Answer to the Delaware Dilemma

[joletabey]

Knox- I pm'd you!

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Quote:
Ok, I will stop holding the entire breed accountable for those I had before. I probably won't start with them again as I think there are LOTs of bird more awesome and with the need to bring the rare ones back from the brink, I'll just take your word for it.

Dave

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Just some updated pics of my boys.

This is the one I decided to keep of the three young'uns from ShelleyB.

He has the darkest tail of the three, but is by far the widest and most massive. Even if the other two were to eventually catch up with him, he has such a head-start on the maturity-rate, I would still go with him. He's almost as big as my main roo which is a full two months older than him. (This guy is about 4 months old.) I wish his back were shorter, but overall I think he will be a good roo to work with.

Here is the main roo at about 24 weeks:

He's holding his tail a little low here, but I'm actually pretty pleased with the angle of it. It's very close to the standard's picture.

Here's the two culls at the same age as the first photo:

Unfortunately, I've only identified two hens out of my five that I want to use, so I will probably split them up into pairs when spring rolls around and then switch them around after about a month. Would this method work best, or should I keep both hens in with one roo, and then just switch out roos?

I kind of like the idea of having two different pairings at the same time to compare for growth rates, etc.

 

[kathyinmo]

Rachel, I agree with your choices. They look great! I think you have some nice lookin' boys there! Thanks for posting the pictures. I love looking at the pictures over and over again.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Quote:
I second that. He is quite nice. Two others are definitely not all together.

Dave

 

[joletabey]

Rachel, if at all possible, hold on to them all for another month or two or three- they change SO much, and the roo on the right of the two "rejects" still looks like he has possibilities. But if you have to cull now, I agree on your choice. His tail is a bit closer to the desired black and white barring, at least in these pictures, and if he is that big, and continues to round out, you will have a nice boy.

I would do pairings, hatch from those, band them and then switch roos and do the same thing and see what roos and what hens work well together.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Ok, I will stop holding the entire breed accountable for those I had before. I probably won't start with them again as I think there are LOTs of bird more awesome and with the need to bring the rare ones back from the brink, I'll just take your word for it.

Dave

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Quote:
Did you know chickens get worms from eating earthworms, etc? ....

This is a quote from a Florida Extension Service article.

The chickens pick up the parasite eggs directly by ingesting contaminated feed, water, or litter or by eating snails, earthworms, or other insects (intermediate hosts) which can carry the eggs. Further down it mentions earthworms and grasshoppers as intermediate hosts for roundworms.

Just for the record, here's a link to the article. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM015

Unless you keep your chickens in solitary confinement, away from earthworms, insects, and wild birds, there is a great chance they have worms. The contaminated feed, water, and litter means that it has bird droppings in it, like when an infected bird perchs above a feeder or a wild bird leaves a deposit in the run.

Some worm prevention methods:

Keeping the grounds dry and clean. Use pine shavings (not chips) instead of hay, put down sand instead of letting them be on bare soil. These methods dry out the ground and worm eggs and bacteria have a harder time existing in those conditions. They keep the birds' area more hygienic and thus more clean smelling. It's WAY easier to clean, too!

For treats like scratch, use in the bedding instead of the ground. They'll fluff up and aerate the bedding for you, have less access to droppings and shed parasite eggs, and will dry the bedding as well.

Kathy,

There is something so basic to me about my chickens eating these things that I can't bring myself to keep it out of their diet. I LOVE my "yard art" wandering around eating all the little nasty creatures I can't see but they love. I use DE in their feed pretty regularly and I also use wood chips in their coop as well as hay in the yard (for when I don't just let them range.) I may try your idea of the sand though. That might be a better choice for the run instead of hay. Have you used the sand before and what was your success? In the article you mentioned, I had to laugh at the idea of keeping birds away from my "free range" flock. Not really realistic but would work if you keep your girls confined I guess.

Dave

 

[speedy2020]

I am considering order some Delaware from Sandhill Preservation. Where do one get good fast growing high quality stock from? And what price should I pay if purchase 1 dozen hatching egg locally?

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I bought eggs from Kathy here in Missouri. (BTW she has been commenting throughout this post. And she is pretty awesome) She came recommended from several sources. I'd say put your feelers out and see if you can find someone close to you who is working on the breed. It is well worth the drive to get good stock.

I don't know about Sandhill but I do know they are sold out right now.

Good Luck!!!

Dave