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

Glad there have been no more episodes.

Me, too. I tried again letting Mina and Atlas out together, but it's apparent that his Delaware horn-dog genes can't let him allow her to just be around him without going for a more "meaningful relationship". I was out watching them when I heard Dru flapping around and whining in her cage, poor old thing. So, I had an idea....I put Dru back in Mina's pen on the floor with her double bowl of food and water, caught Mina and put her back in her pen. Mina has her own similar bowl since it didn't make sense to keep a hanging feeder for one bird. She made unsettled, confused sounds for awhile, with Dru talking back to her, but I turned to the opposite pen to see how Cricket and her chicks were doing and, when I turned back, Mina was sitting quietly on the floor a foot away from Dru. She had been around Dru outside when I took Dru out to get some sun so she was familiar with her and I felt maybe, since she had gotten along with Emily, Georgie and June, she wouldn't be too upset by another big hen in her space with her. Maybe they both can get some comfort that way and neither are in any danger since Mina is too small to hurt Druscilla and Dru really can't hurt Mina because she can't walk.

I hope it works out. That's a good pairing for both of them. I KNEW you would get it figured out.

speckledhen said:

So far, I haven't witnessed any other episodes. Maybe it was nothing, but she is elderly so who knows?

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I would think old chickens can seize for numerous reasons.

I moved my chickens around the other day. One of my Polish gets her head picked bloody all the time. I've tried many things . But you know those BR's are very bold and don't give up. So I put her in with my silkie couple for now.

My one silkie, Juliet, is like I've never seen a silkie act. She's really protective against birds or whatever; yesterday it was a rabbit that got too close to the pen. She's a cute little thing. She was a replacement for a hen that died. But Romeo does not do anything to warm up to her. I feel bad for her.

My husband can be a real num-nut. I guess it's called "Retirement Disorder". He has been giving our dog people food for like 4 years. He would never listen to me. He tells me to MYOB. (It's my dog, haha) If I approach the subject, he yells and stomps his feet and tells me to MYOB. So one day he takes her to the vet because she's been turning her nose up at some people food. The VET told him to STOP giving her people food. So now me and the vet have told him to cut it out. The vet said it could take days but she will eventually have to eat the food. (I get her her Rachel Ray Delish.) The stuff smells like Mom's stew! It makes me want to taste it. The smell is devine.

Anyhow, hubs has always fed her, He started out following vet advice. But then I catch him the act of giving her Bob Evans mac and cheese! He tells me no he did not, then he tells me to keep my nose out of it! I tell him I will take over feeding her. He gets upset and tells me I don't listen!!! It's day 5 and she still does not finish her meal. It is certainly not the taste and smell of this Rachel Ray stuff. I would eat it, LOL. So it's just pickyness and spoiled. I don't care. She will be offered these pricey meals every day and the rest is up to her. I am not catering to her manipulation! My hubs seems depressed about losing control over her feeding. My daughter says I should not take away his feeding her because he's old and has nothing else to keep him occupied. But I have never in my life catered to a dog's manipulation. The Vet is concerned about her nutrition. Did I mention she's a Standard Poodle??

Thanks for listening. Here I only have my sister to vent to. My daughter thinks I am being mean. She does not want to hear it. Well people see what they want to see. At least I have chickens and other reasons to be outside with just me myself and I. Haha

I'm with you, Karen. It's about the dog's health, not your husband's feelings, especially if his feelings harm the dog. JMHO.
One of my Brahma hens was sitting a lot. I haven't seen an egg from her in a very long time (she's 6), but I checked her belly a couple of days ago and she has no bloating. I didn't think at the time to check her crop. Today, she sat, moved and sat some more so I grabbed Betsy and her crop is big and doughy. Those Brahmas have crop issues when they molt and she just molted or is still in molt, not sure. So, she has been in the hospital cage all day with water and no feed. My Dark Brahma hen, BJ, the head hen, has been going to the nest (actually, under the nests, on the floor, can't jump up there, apparently), sitting for long periods, no egg. This has happened many times over the past couple of months so not sure what is happening with her, but Betsy hasn't even acted like she wanted to lay, just hasn't done it. The crop issues are why I am not adding to the Brahmas any more. They are worse than my Blue Orps were in that regard. They eat the same food as everyone else does. I did change their feed recently to keep one with animal protein, but I doubt that's it. These crop issues have been going on since their very first molt. All my chickens eat the same feed but only the Brahmas have crop issues.

Either very late tonight, or preferably early in the morning, I'll be going to the hospital. Please keep me in your prayers.

getaclue said:

Either very late tonight, or preferably early in the morning, I'll be going to the hospital. Please keep me in your prayers.

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Thinking good thoughts for you, Cheryl. Hopefully, you can go tomorrow and maybe get a little sleep tonight. Hospitals are not anywhere anyone wants to be for any reason.