D'uccle Thread

[mymilliefleur]

I haven't posted in a while so bear with me, i have lots of questions
Going back to the spur debate, what does the standard say? is it okay to show roos with no spurs or spurs that are mis-shapen?

When it comes to mille hens, I have some that are more tan and some that are more red/gold. Is there one base color that is more desirable than the other?

Finally, I too am looking for some hatching eggs this spring. I really would like some solid blacks and whites and maybe some gold neck. I am also looking for eggs from birds that are more short and squat because my flock tends to be a little more elongated looking than I would like. Any ideas of who i could contact?

Very good questions! I can't to hear the answers!

 

[chickenman5024]

I haven't posted in a while so bear with me, i have lots of questions
Going back to the spur debate, what does the standard say? is it okay to show roos with no spurs or spurs that are mis-shapen?

When it comes to mille hens, I have some that are more tan and some that are more red/gold. Is there one base color that is more desirable than the other?

Finally, I too am looking for some hatching eggs this spring. I really would like some solid blacks and whites and maybe some gold neck. I am also looking for eggs from birds that are more short and squat because my flock tends to be a little more elongated looking than I would like. Any ideas of who i could contact?

I am looking for some of the same colors that you are I raise mille fleur if you might want hatching eggs from them

 

[frannyglass]

I have a question if you don't mind.... Can d'Uccles tolerate winter? Most breed guides say they are not cold hearty, yet when I look over this thread I seem to see people who live in wintery climates with them. This breed is top of my wish list, but I am unsure if they would do well. I would not usually describe the part of pennsylvania I live in as having harsh winters, but this month has definitely been an exception. My large fowl are all doing absolutely fine in it, although they will almost certainly be happier once it warms a bit, but I worry about how bantams would do. (And yet, I know there are many in the area who do have bantams, and I see locals even advertising d'Uccles on craigslist.) I would appreciate any input anyone has on this. Thank you!

 

[Metella]

I live in Vermont - with a non-heated outside coop .... the front of my coop is completely hardwire ... NOT closed in at all ....

We just had a night that went down to -20F !!! I have 3 older D'Uccles and 3 that were hatched out in the spring - so not a year old yet.

All of them did fine ....

All I do is feed very well and keep the wind off them ... they are covered and have a deep - long coop .... so the 3 sides and tops are covered with a vent in the back and fully open in the front ....

My D's come out even in the snow and scratch around - some of the larger hens (marans) stay in the coop and look out ! Not my D's - they are out there in the bushes and wondering about ....

 

[dsfrango]

I haven't posted in a while so bear with me, i have lots of questions
Going back to the spur debate, what does the standard say? is it okay to show roos with no spurs or spurs that are mis-shapen?

When it comes to mille hens, I have some that are more tan and some that are more red/gold. Is there one base color that is more desirable than the other?

Finally, I too am looking for some hatching eggs this spring. I really would like some solid blacks and whites and maybe some gold neck. I am also looking for eggs from birds that are more short and squat because my flock tends to be a little more elongated looking than I would like. Any ideas of who i could contact?

Hello Fairlea! I just went through the standard and the only 2 birds it specifically lists that require Spurs are OE's and American games. Sooo it prob isn't a disqualification for D'uccles but may be considered a defect. I'm not 100% sure but I'm pretty confident a judge may see it that way for a Cock(C)-a mature Roo. I don't think you would have issues showing a spurless K because they are still young. ("K" for cockerel, a young Roo in show terms). I'd be a little worried but that could be an awesome question for a judge at the next show! I'll see if I can get a second to ask a judge at the poultry congress this coming weekend.

When it comes to the base color on a Mille the standard says "rich, bright red" with a "grayish buff at the base of the feathers." That is the description for the Roos. I take that as a darker red like a RIR rather than say a buff colored bird. As for the hens, it says a "rich, golden buff." I believe that would mean a little darker than a pure buff color.

 

[frannyglass]

I live in Vermont - with a non-heated outside coop .... the front of my coop is completely hardwire ... NOT closed in at all ....

We just had a night that went down to -20F  !!!   I have 3 older D'Uccles and 3 that were hatched out in the spring - so not a year old yet.

All of them did fine ....

All I do is feed very well and keep the wind off them ... they are covered and have a deep - long coop .... so the 3 sides and tops are covered with a vent in the back and fully open in the front ....

My D's come out even in the snow and scratch around - some of the larger hens (marans) stay in the coop and look out !  Not my D's - they are out there in the bushes and wondering about ....     

Oh, that's good to hear! I don't think it's ever gotten that cold here, last week it went to the single digits and that is rare to happen for more than a day or two. I would be so worried about even LF with those temperatures!

I actually have another question, and that is can d'Uccles do well with large fowl? I have gentle, what I've heard described as "non-combative" breeds- cochin, faverolles, speckled Sussex, ameraucana- and one wyandotte, who I've heard can be combative, but I've never witnessed Dahlia to be remotely aggressive with the gentler breeds, she specifically seems very docile. They will have a lot of space (my coop is 10x7 and will not hold more than 12, which is the number I'm legally allowed) both indoor and out. Do you think it's possible, with the gentle breeds, amount of space, and a long period of them being able to see but not get to each other?

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Pics of my poor boy's foot. About 3 years, fine a month ago. With the bitter cold i hadn't been paying close attention. i am wondering if he landed wrong, or got bacteria where the feathers and nails go into the skin? First foot is the good one

 

[Metella]

Franny glass - I'll take a picture this afternoon ... it is snowing now ... you will get an idea I haven't let them out for the day yet - usually don't when it is actively snowing ... but will this afternoon

 

[misfitmorgan]

Oh, that's good to hear! I don't think it's ever gotten that cold here, last week it went to the single digits and that is rare to happen for more than a day or two. I would be so worried about even LF with those temperatures!

I actually have another question, and that is can d'Uccles do well with large fowl? I have gentle, what I've heard described as "non-combative" breeds- cochin, faverolles, speckled Sussex, ameraucana- and one wyandotte, who I've heard can be combative, but I've never witnessed Dahlia to be remotely aggressive with the gentler breeds, she specifically seems very docile. They will have a lot of space (my coop is 10x7 and will not hold more than 12, which is the number I'm legally allowed) both indoor and out. Do you think it's possible, with the gentle breeds, amount of space, and a long period of them being able to see but not get to each other?

There is no heat in the coop and the D'uccles do fine, i live in the norther part of the lower peninsula of michigan was -11 here with windchill.

On the large fowl question.....my live with barred rock, barred buff and leghorn LF...and a 14lb french white muscovy drake...no issues so far for me other then normal chicken stuff and the duck eats chicken feather..They all roost together at night LF and bantams mixed together on the roosts. i dont imagine they are stressed since there are other bantams breeds in there as well but the MF are the only ones to have laid anything in atleast 2 months now.

 

[Metella]

Opened the door - not real takers today - they all prefer to stay in the coop when snow is in the air .....

One millie is near the red water bowl.

Then a mixed flock shot ....

so you see how open my coop is and how mixed my flock is .... never had any problems ......