Delaware Gang @ 5 Weeks Old (newest Pics #96/ 9 Wks Old)

[Lanissa86]

They look so good Cyn! I am having Big time Delaware envy!

 

[wolfbaine30]

Man how those little buggers have grown since we was uo there last.Looks like you got yourself a good batch of Dellies this time.Good luck with them.

 

[walkswithdog]

You're right about the lesser quality and hatchery boys, they can be hard little buggers. I'm having to hold these daily to keep them mellow. The girls in this lot are better though, very much lap birds. There are at least three with good potential. A fourth and fifth... still waiting. Going to zip tie the best girls starting tomorrow just cuz when they get moving I get all baffled as to who is who. The boys... they hit the meat pen or get sold once your boys get here.

I'm surprised at the weight gain, they really do grow fast. they are pretty beasts. And the eggs are gorgeous. So worth working with. Funny my girls are slower feathering than the boys. Shorter tails, less chest feathering. It's fun working with a new breed. In Rocks, those are the boys.

I'm going to take pics of these and get your ideas if you don't mind. At least of the girls and my still trying to guess whatsits.

If a comb has lay over now, lay over later? Does it depend on degree? None of the PR's ever had any lay over so I'm not familiar at all with it as it develops.

I still probably have two weeks to probably tell which my two "whatsits" are.

Thanks for the pics. I'm going to be working with them tomorrow so I'll post pics.

I also got a few more hatchery ones for comparison but the wee buggers are still in the manic neon yellow popcorn stage aka 1 week.

Gosh they're loud.

Funny the sizzles seem to be having a calming affect on this batch.

 

[speckledhen]

You know, sometimes a comb that lays over early on will stand at attention later. One of Suede's sons that Buster has had a comb like that, but it straightened up as he matured. It's almost impossible to get pics of these babies. They really are demented popcorn!

 

[herechickchick]

Demented Popcorn, thats cute!

 

[lockedhearts]

So it's not just your BR babies that like to stand on people feet????

I need as many feet as DebiRaymond has Fingers on her Avatar to hold all my BR's

 

[walkswithdog]

Adam it's soooo true it's hilarious. They're insanely active. Even from VERY young there's this immediately growing temptation to duct tape the suckers to the ground. Never have I seen the like before.

They put BA's to shame for activity, loud and boisterous. I've never had to move a group out at two weeks for my own sanity before. I did this time. Wow... just flat amazing.

 

[helmstead]

They are looking great Cyn! I'm glad the heritage strains are well natured.

I'm still not prepared to try them again after going through the MM Dels. Those two were EVIL. It's strange because they were both so very sweet and inquisitive until about 2 months into becoming sexually mature. It started with my roo...he started flogging my then 1 1/2 year old daughter, using his 10+ lb bulk to knock her onto her face and then jumping on her. Then the hen went mad, becoming extremely aggressive and finally also became a flogger (NEVER been flogged by a hen!). They were beautiful, layed HUGE eggs with lots of double yolkers which my egg customers loved...but wasn't worth it in the end. To the chopping block they had to go...

 

[speckledhen]

I was sad about that, Kate. And now we both know for sure that temperament is heritable! If you ever change your mind, you know you can have these anytime you like.

 

[walkswithdog]

It's sad that the hatcheries don't give a flying fig about type and temperament. So many people end up with bad experiences with what really are good breeds.

It's why I am getting most of my chicks through BYC now. I may experiment with hatchery stock but it's only an experiment now.

Life's too short to live with mean birds.