etc. With no immune system, no one can fight anything. This can't be over soon enough. I hate hearing of children dying. But, every time I see someone give a baby a coke in a bottle, I think there's no way that child will be healthy the rest of its life.

 

[speckledhen]

Okay, I just locked up the birds and I have to say

Earlier today, Atlas decided to jump onto the feed bag I placed in front of Hector's pen to keep them from fighting. So, DH had to knock Atlas away from there. Later, I was working on my quilt and DH goes outside. I told him that Zara and Wendy refused to get out of their dustholes and I didn't want to trek down to the bottom of the pen so I left them there, locked in their group and let Atlas out. I thought maybe they'd just run from him since he doesn't like them. I've seen both squat for him in the past so didn't think much of it.
When I was done, I came out, thinking to relax out there with DH, who was on the hammock. I went into the barn when he said something about Wendy and Atlas getting into it, so he had thrown Wendy in a cage. I look in, see blood on the feed bag and on other things, just a splatter. I looked in the three cages, didn't see her, said, "What cage?" He said, "The pen". I check her. She is on the top roost. But something is missing. She looks weird. I think her comb is detached and hanging over. No. Her comb is GONE, completely ripped off her head. By Atlas.

He rescued Wendy from Atlas and did not even notice her entire comb was missing, ripped off the base. So, I go get poor Wendy, the blood already clotted, take her to the house to get the Vetericyn spray. And she is in the hospital cage to rest so no one picks at her bloodied head.

WTH is wrong with Atlas?! He's never actually hurt a hen before now. Spring fever? And Hector is on my crap list, too. He starts this insane cackling if anyone raises their voice in the barn or about any stupid little thing. You can't shut him up! That alone makes me want to sell his sorry behind! And who'd want a crotchety old, arthritic rooster like Atlas who carries a dwarf gene if I did want to toss him? ROOSTERS!

I had issues with Aubrey, the porcelain d'anver earlier, not wanting to go back in his pen with his flock so he ended up in the next pen over. When we went to catch him (he flies into walls like you're going to eat him), he was gasping for air and turning purple.

99.9% of our problems are caused by roosters. The only rooster who has not caused me any problems lately is Bash.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My roosters are getting squirrelly too under the increasing daylight, and hormones. My bantam cochin roosters have started sparring.

Wendy lost her whole comb? That seems very violent. You sure something else didn't get a hold of her? Poor girl.

 

[1muttsfan]

Spring.

 

[speckledhen]

My roosters are getting squirrelly too under the increasing daylight, and hormones. My bantam cochin roosters have started sparring.

Wendy lost her whole comb? That seems very violent. You sure something else didn't get a hold of her? Poor girl.

Nope, she was inside the barn pen and Tom was in the hammock. In fact, he said she was laying on his chest there for awhile and then got down, he got up to empty buckets of poopy shavings and that's when Atlas and Wendy had their fight. So, it was Atlas who did it and he ripped off her entire comb. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow.
Zara was out there, too, but she didn't have any injuries. Guess she managed to avoid him entirely somehow. I guess this is partly my own fault. I knew Atlas didn't especially care for them, but I was lazy, didn't go down the hill to get them, and I'd never known him to do anything like that.