Tom, I'm sick of this weather too. It's crippled my garden and we never seem to dry out. I have used many bails of straw trying to keep the chicken pens decent. Otherwise there would have been a lot of cooped up birds.
Thanks for the kind comments about the Germans. Flounder......that is...
Kathy thanks for that beautiful picture. It describes spatchcocking perfectly. I think that I'm going to serve one for dinner today since that picture has me drooling.
Tom: I have not weighed the others. Two of the ones processed were the smallest so all the others will be at least 5 lbs I...
Today I processed 4 cockerels. They are 18 weeks old tomorrow. I thought some would be interested in the results:
#1 5.75 lb. whole
3.5 lb. dressed
#2 4.5 lb. whole
2.5 lb dressed
#3 5.0 whole
3.1 dressed
#4 4.6 lb. whole
2.65 dressed
The dressed weight is...
Hello everyone. I have been away for a few days.
Thank You for the compliments Kathy. I just love these chickens!
Body type and size are the two major points to consider when culling any heritage breed. I also watch out for disposition. I had really mean Delaware roosters in the past...
Thanks for the replys. Thanks for the compliments too. I hope I have those of you with younger birds excited.
They are 16 weeks old and I have not weighed them. Many of them are large and will get to be VERY nice size birds. I like large birds and size will be one of the criteria that...
People are asking for pictures so here are some. These are my F4s at 16 weeks old. I think they are just beautiful. Kathy can be proud of her work. There are more photos at my profile in the F4 album. I have not culled any, but have made up my mind about most of them. The pullets are easy...
Hi Zanna,
Yes, they are a hoot. Mine run madly back into the coop at the least thing. Being out is so new to them. Even though I have been very cautious with them they are perfectly hardy and fine. They are so colorful, it will be fun watching them all develop.
Hello Everyone,
I too was generously given eggs by Kathy. They are now six weeks old. There were 21 Delawares hatched. They are very cute and quite spunky.
I let them out for the first time yesterday. I have been treating them like gold I guess. They get organic feed that has...
I was lucky and won a dozen of Kathy's F2 eggs at auction last year. These birds are huge, even the hens. They are also so nice to work with and have around. I almost got out of Delawares because my roosters were all mean. When these guys came along they were the opposite. Its much more...
Kathy those F3s are beautiful. The girls are looking as nice as the boys. Their color is really coming along nicely and they are VERY chunky. I hope the fertility tester got some of those eggs! It is so exciting seeing all this.
My chicks from the F2 cockerels are super vigorous. At three...
So sorry Matt. I traded them to a guy for a pair of those Showgirl silkies. He said I could get them jobs in Atlantic City and not have to work anymore. I know you understand as you and your friend Bob B. are great silky fans. Got to run...........Bea
What beautiful color Big John has. I take it from his name he has good size too. Yes, temperament is right at the top of the list of must have traits here.
Thank You everyone for your kind replies. I really enjoy them and think everyone should have some. When ever people see them (even non chicken people) they all say the same word......WOW.
I just wanted to post some updated pictures of my lovely little flock that I got from Matt1616. The hens have started to lay and everyone of them is doing well. They are so friendly and easy to work with too. The cockerel pictured is the one I have selected to breed with I think. He has the...
Thanks Jeff. I really like these birds and can't quite believe they are in my coop. Matt did a great job getting them to me in perfect shape. I wanted the pure German strain. My DH likes them so much that he thinks we should get rid of the other chickens. NOT. I intend to enjoy them for...