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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He can sure bust a move, can't he? Too bad he's so darn humongous or he could be the main rooster over an entire laying flock. The flock would have to be Brahmas and Orps and nothing else. Well, maybe Jersey Giants would work, too. He's such a sweetie, you'd really love him, Lisa. Apparently, he also produces sons just like himself.

Doesn't sound too bad to me. I like the big birds, especially Orpingtons. Maybe your birds are making your future decisions for you??? The bigger the chickens the more mellow they are generally.

 

[kitkat5505]

Oh those boys! Poor Wendy.

 

[speckledhen]

Doesn't sound too bad to me. I like the big birds, especially Orpingtons. Maybe your birds are making your future decisions for you??? The bigger the chickens the more mellow they are generally.

The only thing is that this batch of Brahmas eat more than others I've had, but of course, if I had less than the 38 birds I have now, it might not be a huge deal. Bash is pretty much trouble free so far. I can't say that about the others. Hector has been a challenge since he was 7 weeks old. Atlas has been good, but he is getting more cantankerous with hens and wanting to fight everything, including hens that are not his.

 

[1muttsfan]

And what with frequent broodies they are not the biggest egg producers, too. They are lovely, but I really prefer good producers.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Maybe the old boys have become senile?

 

[speckledhen]

Gosh, I hope just under 4 years old is not the senility zone!

As far as them going broody, it was only two of the five girls, at least so far. I'm not sure what Cora, his daughter, will be like yet. She's a year old so we'll see. And so far, no broodiness from Brandy or Bonnie this year. Maybe they got it all out of their systems last year. I would rather them be like the Stukel Rocks, once a year, or every other year, if that. I've had a few hens only brood once in their lives, like Rita, Panda and Ida.

 

[speckledhen]

Poor Wendy, who had a good size comb yesterday, now look like a different breed entirely.
Atlas went out on range. I thought it will maybe help him work off some energy. What did he do? He left four of his hens by the blueberries in front of the house to run back to the barn to go back into his pen and try to flirt with Druscilla, who avoids him like the plague every morning. I ran him back out to his girls and told him a variation of that line that Hawkeye said to Major Heyward in The Last of the Mohicans, "You and I are about to have a serious disagreement"

 

[Leahs Mom]

Though I said it "half-kiddingly", brain issues could seriously be a reality. I think some breeds deteriorate earlier than others. Additionally, environmental variables that can cause "auto-immune-type" issues can affect brain health.

What guy in his right mind attacks a female that's willing to give him what he wants?

 

[speckledhen]

Though I said it "half-kiddingly", brain issues could seriously be a reality. I think some breeds deteriorate earlier than others. Additionally, environmental variables that can cause "auto-immune-type" issues can affect brain health.

What guy in his right mind attacks a female that's willing to give him what he wants?

I agree with you, Sue. I never thought Atlas would be dealing with the same hock issues as Isaac did in his later life this early so who knows about what's going on in his brain? But, you can say that last line about Hector, too. He's been known to flog a hen who was trying to squat for him. If this keeps up, these boys won't be reproduced, no matter how much I love my BRs. I'm so tired of rooster issues. Bash is the only one not giving me fits, but he's so humongous and they eat more than the other birds here so I still not sold on keeping a flock of just Brahmas, either. I've about decided that a mixed flock is really the way to go again and a smaller bodied rooster, too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Soup is good food....