Delawares from kathyinmo

[Zanna]

I buy fish meal and add it as well as fish/meat scraps. My local feedstore orders in the fishmeal for me.

 

[crazyhen]

Will adding the fish meal throw the feed balance off? I did feed them a mix of yogurt, the vinegar with mother and feed mixed with water yesterday and they went crazy over it. None left and none wasted wow! I did not realize how much was wasted until I cleaned out the dry coop floor of shavings. There was a good 2 inches of feed mixed with poop in it. Mostly feed. Yikes . It will be wet from now on. They have a run now ,but the feed has been being kept inside to prevent other things from getting it.
You should have seen those full little Babys lying around. Dusting and happy. When I came up again all eyes went to momma as if to say ( has she got more good stuff) They are sooo expressive this group.
Today they got it again. All hands on deck again. Tails up beaks down. Non stop.

.

 

[EggieRowe]

Will adding the fish meal throw the feed balance off? I did feed them a mix of yogurt, the vinegar with mother and feed mixed with water yesterday and they went crazy over it. None left and none wasted wow! I did not realize how much was wasted until I cleaned out the dry coop floor of shavings. There was a good 2 inches of feed mixed with poop in it. Mostly feed. Yikes . It will be wet from now on. They have a run now ,but the feed has been being kept inside to prevent other things from getting it.
You should have seen those full little Babys lying around. Dusting and happy. When I came up again all eyes went to momma as if to say ( has she got more good stuff) They are sooo expressive this group.
Today they got it again. All hands on deck again. Tails up beaks down. Non stop.

.

When I did my first coop clean out this spring I was sick with the amount of food I found under the litter! I was using a hanging feeder that I *thought* was high enough to discourage waste. So I built a PVC trough feeder and they go through half as much food now as they did over winter. (I'm sure some reduction due to warmer weather, but still!) Now they can't nitpick their favorite bits out and sling the 'meal' portion onto the floor.

 

[finnfur]

Yes the crumbles are a lot of floor waste . But some need medicated chick starter on first bag so thats what I start on . As soon as they can eat whole grain they also get fermented mix of wheat [ because I get it free from farmer- egg trade] cracked corn and oats.Chick grits. Before serving I add 1 teaspoon of CalfMana pro [TSC] per bird/chick.Thats the needed animal protein . As soon as the bag of medicated chick starter is gone they get
Rock N Rooster non medicated pellets 20% [ Southern States ] . All my adult birds get some form of pellet 24/7 with Fermented grain daily. The layers are getting a Purina Layena w/ Fermented but when current supply of purina is gone I'm converting to all Rock N Rooster pellets and free serve oyster shells.
I found when going to pellets usage dropped. Less waste. Also when there is plenty of Clover , Grass & bugs usage drops.
All water has Vinegar with mother.

 

[desertmarcy]

I bought 8 of Kathy's Delawares from Mahonri in Phoenix since he is moving and had to disperse all his chickens. These were hatched on 5/3: Please feel free to comment on them.


Another group shot;


Notice this one chick: It is substantially smaller than all the rest. I see it eating and it is active, but it just does not grow. I am wondering why and if I should cull it or give it more time:


I believe I just have 2 cockerels in the group of 8. Does everybody agree? Here is one of them, the one in the middle:




Here is the second one:



This pullet has a nice wide head and looks like she might be a beefy one:

 

[finnfur]

Marcy
I would say your correct 2 Cockerels from what I can see . Looks like growing about normal . Like little tanks.
I have a small one also but its not docile. it will take on anybody in the pen . No holds barred LOL
It doesn't look for trouble but doesn't take any either. And the friendliest being the first chick to jump in my hand.
And congrats on getting the line . Cherish them . I think they are the start of Del resurrection.

 

[cbnovick]

I bought 8 of Kathy's Delawares from Mahonri in Phoenix since he is moving and had to disperse all his chickens. These were hatched on 5/3: Please feel free to comment on them.


Another group shot;


Notice this one chick: It is substantially smaller than all the rest. I see it eating and it is active, but it just does not grow. I am wondering why and if I should cull it or give it more time:


I believe I just have 2 cockerels in the group of 8. Does everybody agree? Here is one of them, the one in the middle:




Here is the second one:



This pullet has a nice wide head and looks like she might be a beefy one:

Marcia, looks like 2 cockerels to me...bizarre on that dwarf bird...even if it does catch up to the rest (i doubt it though)...would you want to actually use it as a breeder? If it were mine, I would cull it (or find a pet home for it). that's a nice looking pullet in the last photo

 

[Zanna]

Marcia, looks like 2 cockerels to me...bizarre on that dwarf bird...even if it does catch up to the rest (i doubt it though)...would you want to actually use it as a breeder? If it were mine, I would cull it (or find a pet home for it). that's a nice looking pullet in the last photo

I have a tiny one as well. She also has really white legs. She will become part of my layer flock if she lays decently but definitely not a breeder.

Out of 19 chicks I believe I have 4 pullets, the rest are cockerals. One pullet is the midget with white legs, one has green legs, the other two look nice but one has more columbian type markings. They are finally starting to look like little chickens, took them forever to feather in and get tails! Hopefully I will have at least a suitable pair to breed, I think I will.

 

[Beekissed]

I had about 50/50 on sex and only two smaller ones. They were not as small as the one in that pic, though...just slightly smaller than their peers. Here is one of the small ones in a group I call the Doves~she's the one on the left and I love her shape, her head and her good survival and foraging characteristics. This is the WRs and two Del smallest pullets that don't have much black on them...I love that they all look like white doves. Sorry about the poor quality of the pics but these birds are always in motion and won't let me get too close for a pic...they just melt into the woods if I try to get closer.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Will adding the fish meal throw the feed balance off?

I'm not an expert on poultry nutrition, but I think adding a little protein in the form of fish meal is ok and won't throw the other nutrients out of balance
.

I bought 8 of Kathy's Delawares from Mahonri in Phoenix since he is moving and had to disperse all his chickens.

Congrats to you! I'm sad that Dar had to give them- and all his chickens up for his move.
I like that beefy pullet. I have a couple who look like her. There's another nice looking pullet in your group with more color. I've heard that sexing Dels can be tricky and they sometimes can fool you. I can't tell what you have in the group shot, but the two cockerels look definitely male. I agree to not use the little chick for breeding. If it's a pullet, maybe there is a backyarder who would like her for a layer. I had a tiny one that did not grow that died in the first week. Other than that, I have a range of sizes. One of the pullets is a bit smaller than the others but I was thinking she's still bigger - or maybe the same size- as the Dels that I have from another line.

Out of 19 chicks I believe I have 4 pullets, the rest are cockerals. One pullet is the midget with white legs, one has green legs, the other two look nice but one has more columbian type markings. They are finally starting to look like little chickens, took them forever to feather in and get tails! Hopefully I will have at least a suitable pair to breed, I think I will.

Fingers crossed for you! I'm always willing to share or work together with you with this strain. I have a cockerel with very dark columbian markings. I don't understand genetics but thought that the Del barring genes were different from the columbian genes. ??? I was wondering how this one ended up looking the way he does. Mine have lots of color, except for a couple pullets. I have no clue how they are going to end up, since I think that they change as they mature.

Here is one of the small ones in a group I call the Doves~she's the one on the left and I love her shape, her head and her good survival and foraging characteristics. This is the WRs and two Del smallest pullets that don't have much black on them...I love that they all look like white doves.

They are lovely!