D'uccle Thread

[newlinta]

Hello, I wasn't too sure either of who that was meant for. I don't have any new pics but here's a few from the summer and early fall.

Beautiful birds!

 

[ctbagley]

Thought I'd give my 2 cents....I have serama and d'uccle together, they have laid eggs several times and hatched them out. What I think you want to know is whether you should separate your hens....it depends. Mine all live in a 15 x 20 covered pen with a coop inside. They get along great. I have found it is easier to let the hens raise the chicks in the flock. They will keep them separate (they turn into to little hen "momsters"...no one is allowed near!) and it is was really cute to see my last clutches because two hens decided to join forces and it a chick was cold, it ran under either one...never seen that before. The moms also teach them about what and where to eat and drink and how to go into the coop at night. When you leave them in the flock...it is no problem to integrate. As they get older, they develop their own position in the flock. I have found it much more difficult to introduce new birds to the flock (lots more pecking). I even have four roosters who all get along and are great about "feeding" the babies when allowed. The one and only drawback for me is that it is not easy to put your hands on the chicks unless you get them in the evening. But food is a great motivator also to tame them. Hope this helps answer some of your questions. (My d'uccle is also my best layer...almost every day except exreme cold or molting. It did take her about 7 months to lay.)

 

[FairLeaBantams]

here u r fairlea ive never had cochins before so I couldn't tell you if there the same, hope u like the piccys xx Emma

Gah! I want her!! She is lovely, such a unique coloration. I see you are asking a lot of questions about letting a broody hatch eggs. I have had bad luck leaving hens in with my flock, or even separated with other moms. Maybe I just have one or two super mean moms, but I have had hens kill the chicks that aren't theirs. I have also had hens co-raise chicks they hatched individually, so you just never know. I use an incubator or have a hen completely separate from the group then gradually reintroduce everyone when they get older. Usually I keep them adjacent to each other with a wire fence in between. Good luck!!

 

[shahtir101]

I have some D'uccle Cockerals for sale! i need to sell them ASAP! They are Mille fleurs and hatched on Halloween. I am not sure of their quality, but are healthy and ready to find homes. PM as soon as you can if you are interested.

 

[emmaellis111]

Well todays been a weird day. My white speakled hen layed an egg at around 4pm in the nest box. (Shes my only hen laying atm) at 6pm hens and cockrele gone in the coop for the night. And iv just gone to check there all in and my black speakled hen is sitting on the egg. ive just cracked yesterdays egg and i couldnt believe it, i had a bullseye! i didnt think my cockerel doing anything yet! i cant believe it! So happy. Is it ok for my hen to sit a different hens egg even though she aint laying yet herself?

 

[emmaellis111]

My bullseye

 

[mymilliefleur]

Well todays been a weird day. My white speakled hen layed an egg at around 4pm in the nest box. (Shes my only hen laying atm) at 6pm hens and cockrele gone in the coop for the night. And iv just gone to check there all in and my black speakled hen is sitting on the egg. ive just cracked yesterdays egg and i couldnt believe it, i had a bullseye! i didnt think my cockerel doing anything yet! i cant believe it! So happy. Is it ok for my hen to sit a different hens egg even though she aint laying yet herself?

Yes. I doubt she is broody though, if she is not currently laying, but it is possible. Give her a few days to make sure she is good and broody for sure before giving her any eggs. Good luck.

 

[emmaellis111]

Shes not broody, shes not sat on it at all today, so i removed the egg,,
Can i store eggs prior to incubation? My hen only seems to lay once or maybe twice a week? X

 

[dsfrango]

Shes not broody, shes not sat on it at all today, so i removed the egg,,
Can i store eggs prior to incubation? My hen only seems to lay once or maybe twice a week? X

Egg fertility is good for max of about 7 days without incubation. That being said you could have a batch of no more than 2 eggs in the incubator and that just doesn't seem worth it. There is plenty of info on other threads in hatching/incubation or caring categories to find and ask for info like this.

 

[emmaellis111]

Ok thank you for your help again

i have a incubator coming on tuesday, this is going to be a fun hobby

x