D'uccle Thread

[GypsyChic]

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Hey! Can you tell me what you think of TNB, and the Parti-girl? (pics posted late last night) (post 1489)

I think he is gorgeous, good foot feathering, nice color, and I also don't think the extra point in comb is an issue...easier to get rid of than bad feet are. I say

Lori. Your pullet is showing NICE color...her and PB will/should work well together. Give him time to molt before culling...His color is just a "tad" dark, but he's got nice potential and I still believe he is a true Lemon. MPO of course

The blues look very nice as well...hang onto them!

 

[GypsyChic]

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Great, glad you got the info. I sent them with a 72hr heatpack (burried in bottom so not to overheat eggs) so please just keep me posted on arrival. I would also like for everyone to PLEASE let me know how eggs are developing and what you get with your hatch. SO FAR ... knocking on wood ... I've had very nice feet with this group and lots of good toes

 

[wegotchickens]

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Great, glad you got the info. I sent them with a 72hr heatpack (burried in bottom so not to overheat eggs) so please just keep me posted on arrival. I would also like for everyone to PLEASE let me know how eggs are developing and what you get with your hatch. SO FAR ... knocking on wood ... I've had very nice feet with this group and lots of good toes

Mine went in on the 8th, and the PO lady got cookies for making a special delivery for me.
I am sitting on my hands so as not to mess with them too soon. I prefer to wait 10 days before I candle, if I can stand it. I like them to be well established.

I only have 4 left from the white x lav eggs. Guess she let the others get cold. They'd started for sure, but died. I'm glad that there are 4! One will hatch on or about the 18th. Luckily, humidity isn't as big a deal with home-hatched d'Uccles (in my Brinsea, anyway). Lonliness will be a big problem though.

DH was present when I got my box of eggs, GC. He rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically. And checked the next day to make sure I'd put them in the bator

He talks a lot of smack, but he's really an old marshmallow in the middle

Thanks for the input on on the birds. Can't show the parti-colored birds, but TNB and 11 other birds are hitting the showfloor on Saturday. It's a d'Uccle club special meet, so

for us!!!!

 

[spook]

Wow, that is something else, what a neat object those 72 hour heat packs must be. I need to get out more often, I've never heard about any such thing, let alone packing it in with your eggs that you are worried about getting a chill. See, this is what I mean about hanging out with the smart kids! (Good luck hatchers!)

 

[speckledhen]

Lori, I meant to mention TNB's awesome foot feathering. My eye went right to that. And you're right, a balanced comb that fits the head as it should is more important than an extra point. He's such a gorgeous little man. I know my hatchery chicks won't have that great feathering, but I didn't want to make a big commitment till I saw if I really liked the breed. If I do, then I can get some in the future out of better stock.

I'm thinking that overall, I'll like the D'Anvers as well or better, but you never know. I've thought before that I'd like a breed and I didn't, or that I'd not like a breed and I was won over, so you just never can tell. I was never one to like feathered feet/legs myself, but I do have two Brahma hens and my little banty Cochin diva and up till a few months ago, I had a Blue Orp x Buff Brahma hen (RIP Glenda) that had some minor feathering. I love them all. And Shadow is such a hoot that she sold me on trying other bantams. I like the rose comb and clean legs of the D'Anvers, but around here, personality wins out every time!


Tell me, do folks keep the blue milles separate from the regular ones or do they breed/house them together? I realize that you do house blue, black and splash together, so is it the same? Some will be blue mille, some black, some splash? Or am I off-base?

 

[texasgal]

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No, you are not off base .. I think that is how most people do it .. It's the same as blue, black and splash ... If you kept all the blues together, pretty soon you'd have nothing but splash ..

 

[spook]

From my understanding and information learned from our poultry club, keeping them together is best in the "non-breeding" times and when you do want a specific color, separate the hen(s) for 18 days, or more and you will have all other fertilized ovum from her body, and begin again with the rooster you desire. Of course, having splash isn't such a terrible thing either, especially when its for fun.

When you guys read the SOP for the D'uccle, how do "you" judge yourself by foot feather, vulture hocks, pattern etc? Do you gauge this by friends/club critique? Other birds that you see in shows?

I'm just curious over what you do and how you learned.

Personally I entered the 3 hens I had into a club show, spent a whole $1 for entering each of them, the judge that day took the time out, explained the faults, points and recommendations for bettering my hens.

Thank you!

 

[thechickonthehill]

Lori,

I sent you long rambling PM. Hope you can understand it!

 

[wegotchickens]

Speckled; Thanks for your input! He's prettier in person, and has the best of his daddy's traits, even if his comb is a little 'pointy'. But he was the 'pick of the litter' from my 2010 chicks.


Spook: I entered my birds in shows and saw them in comparison to other d'Uccles. I thought mine were gorgeous, after reading the standards, and was pleased that the judges agreed. There was good competition from another d'Uccle owner in my area back then, but she let her birds freeze during the '09-'10 winter, when we had single digit temps (they lived in non-insulated rabbit hutches). So now I'm going to out-of-state shows to see how my birds do in comparison. But I think I'm stil on track. Just want more wins, and to earn d'Uccle club show points.


Hillchick, I PM'ed you back

 

[Jenski]

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It's nice when you get a good judge like that who takes the time to explain his/her reasoning to the handlers. That information is just invaluable . . . money well spent!