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

[speckledhen]

Well, yesterday was awful. We almost lost a Delaware pullet who was accidentally stepped on, long story. She had blood in her left eye and seemed to be gasping for air, but after a day of supportive care, she is standing, eating, drinking, singing her heart out and all that is left of the trouble is a closed left eye that we now believe was scratched on the cornea by a concrete block she was standing next to. We are using opthalmic antibiotic drops in it and she is almost ready to go back to the coop. Tough young lady for five weeks old! She is in a box in my bedroom so we snapped a pic of her emerging markings.

 

[scgamecock]

They love to pile on top of each other at that age.I have lost a few at times because of that.

 

[speckledhen]

But this was a human who stepped on this young lady. And a very upset human, too, thinking we may lose one of our pullets. It's never a cockerel that has a mishap, just the girls, naturally.

They are so underfoot, it's amazing that it hasn't happened before now.

 

[scgamecock]

Yeah it's never a mean boy is it?

 

[ChickBond 007]

Those are lovely

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks. Actually, there are no mean boys in this bunch, but still, I have a couple too many of those. I wanted to keep all six pullets from this hatch and for a while, I thought we were down to just five.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Thanks for answering my question, you gave the exact info I ws looking for . . . (I've noticed you tend to do that). I plan on spening about two years focusing on builing a breeding flock of Heritage Buckeyes (recieving fabulous support here on BYC). I have in mind that the next breed I would like to work (play) with is Heritage Delawares, therefore really appreciate this thread and will be watching and listening but won't have much to add, so please keep it going I am really interested on their personalities at 6 mo and 1 yr etc.
thanks again!

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Beautiful!

 

[speckledhen]

Here are a few of them today, outside in their new pen. The brown marks on the head are from my watercolor marker-I pegged the four cockerels I want to keep an eye on for my final selection. In a couple weeks, three cockerels are going to their new homes and I'll let the others grow out further. One that I did not mark, the guy on the ramp, has great markings, but his comb is a tad unevenly pointed, not bad, but not as good as the others. I'm thinking comb is more important than perfect markings at this stage of the game, especially since the markings will continue to change over the next few weeks. They'll be six weeks Tuesday.

 

[seriousbill]

Gee, Cyn, ya think that last one is a pullet or a cockerel? Look at that comb!