Delawares from kathyinmo

[Zanna]

Zanna, has it been a drought up there, like here, this winter? That may have something to do with the lack of cocci.

Certainly no drought but some colder weather for longer durations than usual. I was hoping with not having to treat for cocci that that might also make in the long run healthier birds and faster development but I am not seeing that. The little ones being raised by the broodies are not developing any faster either. In fact, they appear to be growing slower than the brooder raised chicks but I am sure that is because they are much more active. Moms have them out foraging for most of the day, rain or shine!

 

[Zanna]

Hey Kathy, there is a little smudge back like the few I have hatched. Just noticed today on one of the older ones that the legs look almost greenish, not yellow. The Mom has very light yellow legs (Looked white as a chick) and dad's are nice and yellow.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote: These chicks are classified as "mutts." They are from my layers coop and I do not know who the parents are. It is a possibility they could be pure Delaware, because I do have a Delaware rooster and hens in there.

 

[Zanna]

These chicks are classified as "mutts." They are from my layers coop and I do not know who the parents are. It is a possibility they could be pure Delaware, because I do have a Delaware rooster and hens in there.

Dang, wish you knew for sure and we could compare notes. I hatched 4 that are definitely pure Del. and look identical to that little one.

Did Toni hatch them and then the Del. climbed in and took over the nest? Love Toni!!!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Yes, Toni Turkey did the sitting. She is STILL sitting on eggs too. I tried to get her to take a couple chicks, but she left them and went back on a nest of eggs. I guess she just likes sitting!

 

[Zanna]

Yes, Toni Turkey did the sitting. She is STILL sitting on eggs too. I tried to get her to take a couple chicks, but she left them and went back on a nest of eggs. I guess she just likes sitting!

Awwww, so cute!!

 

[wekiva bird]

Tom he does look good!

Bert looks good in that fresh Winter Wheat doesn't he ? Second run of F5s six of 18 have hatched so far.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

We've got peeping today ... and spotted one little guy before broody called it back under her. We are leaving her (them) totally alone until she takes them off the nest. But I can't wait to see what's under there!

We will start another clutch tonight.

And ... I think I solved the mystery of why the lack of broodies this season. I think I inadvertently invented the automatic broody-busting nesting box. :/

 

[Zanna]

We've got peeping today ... and spotted one little guy before broody called it back under her. We are leaving her (them) totally alone until she takes them off the nest. But I can't wait to see what's under there!

We will start another clutch tonight.

And ... I think I solved the mystery of why the lack of broodies this season. I think I inadvertently invented the automatic broody-busting nesting box.

Yay!!!!

I need a broody-busting nesting box. Two hens got put in with roosters today to break them up. Gave one a couple of chicks last night and she left the nest this morning completely ignoring them. The other has been setting for two weeks. I have given her eggs twice and she does not keep them covered. Not good parental material

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Baby's First Video ...

I'll go out later and take inventory, better video, and photos. But the lungs on that little one are encouraging!

(That's a foster momma from my flock of layers ... she appears to be one of the mutts we hatched last year).

Automatic Broody Busting Nesting Boxes: See that double nest tray the clutch is in? It has a wire mesh bottom. The "shelf" I constructed to set those boxes on when they are in place to be used as nesting boxes ... that shelf is 1/2" hardware cloth. This year we've been skimpy with the nesting materials in the box ... not too much hay ... it seems to enable us to gather cleaner eggs ... and when the potential broody sits in that box over night, she has a change of heart because the night breezes blow past her underside. At least that's my current theory as to why we had so many broodies last year, and so few this year.

SOOOO ... to perhaps inspire more broodies, we will be putting some breeze blockers between the trays and the shelf ... probably just empty feed sacks. And I'll be putting more hay in the nests.

Kinda wish I'd thought of this earlier in the season.