Delawares from kathyinmo

[LeslieDJoyce]

Leslie, I remove spurs before breeding. I was told that spurs can injure or even kill a hen.

Agreed, Kim. It's a question of timing ... the size & shape of the spur compared to breeding season.

Last year I did not remove spurs on my male Delaware, but they were tiny. Just after I started collecting eggs to hatch, one of my two breeding females got a pretty serious breeding injury on her side and we are certain that was from a toenail, not a spur. She doesn't have the best feather quality (too loose and fluffy, IMO, prone to frizzing), so I'm thinking that's part of why her side got torn. With a denim saddle the wound healed.

This year PapaDel's spurs are certainly larger, but still not pointy. With the size & weight of this breed, the pressure of the spur still might cause a tear, especially with an uncooperative female, so we were thinking of dealing with that now. If we pull the spurs off, there is a small chance of him getting an infection, so I need to weigh that risk when I decide what to do. We could always trim & file his spurs for now ... if trimmed and filed properly that should help a lot ... and then I could remove the spurs after he's put back on vacation. It seems easier to just pop them off. So I have to consider pros and cons of both options.

This year's F5 cockerels still have tiny smooth spurs ... I think I'll leave them be for this year.

Meanwhile, I have the spurs on some of the males in the hatchery egg flock to deal with.

I still need to get you photos of my "spare" cockerels so you can decide if you think it's worth it to try to get one to you. You have some really nice females (better than mine, I'm sure), so it would be great if you had choices for making breeding pens next year. What kinds of qualities are you looking for in a breeding cockerel to compliment your females? Yellow legs for one thing? That way I can try to capture those things in the photos. Between me and Zanna maybe we have something useful for you, if you're looking for something this year.

 

[Zanna]

Zanna, are you using the hatcher and incubator in a heated room?

My problem is, I don't have a climate controlled room for incubation. I'd like to hatch early, but don't have a solution.

Yes, they are jammed into our little apartment, incubator is next to TV where hubby made me a nice little cabinet to put it on and not sure where to put the hatcher yet. The ceiling is too low to stack them on top of eachother as I have seen others do and have room for the bucket/float system on both units. If I dont' use it I have to open the unit every 2-3 days to refil the water reservoir, it takes a gallon at a time. We keep our thermostat at 70 deg. year round but in the summer it gets very hot up here as we are in the top of a metal barn.

 

[finnfur]

Spurs;
The two other Cocks that were Rhode Island Reds had much larger spurs than the Dels - But Ol "Bob " was a big male

Well as usual I spoke to soon: Todays catch


another super bantam egg - the rest are a mix of F4/F5 - not a big size difference

This is from a couple weeks ago for comparison the EE eggs are from older hens and are about as large as we get from either.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm getting egg, incubator & hatcher envy.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have to brag on the Delaware pullets. Today, for the first time, I got two eggs laid ... wait for it ... in the nesting boxes!

I can always count on my Dels to lay. They're the best.

Congrats.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Got tired of watching Ruffles (bantam Cochin) cowboy around the property trying not to catch himself on his own spurs. So I plucked him off the roost at lights out and Dad and I removed those suckers. Phew. Now we're pros.

 

[finnfur]

Got tired of watching Ruffles (bantam Cochin) cowboy around the property trying not to catch himself on his own spurs. So I plucked him off the roost at lights out and Dad and I removed those suckers. Phew. Now we're pros.

Good job. Not as bad as you thought Huh? I can see a new business developing.
"JOYCE SPUR REMOVAL SERVICE"

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Good job.  Not as bad as you thought  Huh? I can see a new business developing.
"JOYCE SPUR REMOVAL SERVICE"

We're gonna be so rich!

 

[capayvalleychick]

What kinds of qualities are you looking for in a breeding cockerel to compliment your females? Yellow legs for one thing? That way I can try to capture those things in the photos. Between me and Zanna maybe we have something useful for you, if you're looking for something this year.

My males are lacking the rich yellow legs, so that's primarily what I'm trying to add back in.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Yes, they are jammed into our little apartment, incubator is next to TV where hubby made me a nice little cabinet to put it on and not sure where to put the hatcher yet. The ceiling is too low to stack them on top of eachother as I have seen others do and have room for the bucket/float system on both units. If I dont' use it I have to open the unit every 2-3 days to refil the water reservoir, it takes a gallon at a time. We keep our thermostat at 70 deg. year round but in the summer it gets very hot up here as we are in the top of a metal barn.

You must have a very understanding husband!

I just showed mine your photo and I can't even repeat what he said.