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

[getaclue]

speckled, I agree about your oldsters. I love the way you cater to them, and treat them with respect, and dignity in their older age. That's how it should be. You've had some mighty good birds, done well by them, and it shows. That's why they look so good, and live so long.

 

[speckledhen]

I've done very little since Covid began. Speckledhen , didn't we laugh about the quarantine being no different to home bodies like me.

Yup, didn't have a lot to do with us. We just carried on as normal, other than seeing everyone in the stores when we did go look like they were in the middle of robbing the place, all those covered faces. Mine never was and I got a lot of dirty looks, LOL. Still do! My latest video showing two of my little princesses acting goofy.

 

[speckledhen]

speckled, I agree about your oldsters. I love the way you cater to them, and treat them with respect, and dignity in their older age. That's how it should be. You've had some mighty good birds, done well by them, and it shows. That's why they look so good, and live so long.

Poor old Atlas lost his balance twice this morning and I had to help him stand back up. He is like he's on a high wire act, teetering back and forth. I can't stand on one leg while I lean far forward and repeatedly flex the other one behind me either. Guess we're both old, me and my guy. He's doing as well as any rooster could who no longer has any hens. I have to give him some light in his remaining life so he will get special treatment as long as he's here. Even Tom caters to him.

I notice that Bash is sitting down a lot. He will turn 6 years old in June a couple weeks after Hector, but I don't see anything wrong with him. A couple of years ago, I thought we would lose him; he had all the symptoms of lead poisoning and I have no idea how he could have gotten it. But he did recover and hasn't acted that way since that time.

 

[getaclue]

I'm glad Bash is doing good. Yes, you were worried about him. Wow, how the time flies. 6 years old already. Maybe I'm getting a bit long in the tooth too. How did that happen? LOL!

 

[seminolewind]

getaclue, didn;t want to repeat you whole post so I'll just reply. If you are teaching anything you love , that's what we all strive for. Lucky you. Sometimes I wish there was an easy way of getting a class together called Something like " the things you should know for adult life that HS didn't teach you." I think I would have a plan of items to be discussed and practice them, but let the class guide to what they need.

The closest I ever got to that in HS was HomeEc. I have never forgot those skills learned there in 1974, and still use them today. Mostly learning how to sew outfits, alter patterns, quilt, and make food using "Master Blend" which was like homeade Bisquick. Every time I'm in the kitchen or on the sewing machine, the basics still come from that class. I must have been 15 or so.
So I do really really believe in teaching pre adults the basics in some areas, cooking, Banking and credit cards, self esteem, how to talk to a cop if stopped, -I'm sure you all could think of a number of things. One of my subjects would NOT be how to butcher anything! But I will pass on where to learn it.

Good thing about the fence, I have so many rabbits around here. I love to grow things, veggies, and roses and daylilies. The ground here is rock hard slick clay, and I attempt to mix it with all kinds of compost and my horse manure-turned into black gold. For many years I have made horse manure compost turn into "black gold." It smells like dirt and looks like black dirt and keeps the ground fluffy. I recently found one of my piles from 3 years ago and OMG!! It's black gold!!! Mine always seemed to develop better in the shade, left alone.

Retirement is great but sometimes it can really grate on your nerves. My DH is a good guy but being there 24/7, some things just get irritating. It's good that your DH can still think about work. It might be a good thing.

getaclue, I didn't know you had a duck!!! After having 5 geese, I had rehomed them all and never did get anymore. One duck may be nice, LOL.

 

[seminolewind]

Poor old Atlas lost his balance twice this morning and I had to help him stand back up. He is like he's on a high wire act, teetering back and forth. I can't stand on one leg while I lean far forward and repeatedly flex the other one behind me either. Guess we're both old, me and my guy. He's doing as well as any rooster could who no longer has any hens. I have to give him some light in his remaining life so he will get special treatment as long as he's here. Even Tom caters to him.

I notice that Bash is sitting down a lot. He will turn 6 years old in June a couple weeks after Hector, but I don't see anything wrong with him. A couple of years ago, I thought we would lose him; he had all the symptoms of lead poisoning and I have no idea how he could have gotten it. But he did recover and hasn't acted that way since that time.

I know with my oldest old lady who was blind and had trouble holding her head up. I gave her a small space of her own surrounded by the flock, always had a heat lamp on, put her feed and water in the same spot. I'm sure your input years ago had made me provide care in the best way.

Speck, do you ever take Atlas out and hold him? Sometimes I think that my hen sensed me as the only one left who she could feel comfortable with and was happy with the contact.

It's really awful to watch them go downhill. But I'm sure that Atlas feels comfy and happy with his life due to your heart felt work. Roosters are different than hens especially when needy. I always loved roosters, they seem to show their emotions quicker, and sort of respond to a human relationship moreso. What do you see in Roos in camparison to hens?

 

[seminolewind]

Yup, didn't have a lot to do with us. We just carried on as normal, other than seeing everyone in the stores when we did go look like they were in the middle of robbing the place, all those covered faces. Mine never was and I got a lot of dirty looks, LOL. Still do! My latest video showing two of my little princesses acting goofy.

I absolutely enjoyed this video. It may seem to you like it was about anything, but to me it was full of information and advice that few people can cover as well as you. After this , I feel now I need a big boy rooster. I will probably get from Maria's Jerseys since over the years I've had such good birds hatched from her Jersey line. I do miss a big roo. Silkie roos are great but I've just had too many-all at once.

 

[seminolewind]

getaclue, my blue cabinets got quite the workout yesterday. DH made tiny meatballs for Wedding soup, and I chopped up about 9 different vegetables to put in. I made 3 quarts of soup, which is a ton of soup, some to freeze, some to leave and some for my DD's family of 5. It came out super!!! In the interim I re organized my kitchen cabinets to incorporate my "private" cooking ware. So I had fun!!!

 

[speckledhen]

You're a real peach, Karen. I'm happy you're posting on the thread again, my friend. Always love to see my longtime BYC friends are still around!

 

[h2oratt]

#11 should still be out, Julie.
ETA: the series is over now, unless Jonathan Otto decides to put out more. This was such a great series, so much information you'll never see in mainstream media.

Thanks I did get to watch it.