Delawares from kathyinmo

[LeslieDJoyce]

We cut cattle panels in 1/2 lengthwise and just slid them under the pipe of our hoop coops.  Very easy to move when relocating the coop.

Awesome idea!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

For my second "batch" of Delawares hatching under broodies I ended up with 6 live chicks (and one squashed one). That left 8 unhatched eggs (two clutches)! I reorganized so there was one clutch of eggs so one broody could play with the chicks while the other sat on the eggs and left them all in the broody box together for a few more days, but besides kicking one egg out of the nest nothing else happened. I'm thinking maybe my hen in the saddle was not in the mood to mate so her eggs were not fertile?

Here is their solution to co-parenting 6 chicks and 8 eggs:

I've got two more clutches going now and will probably start some more. I really want a few more chicks this year ... can't do much with just 16.

I took the saddle off the one hen and will check again for fertility.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

The last 6 Delaware chicks are now out and about ...

Two more clutches are in the chute to hatch soon, and I've got two broodies ready for eggs ... we get more chicks on the ground.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Leslie, it's great that you've been successful getting broodies to work for you!

My attempt to give a broody KDel chicks did not work out. She was pecking at them aggressively. All the chicks ran from her, except one. One, day old, Dorking cockerel chick ran out and fought back. He kept running at the hen, pecking back at her.
Of course, I separated them immediately, but I was surprised to see a tiny chick take on a hen. I wonder if that's a sign that he's a good male or that he's crazy aggressive???

I did have success putting fertile eggs under my now 2 broody KDel hens. Stay tuned.

 

[ronott1]

Leslie, it's great that you've been successful getting broodies to work for you!

My attempt to give a broody KDel chicks did not work out. She was pecking at them aggressively. All the chicks ran from her, except one. One, day old, Dorking cockerel chick ran out and fought back. He kept running at the hen, pecking back at her.
Of course, I separated them immediately, but I was surprised to see a tiny chick take on a hen. I wonder if that's a sign that he's a good male or that he's crazy aggressive???

I did have success putting fertile eggs under my now 2 broody KDel hens. Stay tuned.

That would have been a great video?

He does not have developed Cohones yet(or the testosterone any way), so it would have been behavior. I bet he will be a good Flock Master.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Leslie, it's great that you've been successful getting broodies to work for you!

My attempt to give a broody KDel chicks did not work out. She was pecking at them aggressively. All the chicks ran from her, except one. One, day old, Dorking cockerel chick ran out and fought back. He kept running at the hen, pecking back at her.
Of course, I separated them immediately, but I was surprised to see a tiny chick take on a hen. I wonder if that's a sign that he's a good male or that he's crazy aggressive???

I did have success putting fertile eggs under my now 2 broody KDel hens. Stay tuned.

I'd have paid to see that!

I don't give the foster broodies chicks, I give them eggs. I don't have an incubator ... well, I don't have an "automatic" incubator. I have broodies.

I could maybe have more chicks on the ground if I'd gotten the two incubators I had my eye on ...

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Hatch day for this set of broodies on Delaware eggs. I counted 9 chicks so far.

 

[finnfur]

NEW Kathyinmo Bantam Del line
Well I keep seeing posts looking for a Del bantam line - heres the start LOL
Now that I'm not collecting to hatch we get a egg per hen .

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

NEW Kathyinmo Bantam Del line Well I keep seeing posts looking for a Del bantam line - heres the start LOL Now that I'm not collecting to hatch we get a egg per hen .

But of course!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Here are the first 10 @ 3 weeks old. Starting to get a few tail feathers and get some height. They still look very uniform to me, but maybe I see male legs vs. female legs.