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

[getaclue]

I stumbled into this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/heated-nesting-boxes-help-stop-frozen-eggs.67252/ I'm going to have to get a couple, and instead of a thermo cube, getting a thermostat to go with it, and play around with it some. I don't really need it for the nest boxes, as it doesn't freeze here, but I was considering it as a way to keep a nice warm area for my chickens, in their coops.

Even though it doesn't freeze here, we get cold snaps. It gets down anywhere from 26 - 40. That would not be a problem in itself, but we get normal weather in between the cold snaps, which is usually in the 70s. When the temps drop, they drop suddenly. There's no time for the chickens to acclimate to the freezing temperatures. Yes, it's harder on the older ones.

 

[getaclue]

Oh, I'm glad your son seems to be getting his feet back on the ground, and overcoming the break-up with his ex. That's very positive news. It's a good thing he's got friends rooting for him, and cheering him on.

Sorry about the troll you got on your channel. To be quite honest, I really didn't know which way you leaned politically. You tend to keep on topic about common sense homesteading, and keeping chickens, without bringing politics into it.

 

[1muttsfan]

Well we like Ed.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, I'm glad your son seems to be getting his feet back on the ground, and overcoming the break-up with his ex. That's very positive news. It's a good thing he's got friends rooting for him, and cheering him on.

Sorry about the troll you got on your channel. To be quite honest, I really didn't know which way you leaned politically. You tend to keep on topic about common sense homesteading, and keeping chickens, without bringing politics into it.

Exactly. It's not what I'm there for, not by a long shot. I'm not trying to be controversial or get into fights (though the anti-fermented feed video had the zealots coming after me like I said their kid was ugly).

Well we like Ed.

Yes, we do. He seems like a good egg.

 

[speckledhen]

Someone asked about an Atlas picture. Well, this is why he doesn't get many these days-he's stripped of most of his saddles and hackles. This is the work of mainly Wynette, with Dru helping her on occasion. Poor guy. Look at that sweet face. Wynette and Gloria Jean are on the roost and that's MaryJo next to Atlas. And Georgie since there may not be many more photos of the old gal.

 

[1muttsfan]

I love the way Delawares look. And even when ill she is still curious.

 

[speckledhen]

I love the way Delawares look. And even when ill she is still curious.

That's my Georgie-girl, smart as a whip. She is moving around more than she was, but weak on the right side, the wing droops and she sinks on that side. She's still got good color, though, and still can put the smack-down on the underlings when she wants to.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Someone asked about an Atlas picture. Well, this is why he doesn't get many these days-he's stripped of most of his saddles and hackles. This is the work of mainly Wynette, with Dru helping her on occasion. Poor guy. Look at that sweet face. Wynette and Gloria Jean are on the roost and that's MaryJo next to Atlas. And Georgie since there may not be many more photos of the old gal. View attachment 1655036 View attachment 1655037 View attachment 1655039

Oh my, the girls have been working him over. He probably enjoys the attention.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh my, the girls have been working him over. He probably enjoys the attention.

Wynette yanks his hackles so hard, I wonder if he thinks he's getting a massage. Isaac would have reared up to his full height and delivered a resounding THUNK!

 

[speckledhen]

Georgie is trying her best to be normal. She will get up and using her wings to help, truck over to the feeder and eat out of it, but you can tell it takes a lot out of her. Mostly, I keep a plastic black tray near her with a Greek yogurt cup with some water, except at night when I don't want her turning it over and laying in wet shavings. And the right wing droops. She tries to follow the girls outside when they get a chance to go, but she lays under her special heat spot with Neela closest to her most of the time. She really acts like she's had some sort of mini-stroke or similar event, not unheard of at her advanced age. She truly does not seem to be in any pain at all and no one would dare bother her, either. Since she'd open mouth breathe and turn dark when we picked her up and has done that for awhile now, I thought her old heart was just giving out, but her color now is really good. She is not bloated at all, either, like she has been in the past. Could have some cancerous growth in there.

Am I thinking right on this? I guess it boils down to she's old and she's on her last legs and there's really nothing to be done except let her boss her way out of this world with her sisters by her side. Big old Meg had at least three episodes that laid her flat on the ground and in a daze, spaced awhile apart, prior to her passing at 7 1/2 years old. She was a HUGE hen, larger than Georgie, if you recall, a RIR/Exhibition size Buff Orp cross girl.