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

[speckledhen]

It is wacky. I'm being stalked on my YouTube channels, even doxed (doxxed? sp), fielding crazy mean comments and even emails coming from the same person under different email addresses. I had to disable comments on those two channels and report to the authorities, YouTube and Gmail.. There are too many crazies with too much time on their hands. And I hate heat and humidity so this is my most difficult season. I don't have time to deal with the mental midgets! Gardens are doing okay, chickens are pretty good, trying to find time to quilt more. Still can't find anyone who wants the youngest cockerels Axel and Dane so I guess I have not just too many roosters, but WAY too many. Two of the three young pullets are laying teensy marble-like eggs, maybe all three but I have only caught Wren on the nest and Phoebe playing around in one. Tom is having a hard time with his back, no real help from the VA so we deal with that every day, his progressive condition that means I have to do more outside in the heat because he can't. We're trying to hire the guy who cut our pasture last to do it on a regular monthly basis through the growing season and other trimming up work around here, but he works construction and is currently out of town for his work so the grass is out of control.

 

[h2oratt]

Yeah. My DH $had a knee replacement in feb. Then they had to go back and break up all the scar tissue. Our one acre is in bad shape.

 

[speckledhen]

I have been under the eight ball so far this season with various issues so I haven't paid as much attention to this thread as I have in the past and I'm sorry! Cheryl (getaclue) even called me today to check on me and we had a great conversation, regrettably cut short by my stupid phone running out of juice. Thanks so much, Cheryl, we should do that again!
Hey, @1muttsfan how are you? No one in the barn has died lately, but I think Druscilla and Mina at 12 years are not long for this world; both are now crippled, Dru for years already and Mina having recently developed weakness on her right side, making me wonder if it was an actual leg injury or she had a mini-stroke of some sort. When they're gone, another pen will be empty. This heat is wreaking havoc on the Brahmas and my Easter Eggers, of all things. You'd think they'd be less prone to heat exhaustion, but they are as bad as Atlas's two 8 year old daughters and the Brahmas. Only the bantam Cochins seem to be just peachy. I think I heard Dove starting to cluck and Cricket just snapped out of her latest broody spell.

 

[h2oratt]

Glad you are doing well!

 

[speckledhen]

It's been hairy around here. My husband is in dire shape with his back, daily crashing headaches and no help from the VA, as usual. I have a lot more on my plate, mentally drained, but wanted to check in. No more chickens have passed on, though Mina had a seizure. She recovered and seems more feisty than ever at 12 years old, but I know once those neurological incidents begin, they are on a downhill slide. I need to euthanize Druscilla, but I just can't do it. She is so strong and fights to live in spite of being crippled and my husband is a bigger softie than I am. At some point, I'm going to have to attempt it because her quality of life isn't great. She does enjoy getting out in the sunshine to watch activities around her, but she is so frustrated by her frozen leg holding her back. It's the one place I fail my chickens, that I can't easily remove then once they need it unless they are completely unresponsive and weak. She definitely is not weak though she's also 12. She stands up on one leg using her wings as crutches like my late rooster, Zane, used to do.
Lots of molting going on here so almost no eggs at the moment.

 

[h2oratt]

It's been hairy around here. My husband is in dire shape with his back, daily crashing headaches and no help from the VA, as usual. I have a lot more on my plate, mentally drained, but wanted to check in. No more chickens have passed on, though Mina had a seizure. She recovered and seems more feisty than ever at 12 years old, but I know once those neurological incidents begin, they are on a downhill slide. I need to euthanize Druscilla, but I just can't do it. She is so strong and fights to live in spite of being crippled and my husband is a bigger softie than I am. At some point, I'm going to have to attempt it because her quality of life isn't great. She does enjoy getting out in the sunshine to watch activities around her, but she is so frustrated by her frozen leg holding her back. It's the one place I fail my chickens, that I can't easily remove then once they need it unless they are completely unresponsive and weak. She definitely is not weak though she's also 12. She stands up on one leg using her wings as crutches like my last rooster, Zane, used to do.
Lots of molting going on here so almost no eggs at the moment.

I am sorry to hear that. Your poor husband. I hope he can get some relief from the pain.

Sorry about your chickens it is hard to watch them age. You take such good care of them.

 

[getaclue]

I too, am sorry to hear of your husband's back pain. I'm sure you'll get things figured out regarding Druscilla.

 

[speckledhen]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-x-partridge-plus-dark.1116350/post-27197065 Bad chicken emergency tonight.

 

[speckledhen]

Druscilla just died about 20 minutes ago. I had just dug her grave, went into the barn and she was in the final moments. Tom held her as she passed on her favorite spot, his chest. As they used to day on a show we watched, her fight is over. She was cousin to Atlas through the Stukel line, being the daughter of one of those originals and his mother was her aunt. Now, Mina is 12 and the next age in line is 8 yrs old, Atlas's daughters, Athena and Zara.
Mina is very spry. If she and Bonnie could learn to get along, they can live together for awhile. Bonnie is very lonely in the back pen by herself.

 

[h2oratt]

Druscilla just died about 20 minutes ago. I had just dug her grave, went into the barn and she was in the final moments. Tom held her as she passed on her favorite spot, his chest. As they used to day on a show we watched, her fight is over. She was cousin to Atlas through the Stukel line, being the daughter of one of those originals and his mother was her aunt. Now, Mina is 12 and the next age in line is 8 yrs old, Atlas's daughters, Athena and Zara.
Mina is very spry. If she and Bonnie could learn to get along, they can live together for awhile. Bonnie is very lonely in the back pen by herself.

I am so sorry. I am glad she passed away on your hubbys chest. I am sure that was a comfort.