➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[jwyles]

Only one I see that's still raising Del's is in CA.

Too far for me plus I think they cant transport birds in or out of the state right now anyway.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My first real flock were Dels. They laid well the first winter but second winter went into molt in the fall and quit til spring. They did well with both heat and cold, but I found them to be meaner than I like and transitioned to the RIW and BH breeds. I think I have six del mixes left that are 3 years old and they are the only ones laying right now. I'm getting two to three eggs a day from 40 birds.

Thank you for sharing!

@rjohns39 on second thought I've got a question. I've read that they can be bossy/ mean/ bullies a few times. When you say mean, were they mean to your other birds or each other or aggressive towards people mean?

They weren't too bad with each other, but seriously mean to other breeds and the cockerels would go after people. Most of those are in the freezer. I know folks who do great with them and have successfully bred the aggressiveness out of them. I just didn't have the patience for it. If you want good quality, non-aggressive del's look for an Sustainable Poultry Network (SPN) farm to acquire them. Mine were all hatchery stock.

Thank you! I was wondering about hatchery quality. No idea if I'd be able to find someone near enough to get the small amount I need for my backyard flock but that's definitely the route I'd prefer to go. I think that must be why the reviews on them vary so much. It appears there are quite a few lines and there's a difference in the appearance and behavior in many and then even more so when comparing those to hatchery birds. I'll do a little research and see if quality dels are an option for me and if not I may just have to settle on another breed. Again thanks for your time! You've been super helpful!

Maybe it’s just cause she’s still a chick so this could change but my Delaware so far appears to be the lowest in the pecking order among everybody and she is the sweetest, most cuddliest chicken ever. Now that they’ve been outside so long (and Ive been hanging out with them less) she’s not quite as cuddly or really like being held as much but is still super curious and friendly and when she was really little, she preferred to be with me and would scream when I put her back LOL she just wanted cuddles. She’s learned how to be a bit more independent/be a chicken but still. Anyway, I got 5 new chicks at the end of April, all different breeds and she was one of them. So they are just over 15 weeks now. Monday. No eggs yet but anyway, maybe it changes as the get older and more assertive but so far she’s got a very gentle personality with everyone and is lowest in the rankings. The other chicks are a White Leghorn, a Speckled Sussex, and Easter Egger, and a Partridge Rock. So far, I think the WL, SS, and EE are at the top. They are the boldest and most assertive and kinda like the three amigos lol amigas? They always jump up on a perch closest to the outside of the run/the fence and visit me when I come outside. Always all 3 of them LOL

And some of them kinda shun Sweetpea from their perch ha

And some of the three amigas/musketeers also roost on the high rafters/roosts with the bigs.

I think the PR is next but it could be Sweetpea cause the PR is sometimes a bit shy so I’m not really sure. But I think Sweetpea is last.

Even among the bigs. Some of the littles have been very assertive and stood their ground/took their place right from the beginning lol

And mine are hatchery too so it depends.

All my birds are hatchery and they all lay well and are super nice and friendly. They’re still laying well at almost 4. Some don’t really lay much now but most of them do. And my EEs and Orpingtons have always been some of my best layers even though they’re not supposed to be. Or at least one of the EEs. One used to lay huge jumbo and often double tolled eggs and gorgeous blue but then she slowed down and this past year she took like over 7 months off, started molting in August and didn’t start again until like February and that was just her molt, I think she wasn’t laying before that too. The other EE lays large eggs according to the scale. They’re smaller than some of my hens but not tiny like one of the hens lays haha they’re an olivey green color. And she was the first to start laying at like 22 weeks old (though an Orpington did start the same day) and always laid through winter and everything. She didn’t really this past one but did end later and start earlier than the others. And even now my two EEs are some of the only ones laying. There’s one other brown layer right now that’s sporadic ha

Anyway, sorry for rambling haha

Point is not all hatchery birds are mean or necessarily bad ha

I got all my birds from Meyer Hatchery so maybe it depends on the hatchery, other hatcheries may be different, but I think Meyer is a somewhat smaller hatchery than most so maybe less issues or more care taken. Idk. But I’ve always been extremely happy with my birds from there. I think they all look great too but I’m biased haha

Conan is our breeder.
Us balluties are all her customers.
She is going to be rich.

Only one I see that's still raising Del's is in CA.

Too far for me plus I think they cant transport birds in or out of the state right now anyway.

That stinks.

 

[jwyles]

Maybe it’s just cause she’s still a chick so this could change but my Delaware so far appears to be the lowest in the pecking order among everybody and she is the sweetest, most cuddliest chicken ever. Now that they’ve been outside so long (and Ive been hanging out with them less) she’s not quite as cuddly or really like being held as much but is still super curious and friendly and when she was really little, she preferred to be with me and would scream when I put her back LOL she just wanted cuddles. She’s learned how to be a bit more independent/be a chicken but still. Anyway, I got 5 new chicks at the end of April, all different breeds and she was one of them. So they are just over 15 weeks now. Monday. No eggs yet but anyway, maybe it changes as the get older and more assertive but so far she’s got a very gentle personality with everyone and is lowest in the rankings. The other chicks are a White Leghorn, a Speckled Sussex, and Easter Egger, and a Partridge Rock. So far, I think the WL, SS, and EE are at the top. They are the boldest and most assertive and kinda like the three amigos lol amigas? They always jump up on a perch closest to the outside of the run/the fence and visit me when I come outside. Always all 3 of them LOL

And some of them kinda shun Sweetpea from their perch ha

And some of the three amigas/musketeers also roost on the high rafters/roosts with the bigs.

I think the PR is next but it could be Sweetpea cause the PR is sometimes a bit shy so I’m not really sure. But I think Sweetpea is last.

Even among the bigs. Some of the littles have been very assertive and stood their ground/took their place right from the beginning lol

And mine are hatchery too so it depends.

All my birds are hatchery and they all lay well and are super nice and friendly. They’re still laying well at almost 4. Some don’t really lay much now but most of them do. And my EEs and Orpingtons have always been some of my best layers even though they’re not supposed to be. Or at least one of the EEs. One used to lay huge jumbo and often double tolled eggs and gorgeous blue but then she slowed down and this past year she took like over 7 months off, started molting in August and didn’t start again until like February and that was just her molt, I think she wasn’t laying before that too. The other EE lays large eggs according to the scale. They’re smaller than some of my hens but not tiny like one of the hens lays haha they’re an olivey green color. And she was the first to start laying at like 22 weeks old (though an Orpington did start the same day) and always laid through winter and everything. She didn’t really this past one but did end later and start earlier than the others. And even now my two EEs are some of the only ones laying. There’s one other brown layer right now that’s sporadic ha

Anyway, sorry for rambling haha

Point is not all hatchery birds are mean or necessarily bad ha

I got all my birds from Meyer Hatchery so maybe it depends on the hatchery, other hatcheries may be different, but I think Meyer is a somewhat smaller hatchery than most so maybe less issues or more care taken. Idk. But I’ve always been extremely happy with my birds from there. I think they all look great too but I’m biased haha









That stinks.

No doubt not all hatchery birds are bad. Most of my hens and certainly my hardiest birds are hatchery. And yes my EE are actually my best birds as well. I just thought avoiding hatchery with the delawares might result in a more true to type and ideal temperament bird. I might just stick with cackle hatchery EE as they are tried and true for me and seem to do very well here with our hot summers and wet nasty winters. Basically tons of humidity year round. I honestly just had the idea that I'd like to switch to a good all around heritage breed with a certain type and consistent look. Thanks for the input.

 

[ShrekDawg]

No doubt not all hatchery birds are bad. Most of my hens and certainly my hardiest birds are hatchery. And yes my EE are actually my best birds as well. I just thought avoiding hatchery with the delawares might result in a more true to type and ideal temperament bird. I might just stick with cackle hatchery EE as they are tried and true for me and seem to do very well here with our hot summers and wet nasty winters. Basically tons of humidity year round. I honestly just had the idea that I'd like to switch to a good all around heritage breed with a certain type and consistent look. Thanks for the input.

That makes a lot of sense!! Maybe you could try Barred Rocks or Buff Orpingtons? Mine have been awesome. I loved my Barred Rock. She was amazing and not too bad with the other birds. And so far I love my Leghorn and Sussex haha

 

[Conan]

Did you order from a hatchery or do you know of a breeder? They seem hard to find.

They had them at my feed store! Pretty crazy. They order mainly through Ideal.

 

[Conan]

But Conan.....what about Orloffs

Well, my pullet disappeared and now I'm left with boy George, the extremely slow maturing rooster. I think he'll be cool, but they do take a million years to grow up. My pullet was decent, but not nearly as cool as the Brabanters. Not even close.

 

[Conan]

Conan is our breeder.
Us balluties are all her customers.
She is going to be rich.

Except I don't think I've got a cockerel after all. I might end up ordering one next time I get chicks, though. Then, and only then, will I begin burying my pennies from hatching egg sales in the back yard.

 

[jwyles]

That makes a lot of sense!! Maybe you could try Barred Rocks or Buff Orpingtons? Mine have been awesome. I loved my Barred Rock. She was amazing and not too bad with the other birds. And so far I love my Leghorn and Sussex haha

Yeah they'd work. Just liven white chickens

Well, my pullet disappeared and now I'm left with boy George, the extremely slow maturing rooster. I think he'll be cool, but they do take a million years to grow up. My pullet was decent, but not nearly as cool as the Brabanters. Not even close.

Let me know how your brabanters do for you once they mature. I'll be here making my list.

 

[Conan]

Yeah they'd work. Just liven white chickens


Let me know how your brabanters do for you once they mature. I'll be here making my list.

Another thing. They're fantastic foragers, and stick to covered areas. Unlike a lot of crested breeds, they keep an eye on the sky, and are athletic. My birds are free range so I avoid the slow hawk bait breeds, barring a couple bantam cochins for hatching.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah they'd work. Just liven white chickens


Let me know how your brabanters do for you once they mature. I'll be here making my list.

I didn’t think I wanted white birds or solid colors at first, thought it was boring, but I love my leghorn. She’s got sooo much personality haha