Belgian Malines Have Arrived!!!

[theoldchick]

Look at em!

 

[Shellz]

A couple of the older chicks feel heavier than some of my hatchery stock at twice the age! Very promising indeed!

 

[theoldchick]

It will be interesting to compare them to hatchery stock as they get older.

 

[Shellz]

For sure! Ok, maybe I exaggerated a bit. Still, they are the most solid birds I've ever felt in my hands. Time will tell...

 

[Shellz]

9 days old. Starting to see some nice leg feathering on a couple of them.








And below the older chicks. I can relate. Lol!

 

[Chadsky]

coming along very nicely!!! would love to see a carcass from one of these, they look like a beautiful uniform full bodied bird...

 

[Shellz]

Thanks! You & me both, Chad! Time will tell & I'll be sure to post when the time comes. They are 11 days old now. I screwed up somewhere.

They hatched June 29, so that's 11 days old today.


I'm going to assume they are all pullets at this point, until they feather in enough to be able to sex definitively.

Above are the 2 best leg feathered gals.

Looks like I got a runt there. Awww. Mini Malines. Well, I won't be breeding that one in future. Wonder how big she'll end up being.

 

[Shellz]

12 days old today. First 3 pics are same bird. Still debatable whether its a pullet or roo.










Below is my biggest roo from the older crowd.





Nicest leg feathering too! Loving these birds so far!

 

[theoldchick]

He does have some nice leg feathering.

 

[Shellz]

Thanks! Breeder told me I could put a roo like that over my less feathered girls to get better feathering in offspring. I'm so new at this purebred poultry game, but it sure is interesting.