Delawares from kathyinmo

[LeslieDJoyce]

6 - 8 weeks they get boxed and taken over there

Then I should put the cockerels from the first clutch in the Cockerel Colony now. And pretty soon could add the cockerels from the second clutch.

 

[caychris]

I think size differences between clutches might make things interesting but Dels are not usually too aggressive

 

[Zanna]

Quote:
I breed 3 different breeds and never have any issues through the season adding any under 4 month old cockerals to group at the growout stud ranch That being said, I have a trio of Royal Palm turkeys there as well and an 2 year old Ameraucana cock. They keep the youngsters in line and teach them some manners. The hen turkeys even mother the youngest ones some.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think size differences between clutches might make things interesting but Dels are not usually too aggressive

They're all together now, free-ranging from the same coop, eating from the same trough, but sleeping in different boxes. The littlest ones occasionally let themselves into the Cockerel Colony, and then sometimes can't let themselves back out. Mr. Fatty has been really good with them.

 

[finnfur]

Quote:
I guess the theory here is if you get them in the group before they think they can "whup" the boss cock then he keeps them in line.
I put some previous Del line cockerels in with a old RR cock named Bob. They Were already at the stage of harassing the pullets and with Bob was the only place available . He ignored them until two of them started challenging him .
feeding time one day I do the count and ones missing. There is this little white spec in the far corner of the Enet.
Walk down and there is the young stud challenger with his head tucked all the way in the corner blood all over his head and comb torn up . He was also missing some tail feathers. Bob had reached his limit on challenges .
Had to put young guy in chicken tractor because every time I pulled him out of corner Bob would run him back in.
No problems with the rest of them but Ol Bob was never the same. Always walked kind of hunched down instead of proud upright. Musta been a hell of a fight. But like the emergency services I only got there for the cleanup

 

[finnfur]

Moved B13 Broody and her six eggs to the chicken tractor . Has nest in a tote. Carried her and eggs in the tote and slipped them in the tractor .
Went to feeding rest and look back and she realized wasn't were she normally was and was "freaking out" to get to the flock which had surrounded the tractor by then.
I figured she is either going to sink or swim and no other hen was in there to push her out . Over four hours every time I looked she was still pacing but less each time.
About a hour before dark a cold front moved in and temperature was falling so I figured the eggs were toast. Just as soon as I thought that she stuck her head in the nest ,
climbed in and set on the eggs. Hasn't been off since.
She was off them about four hours so I hope they are still viable.

 

[Zanna]

She was off them about four hours so I hope they are still viable.

Willing to bet they are all fine, I have had many such scenarios.

Delawares and Dorpers, could life get any better?

 

[finnfur]

The Dorper is a interesting breed of sheep.- developed for meat in arid regions . Loses its coat in spring/summer to with stand the heat.
Interesting animal.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Walk down and there is the young stud challenger with his head tucked all the way in the corner blood all over his head and comb torn up . He was also missing some tail feathers. Bob had reached his limit on challenges .
Had to put young guy in chicken tractor because every time I pulled him out of corner Bob would run him back in.
No problems with the rest of them but Ol Bob was never the same. Always walked kind of hunched down instead of proud upright. Musta been a hell of a fight.

I've had a couple cockerels die after fights with each other (not with cock birds). So, I'm leery of adding different groups of cockerels together.
I saw that "hunched" appearance and same loss of pride when a young bull got into it with the mature bull. It was so sad. The older bull ended up dying about a month later. It totally seemed like a loss of stud pride. It was emotional, not physical injury.

Over four hours every time I looked she was still pacing but less each time.
About a hour before dark a cold front moved in and temperature was falling so I figured the eggs were toast. Just as soon as I thought that she stuck her head in the nest ,
climbed in and set on the eggs. Hasn't been off since.
She was off them about four hours so I hope they are still viable.

I hope this worked out well. My broody that I moved was acting the same way. When the first egg pipped, she pecked it to death. Last night, she had a live chick under her. I have chicks in the hatcher. I'm debating whether to put them in a brooder or try to slip them under her, tonight.

Delawares and Dorpers, could life get any better?

I'm going to, in good humor, counter this with ... Yes! With Delawares and St. Croix!



(old photo- that's a Sand Hill Del)

The Dorper is a interesting breed of sheep.- developed for meat in arid regions . Loses its coat in spring/summer to with stand the heat.
Interesting animal.

Just FYI - what you are describing is a sub set of sheep called Hair Sheep. Breeds of hair sheep include Dorpers, St. Croix, Katahdin, Barbadoes Blackbelly and a few others. Dorpers have the most meat of the hair breeds. They're like the Cornish Cross version.

St. Croix have the most parasite resistance. All hair sheep have superior meat qualities to wool breeds. The meat tastes totally different from commercial lamb. Even if you think that you don't like lamb, you should try lamb from a hair sheep breed. It's delicious.

 

[finnfur]

(old photo- that's a Sand Hill Del)

Just FYI - what you are describing is a sub set of sheep called Hair Sheep. Breeds of hair sheep include Dorpers, St. Croix, Katahdin, Barbadoes Blackbelly and a few others. Dorpers have the most meat of the hair breeds. They're like the Cornish Cross version.

St. Croix have the most parasite resistance. All hair sheep have superior meat qualities to wool breeds. The meat tastes totally different from commercial lamb. Even if you think that you don't like lamb, you should try lamb from a hair sheep breed. It's delicious.

So you never need to shear these Hair Sheep ?
Do ya'll have guard dogs to protect them ?
If we did sheep that would be the way to go. But I worry about coyotes taking out the lambs.
Guess we could Enet them though- it seems to keep the chickens safe.