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

[1muttsfan]

Yes I saw that on the thread they had for her

 

[getaclue]

Just keep practicing with the biscuits. It won't be long, and you'll get the "touch". Something to keep in mind: the dough is to remain fairly sticky inside.

My grandmother taught me the "perpetual bowl" method, which involved keeping flour in a large mixing bowl, and adding the liquid ingredients as needed. You flour your hands, so the dough won't stick to your hands, pinch a piece of the dough off, add a very light dusting of flour, then gently, and quickly form your biscuit. Don't work it enough to become too sticky again. When semi formed, plop it on to a lightly oiled baking sheet, and give the top a tap with a flat hand.

My mother, had to use a recipe, mixing everything in a bowl with a fork. She would flour a cutting board, pour about half the dough onto it, flour her hands, and proceed to press it to the desired thickness, then use a floured round cutter, to cut them out. She'd slide the remaining dough together, and continue cutting. Making sure the board had enough flour, she'd then do the other half of the dough.

Many of my grandmother's recipes consisted of a list of ingredients. You eyeballed it, and tasted. There were a few things, mostly desserts, that she included measurements. My mother could not cook that way, which is probably why she did not "inherit" my grandmother's recipes. I got them. I still have them.

I don't often have to refer to them, but when I do, it brings back such memories. All of her recipes are written in her own hand. I'd recognize her handwriting anywhere. It's so familiar. I can remember all those years of watching her cook, and copying her actions, her guiding me here, and there, until I could produce the same delicious results. She wore aprons most of the time, and made smaller versions for me. I'd have to scoot a dining room chair up to the stove, so I could reach it. When I wasn't cooking, and she was, there was this little metal step stool in the kitchen. I would sit on it, and watch. Of course, she would tidbit me.

 

[1muttsfan]

Your grandmother sounds a lot like my grandmother, I can just imagine the two of you in the kitchen.

Sounds like your mom and I use about the same technique

 

[Noellereagan]

Good Lord I was still in my Jammie bottoms in those pictures. I tend to not worry about such things of the fashion police when it is let the birds out time. I just throw on my chicken shoes and begin spoiling them time.

Atlas is such a handsome boy...as for his adorable black sister....you must name her Lucy and you must save her for me on my next visit....wrong way Lucy would be perfect around this Menagerie'.


The name Atlas I believe was my suggestion and Cyn liked it, it will give the boy something to grow into and measure up to for sure. The original Atlas was a beautiful black Orp cockerel that I picked up from Cynthia about 3 years ago I believe (I raid her coops every year so it is sometimes hard to remember who came home with me when hehehehehe). I went to her house to bring home what would come to be the last daughters of her blue orp hen, Smoky and two black orp cockerels (one I had named Atlas) for another BYCer that was here in Kentucky. The blue pullet was injured by the boys the day before I arrived to pick them up and she died suddenly after returning home so I decided to hang on to the cockerels for a few more weeks so Zena was not alone through quarantine and as time went on it looked like the two boys would be staying with me because I could not catch up with the other BYCer to give her the cockerels. so I had moved them into a doggie playpen in my main coop so the other birds could get to know them and give them more growing room and things were going well. The boys were turning into big beautiful boys worthy of being the sons of the late great Suede when all hello broke loose here.

Short abridged version....I had several pens in a 10 x 20 coop....one house a trio of Partridge Silkies, one housed d'uccles, the playpen had the three orp juveniles and one housed near adult Silkies....the main area housed my main flock of standards. The particular day was a weird one anyway...we had a couple sheriff's deputies here and were talking to them near our big barn which is on the other side of our farm from my coops with the house between them. I heard the chickens fussing which is not uncommon for that time of day because of the layers all announcing their wonderful feats of the day but it continued so I kept glancing towards the house and coop nervously and decided to move closer to the house with the officers speaking to my husband and I and moving with us. Suddenly you can see the chaos going on....and out runs a Rottweiler with Atlas in its mouth. I yelled one of the officers asked if it was my dog and I said "No shoot it". The officer shot the dog who was being followed by my head rooster Lancelot and several hens. Here is what makes Atlas so special and the point of the story really....Cynthia and I learned something very important that day....the birds will discard all hierarchy and personal dislike to fight together.

The dog went into my coop and began chasing he birds and was met by 7 roosters and cockerels and numerous hens that fought to the death in some cases defending the younger birds and the girls. My main boys were fighting with several of their hens....the partridge silkie rooster got into the fight, one of the juvenile silkie cockerels got out and into the fight, the d'uccles were fighting and young Atlas and his brother jumped out of their playpen and into the fray to fight and defend their sister Zena. It was chaos. The bantams being smaller and more agile were attacking this dog from above and from the sides...the hens were attacking it and young Atlas was attacking the dog's face while the big standard roosters were slamming the dog with powerful feet and spurs. When the dog was dead and the dust had settled...I had lost most of my boys and as I recall one pullet and one hen.

So Atlas and his brother who fell long before Atlas, were very brave. Even though they were very young and did not stand a chance against a dog that size, they jumped into the fray and fought to the death to protect the flock. Boys are very special to me and a brave boy that is human friendly and good to the girls is a prize....I had a coop full of them that day, many of whom sacrificed themselves for the girls.

So when Cynthia realized she had a young cockerel that had such promise for breeding, I suggested that he be named Atlas....a good strong name for a future big strong brave boy.

I wish I could find my original post of the incident because the minute detail elude me but suffice it to say....young Atlas has been honored with the name of very brave boy.

Wow. What a story. What amazing birds. Their loyalty and the way they determine priorities is very admirable.I’d go as far as saying that Humans could learn from this. .

 

[getaclue]

A very sad, but great story.

 

[getaclue]

Dh's work contacted him today, and in the morning, before he leaves, he's to head over to the doctor's office, and get 2 tests. 1 is for Covid-19. The other is for the Covid-19 antibodies.

 

[speckledhen]

My Atlas has lived up to the great boy for which he was named. He's always quick to run to the rescue, even with his painful legs. I know he'd take on anything in defense of his remaining hens.

Got my security cameras yesterday. Connected the one at the house and it works great. Has an audible alert, records a few seconds every time it senses motion, though I can fix it to continuous record, I do think. I can hear whatever is going on outside and I can push TALK to talk to whoever is out there as well. It's a basic system, but seems to be really good so far. Someone called it a 70's Brady Bunch technology but he still had high praise for it. When I connect the other one pointing at the barn, it can do a split screen. They included four little window stickers. I placed one, as you can see, on my window that everyone sees as they come up the steps, and I put on on the little square barn door window as well.

 

[getaclue]

Very nice! I doubt you get intruders, without getting them on camera.

 

[seminolewind]

Good Lord I was still in my Jammie bottoms in those pictures. I tend to not worry about such things of the fashion police when it is let the birds out time. I just throw on my chicken shoes and begin spoiling them time.

Atlas is such a handsome boy...as for his adorable black sister....you must name her Lucy and you must save her for me on my next visit....wrong way Lucy would be perfect around this Menagerie'.


The name Atlas I believe was my suggestion and Cyn liked it, it will give the boy something to grow into and measure up to for sure. The original Atlas was a beautiful black Orp cockerel that I picked up from Cynthia about 3 years ago I believe (I raid her coops every year so it is sometimes hard to remember who came home with me when hehehehehe). I went to her house to bring home what would come to be the last daughters of her blue orp hen, Smoky and two black orp cockerels (one I had named Atlas) for another BYCer that was here in Kentucky. The blue pullet was injured by the boys the day before I arrived to pick them up and she died suddenly after returning home so I decided to hang on to the cockerels for a few more weeks so Zena was not alone through quarantine and as time went on it looked like the two boys would be staying with me because I could not catch up with the other BYCer to give her the cockerels. so I had moved them into a doggie playpen in my main coop so the other birds could get to know them and give them more growing room and things were going well. The boys were turning into big beautiful boys worthy of being the sons of the late great Suede when all hello broke loose here.

Short abridged version....I had several pens in a 10 x 20 coop....one house a trio of Partridge Silkies, one housed d'uccles, the playpen had the three orp juveniles and one housed near adult Silkies....the main area housed my main flock of standards. The particular day was a weird one anyway...we had a couple sheriff's deputies here and were talking to them near our big barn which is on the other side of our farm from my coops with the house between them. I heard the chickens fussing which is not uncommon for that time of day because of the layers all announcing their wonderful feats of the day but it continued so I kept glancing towards the house and coop nervously and decided to move closer to the house with the officers speaking to my husband and I and moving with us. Suddenly you can see the chaos going on....and out runs a Rottweiler with Atlas in its mouth. I yelled one of the officers asked if it was my dog and I said "No shoot it". The officer shot the dog who was being followed by my head rooster Lancelot and several hens. Here is what makes Atlas so special and the point of the story really....Cynthia and I learned something very important that day....the birds will discard all hierarchy and personal dislike to fight together.

The dog went into my coop and began chasing he birds and was met by 7 roosters and cockerels and numerous hens that fought to the death in some cases defending the younger birds and the girls. My main boys were fighting with several of their hens....the partridge silkie rooster got into the fight, one of the juvenile silkie cockerels got out and into the fight, the d'uccles were fighting and young Atlas and his brother jumped out of their playpen and into the fray to fight and defend their sister Zena. It was chaos. The bantams being smaller and more agile were attacking this dog from above and from the sides...the hens were attacking it and young Atlas was attacking the dog's face while the big standard roosters were slamming the dog with powerful feet and spurs. When the dog was dead and the dust had settled...I had lost most of my boys and as I recall one pullet and one hen.

So Atlas and his brother who fell long before Atlas, were very brave. Even though they were very young and did not stand a chance against a dog that size, they jumped into the fray and fought to the death to protect the flock. Boys are very special to me and a brave boy that is human friendly and good to the girls is a prize....I had a coop full of them that day, many of whom sacrificed themselves for the girls.

So when Cynthia realized she had a young cockerel that had such promise for breeding, I suggested that he be named Atlas....a good strong name for a future big strong brave boy.

I wish I could find my original post of the incident because the minute detail elude me but suffice it to say....young Atlas has been honored with the name of very brave boy.

Cetawin, long time-long time no see or hear!!! Great story however sad. I love my roos. My first, Ivan jumped the fence to kill the dog and didn't come back. I cried my eyes out. Right now I have 6 silkie boys. Love them!

How is Cheyenne?

 

[seminolewind]

My Atlas has lived up to the great boy for which he was named. He's always quick to run to the rescue, even with his painful legs. I know he'd take on anything in defense of his remaining hens.

Got my security cameras yesterday. Connected the one at the house and it works great. Has an audible alert, records a few seconds every time it senses motion, though I can fix it to continuous record, I do think. I can hear whatever is going on outside and I can push TALK to talk to whoever is out there as well. It's a basic system, but seems to be really good so far. Someone called it a 70's Brady Bunch technology but he still had high praise for it. When I connect the other one pointing at the barn, it can do a split screen. They included four little window stickers. I placed one, as you can see, on my window that everyone sees as they come up the steps, and I put on on the little square barn door window as well. View attachment 2105592View attachment 2105593View attachment 2105594

Very very nice setup!