Delaware x Barred Rock Chicks--Indy, Rex and Ira's Progress Thread

[speckledhen]

New free ranging photos of Indy, Rex, Ira, Deacon & Delia (with Dottie), plus their Belgian D'anver pals. Indy is amazing to me. He is not only precisely barred, but to me, seems quite large for just about to turn 12 weeks old tomorrow. Rex is less than two weeks younger than Indy, Ira only a half week younger than Rex. Ira is so much smaller than Rex, though almost as old, so I wonder if him being raised in a pen with the bantams, not being able to free range until just the last week, has made the difference. They have the same parents.

Indy, loving his freedom to forage. He is definitely the leader.










Dottie with her kids, Deacon and Delia. Deacon has the same parents as Indy, Rex and Ira and Delia is a Del x BBS Rock pullet.


The little D'Anver pullet is very attached to Indy, over even her brother.







Below is little Ira, barely 10 weeks old, learning to forage for the first time in his life.



Rex, two weeks younger than Indy and looking more like what you'd expect of a Del/BR cross male.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I'd bet those guys with the silver leaking through will be some awesome looking guys here in 6 weeks or so. they should have silver sex feathers(pyle area) where other gold crossed BSLs would be straw/flaxing colored.

Jeff

I'm liking that dark barring(almost blue) on Indy he will be a hansom dude too, looks to be very "roosterish like" already

 

[speckledhen]

Indy has his sire's long legs and handsome profile already. I'm raising up the future of my main flock here and in a week or so, will test out free ranging the flock, including Isaac, with these youngsters running among them (except for the D'Anver pair--those will be locked up during that time). I will be incorporating them into the group very soon since I have another broody, my 1/2 Ameraucana hen, Maretta, on eggs and I really need one of the occupied spaces for her and her new chicks. Maretta was the one who raised Indy and the D'Anver pair, if you recall.

 

[wekiva bird]

They are growing up fast.

 

[speckledhen]

Yup, they are. Indy and Rex are now in the big coop with Isaac and the big evil women. Snapped pics of Dottie's two, Deacon and Delia, who are now 9 weeks old. Deacon is not as round bodied as Rex, Indy and Ira.












And Raven, half sister to them all, who is quite pretty now. Very TALL!

 

[speckledhen]

Indy's saddle feathers are finally filtering in, though you can't really see them in these photographs. He and Rex are adjusting to life in the big coop with their sire, mother and the other ladies who torment them.
Indy teasing Spike, my D'Anver male.


Rex, looking very silvery.


Indy resting in the front storage area of the bantam coop, where the mean old hens can't see him.


Comparing Rex and Indy from overhead.

 

[catdaddyfro]

the boys are looking teenager like huh? so far so good an liking the poss. tail prospects on Indy you can tell he has those "soft" barred feathers, they are different for sure.

Jeff

 

[speckledhen]

I'm quite pleased with Indy in particular. He sure is showing his Stukel heritage. And he's also very calm and easygoing with me as well, though, of course, at 13 weeks old, his hormones haven't really kicked in yet. To me, a great looking bird is only part of the story. He must also be good tempered and easy to handle. So far, so good with these two and Deacon. Ira, the middle one, is a tad more skittish but I'm rehoming him anyway since I don't need all these males with the number of hens I have. He'll be fine once he has more attention lavished on him-can't help himself coming from these parents.

 

[speckledhen]

Pics of Indy and Rex free ranging with the flock today.

 

[wekiva bird]

He turning out to be a big pretty boy.