d'anver lovers,discuss the breed and post some pics!

[Inkheart]

Well i almost did it today - atteneded a huge auction and there were a lovely trio of D'Anvers - they appeared abit big to me and decided before i really think about it - and to get good stock i passed - but boy were they pretty!
The Japanese turned out to be roosters perhaps that has something to do with it and yes my friends lines seem to be quite flighty

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep, if it's aflighty line and all were roos, that's most likely what the problem was.

You might have done well to pass on the d'anvers too if they were big. They shouldnt be but 20- 22 onces on the hens and 24-25 on the males. Pretty much old english size, just a little meatier looking.

My quail just started back laying a little if you'd like to try some eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

As you can see, Aimee keeps playing in the nests (I have a big one in there for the handful of standards who live with them) and Aubrey likes to watch her. I think he'll be a real slave driver when they start laying--he already bothers my Silver Phoenix when she sits in that nest.

Here is tiny Carly.

And Rufus:

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
Rufus is a handsome devil! He color is amazing!

I was just sitting her trying to decide how on earth I would choose which D'aver colors to get...after drooling over your bird so offten Cyn I think I'd have to get Porcelain and Millie Fleur for sure...and there are other colors that I just MUST have!!

~Aspen

 

[wishingbee]

Quote:
Thank you!! This thread has been amazing to look through- but perhaps a bad idea. Now I want one of each.

I do have a few questions. I have gone through this entire thread, and perhaps I've missed this information.. if that's the case, my apologies in advance.

1. I did read that they have a bit of a shrill call. Are they louder than other types of chickens? I do live on a small lot with neighbors fairly close by... I want to be as neighbor-friendly as possible.
2. Is there a particular color of d'Anvers that tends to have especially fluffy beards? I'm really loving the birdie beards! (the things you learn about yourself...lol)
3. If I recall, they typically lay about 5 eggs a week, often skipping every third day. Yet on a hatchery site I notice that they list them as not a great egg producer. Is this because of the size of the egg?
4. How many d'Anvers eggs does it take to equal a typical generic LF hen's? I'd love to see a photo of a d'Anvers egg next to a LF egg if someone has one!
5. Is fall a bad time to start a flock from scratch? I'm thinking I'll have to order eggs, hatch them, let them grow enough to sex them, then find homes for the remaining birds (my brother and cousin are eager to help with this task!).
6. I'm amazed by how many colors these little birds are recognized in. Is there any other breed of chicken that has more variation?

Ummm.... okay, I think that's it for now.

 

[Inkheart]

Cyn - Rufus is amazing! If its spangled or speckeld i tend to be asucker for them - and wishing bee - i am riding on your coat tails here and will love to hear the answers to your very good questions. Sorry guys - newbie questions on my part - hope i am not bothering anyone?!?!?!?
Ok with out a scale the birds i saw yesterday were huge really - when i got home and was looking at my bantam rocks - the D'anvers hens were almost that big - now mind you some of my hens are a bit on the small side as the roo i had was a bit big - so glad i didnt get them. I also thought with the show season upon us ans three shows including crossroads - i would be able to talk to some breeders live and in person - hopefully,.

 

[chipmunkridge]

Quote:
Where in Ohio was this auction? was it Mt Hope? I was there on Thursday. Had a great time.

 

[Inkheart]

Quote:
Where in Ohio was this auction? was it Mt Hope? I was there on Thursday. Had a great time.

Yes it was Mt hope!

 

[chipmunkridge]

Quote:
Where in Ohio was this auction? was it Mt Hope? I was there on Thursday. Had a great time.

Yes it was Mt hope!

The chickens there on Thursday looked horrible. I wouldn't have bought any of them. Wait until the Ohio national, then you can see really nice birds. I saw one pen of quail d'anvers, there were 2 roosters, 3 hens, they looked ok, but probably not worth what people were spending.
Originally, I was going to buy a pair of mandarin ducks there. But decided not to, my son really doesn't want to be in 4H next year and the ducks just make muddy messes. My son wants a coatimundi now and my daughter a fennec fox.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Rufus is Mille Fleur. I have Mille Fleurs and Porcelains because the two colors breed well together-porcelain is just mille fleur with the lavender gene added. The first generation of porcelain x mille fleur will look like mille fleur but be split to lavender. The next generation will get you porcelains again. Of course, since I have both porcelain and mille fleur roosters, I won't know if the babies are splits or straight mille fleurs right away, not until they reproduce.

As far as how loud they are, the roosters can get some crowing volume! So far, my little pullets haven't made many sounds at all. Here is a video of a couple of mine crowing awhile back, though that was before they found their full voices:

http://s673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/Mtnviewpoultry/Video Clips/?action=view&current=DSCN2835.mp4

Mine aren't laying yet, but the eggs they came from were some of the tiniest I've ever seen, smaller than my banty Cochin's eggs. I didn't get them for their eggs and can't imagine anyone who would. These are purely for fun and they sure have been!

As far as colors, I credit Aubrey with that. NO hatchery carries these colors. I've seen only quail and some have blue quail, but never all these rich and varied colors that Aubrey has created or offers. I know there are breeders around the U.S. quietly working on colors in this breed, only because Aubrey has mentioned them-they are pretty darn quiet! To me, Aubrey is the go-to guy for D'Anvers.