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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I never lose any of my roosters under the age of 4-6. At least not in a natural way. I have had younger hens just die though.

When someone just drops dead I always assume it's their heart or something like fatty liver which kills very quickly. Birds fed fatty treats and being confined to a run may play into roosters dying young. Just my theories.

 

[1muttsfan]

or roosters that eat primarily high in calcium Layer feed from an early age.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

or roosters that eat primarily high in calcium Layer feed from an early age.

My roosters would die by age 4 fed a layer. That stopped when I switched to an All Flock.

 

[getaclue]

I got up to fix coffee this morning, and my coffee maker wouldn't work. Can't have that so I did my chicken chores, and headed to town. I bought another coffee maker, and stopped in at Lowes. I've been needing a sprayer. They have the Husqvarna 2 gallon sprayer for $26.99. It's made by Smith Professional, which is suppose to be one of the better companies. I know they charge a lot more if it has the Smith label on it. I got it, and it seems really sturdy. We'll see how it holds up. I'm tired of paying more for better sprayers that don't seem to hold up any better than the cheap ones. They're just not made like they used to be.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a spare coffee maker bought a year ago. I don't want to experience standing there staring at the non functioning coffee maker, and not knowing what to do. I need that cup of coffee.

 

[speckledhen]

I know that both Rex #2 and Deacon succumbed to injuries at around 2 years old, Rex from being hit in a big fight with Deacon and Deacon from a bad injury from Isaac, though that took quite some time-he was always more fragile after that happened.

Other than that, most all died much later in life. I do think that the high stress life of a rooster always on alert may contribute to sudden death, but since I don't feed "treats", per se, and mine usually get running time, I've not seen males that young just drop like that. Aubrey's brother, Angus, had some sort of heart condition, I believe. He did die earlier than most. Xander was 4 years old, Atlas is 4 yrs old now, Isaac was going on 7 years old, Suede was going on 6 yrs old, and of course, now, Aubrey is 7 years old.

 

[getaclue]

oldhens, that's a smart idea. I may have to pick up another one later on, to use as a spare.

I played with my new sprayer a bit. I think I'm going to like it. I'll have to get one for Dh, to keep him out of mine.

 

[speckledhen]

My roosters would die by age 4 fed a layer. That stopped when I switched to an All Flock.

Mine have all been fed layer from the time the pullets their age begin eating it, though they forgo most of it in favor of waiting on the 13 grain scratch mix I give them once or twice a day. The layer didn't seem to affect the final ages of any of my own roosters. Roosters don't tend to eat nearly as much as the hens, it seems to me, no matter what it is. They're too busy keeping watch.

 

[speckledhen]

I have a spare coffee maker bought a year ago. I don't want to experience standing there staring at the non functioning coffee maker, and not knowing what to do. I need that cup of coffee.

Smart woman there !

 

[getaclue]

Thank you for chiming in speckledhen. When the pullets start laying, they all go on layer feed. I've never had a problem, and so far, I've never had any of them just keel over dead. I've even got roosters over 4 years old, doing just fine.