Delawares from kathyinmo

[finnfur]

Sorry for the delay Kim......been busy.

I would not cull that bird. That is one of the better males I have seen so far.....maybe this is why you have had problems culling him.

Walt

Yep - if you have 4 more you think look better than B60 you have a good problem to have IMHO
Hope you got enough good pullets to go with those Cockerels LOL

 

[finnfur]

Have noticed pullets have really matured in last 2 weeks.

New Blue line front and Old Red line behind.
When we culled Cockerels we also took 6 older hens.
Still some older hens and the older Redtag line of Dels.
But two of the new Bluetag line have dominated the flock[hens].
They are now at top of pecking order.

 

[Beekissed]

In the middle of the 7th mo. and still no eggs. Old chickens laying eggs but these youngsters are not showing any signs of ever starting.

 

[Zanna]

In the middle of the 7th mo. and still no eggs. Old chickens laying eggs but these youngsters are not showing any signs of ever starting.

Me too! My older ones are not laying either though with exception of a couple hatchery white leghorns and my two last Delawares from my own line. My birds from Kathy are a week or two older than yours. Of the trio I sold, one of hers laid an egg last week so there is hope

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I've gotten an egg every other day from the one hen laying (three eggs total), so it wasn't a fluke. I'm still petting the eggs so haven't checked for fertility yet. Maybe for lunch today? I hope the other hen catches up ... I never think my birds are going to lay, it's always a thrill when they do.

 

[IrishAcreFarm]

These delawares are beautiful. I might need to get some!

 

[finnfur]

In the middle of the 7th mo. and still no eggs. Old chickens laying eggs but these youngsters are not showing any signs of ever starting.

Bee - Your hatch same as mine and I'm getting 9>11 eggs a day from 14 Hens and 5 of them are New line pullets so I know most all are laying here. However I have installed timer light that comes on at 4 AM - maybe thats the difference or maybe start checking the WOODS for the secret nests LOL
That reminds me of last year in summer when egg production dropped from about 10 a day to 2. I was checking under trees, in the weeds and under the coop but nothing.
I couldn't figure it out till one day walked out to feed FF and a hen came scooting out from under a blue cow molasses barrel that was overturned. There was a slight indentation in the ground under the rim.
I moved the barrel and there was a pile of eggs you wouldn't believe. Don't know if she was brooding them or not but about all were laying at same spot LOL

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...could be the light. I've confined them to the coop for a period of time, so I know they aren't laying out. I figured if the old hens can lay without light addition, the younger should be able to as well. I don't normally add light and I'm hoping to stay away from animals and breeds that have to have artificial lighting to produce in the winter months. I don't expect high yields in those months but some level of production is a desired trait with me.

That's one reason I keep a mix of breeds, as some will more readily lay in the winter months than others and thus keeps us in eggs for eating at those times. If I have a whole flock of birds that will not lay at all in the winter months, I see a need for some changes. I'm just curious if this is normal for heritage line birds of all breeds, as my pullets are from two different breeds, so it doesn't appear to be breed specific.

I guess that is my question...do heritage lines of birds need artificial lighting to produce in the winter months? If so, is anyone breeding against that trait?

 

[finnfur]

It may not be the light. Actually I feel its a combination as they just recovered from a extremely heavy molt this year.
But some of my new Dels werelaying before the light was added.
Who knows for sure.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm interested in the Dels because laying well in winter is an advertised characteristic of the breed. That, the size, and the "early maturing."