D'uccle Thread

[GypsyChic]

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They 'appear' to be (from what I've hatched): Lemon-Red MF, Silver Birchen/columbian MF, BLUES and a Blue birchen

Glad you had such a good hatch this time, keep us updated as they mature...will be interesting to see them color out. WGC's had some of the same colors hatch as well.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

What size band is needed for an adult D'uccle?

 

[newgoosegirl]

Hello,
Next spring I am considering raising a chick as a pet, and my online research indicates that a mille fleur d'uccle is what I want. I'm wondering if you guys think that this breed would be suited for that?

What I have found out is that d'uccles are that they are friendly, good fliers, good layers when they're not broody, have nice roosters, and of course are unique and ridiculously cute with the beard/muffs and feathery legs. That sounds great as I want a bantam chicken I could raise from a day old chick/egg (you can't easily get bantams sexed, and eggs obviously aren't...), wear a diaper inside, and not have to worry about it around my little sister and a couple of geese. I don't really care about eggs or anything though it would be nice. Just as a friend.
Mille fleur because, while all the other colors are cute, mille fleurs in any breed are just stunning.

I've also considered bantam cochins, silkies, and seramas, but they do not appeal to me. I like looking at d'uccles more, silkies can't fly, seramas seem to be hard to hatch and to find, and both silkies and cochins are supposed to be 'docile'...What does that mean? I would rather have birds described as flying up to you in the coop than birds that are just supposed to be docile, it sounds like they don't do much. I know that there are people raising all of these on this thread, so if I've got anything wrong feel free to correct me.

I have a sebright cockerel who I was planning on having inside, built a cage recently even, but I got him when he was older. So even though I held him a LOT, I can't catch him easily when he's down, he won't wear a diaper, and he seems to prefer the other chickens to me. So he'll probably stay outside.

If I end up still wanting a d'uccle by the time our baby gosling goes outside for the day and I have more time/money to spend on a chick, I plan on ordering some hatching eggs, incubating them, and giving away/selling any extra chicks that may hatch. I am interested in showing, casually, but would still like a nicer bred chicken and hatching eggs seem to be the only way to get one if there isn't a breeder nearby. Plus, I would need to order 25 chicks if I ordered from Ideal, which would be a lot harder to find homes for than 1 or 2 extras. I've hatched a duck and a goose with a homemade incubator, so I'm pretty confident that I can get at least one chick that way.

Would this be a good idea, or have I failed to consider anything? I've been reading through this thread, but haven't finished yet so if I missed something that you've already discussed that's why. By the way, you guys have amazing birds!

 

[teddiliza]

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I commend you on researching the different breeds before deciding on a pet. You can't beat the right mille hen. I agree it is a good idea to hatch a dozen, keep your favorites, and sell the rest. After about 2 months their personalities really come out, so I would hold onto them at least that long. I think you'd be better with a pair of hens than a hen and a rooster if you are talking little ones, that way you don't have to worry about rooster possessiveness if your little sister should choose to pet the hen and accidentally made her squawk. A pair of hens would be better so that they can keep each other company when no one is around. Their is a Youtube video of someone who actually has a pet porcelain d'uccle rooster. He wears a diaper and dances around his toys, it cracks me up. If you don't have luck hatching eggs, you can still buy a small order from My pet chicken, or even Cackle is doing small orders now, and sell of the extras when they are older. 'My pet chicken' does offer sexed bantams at a high fee, but worth it if you want to decrease rooster #'s. Welcome to the d'uccle thread by the way! I love my d'uccles, they actually seek out attention compared to some of the other breeds I've owned which makes them such excellent poultry pets. Make sure you don't wear your Sunday best when you're around them for when they do want to fly up and perch on your shoulder.

 

[joanie_maine]

My D'Uccle chicks are aproaching 6 weeks of age now.

I'd like to sort them out and choose what I'm keeping.

The varients so far seem to be size and the amount of foot feathering.

Hard to tell if the larger cockerels are "better" than the smaller guys.

Anyone have any pictures of good foot feathering at that age?

Opinions, please!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Can the d'Uccles have smooth faces?
I need to go back and read the standard again but I was pretty sure they are supposed to be muffed and bearded. Is that not right? I know the booted bantams are clean faced....or am I wrong on that one?

 

[wegotchickens]

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You're right. Smooth and sleek is a booted, muffed and bearded is d'Uccle.

joanie, I'd give them a little more time if you can. Some birds can be 'late bloomeres' when it comes to foot feathers. Especially on the middle toe. I have some 8-week olds that are just now getting nice feathering on the middle toes. I suspect that toe feathers get snacked on by brooder mates when the birds are young.
I had chicks with INCREDIBLY fuzzy feet that then had bald toes for weeks, causing me to panic and be a little sad. And then around 6-8 weeks that early promise starts to sllllooooowwwwwlllllyyyy be fulfilled. Around 12 weeks, if you don't see new feathers coming in on the middle toe then you probably won't.



Last night I wanted to lock the young birds up before the storm. But they all kept popping back out to be picked up, cuddled, and tossed back into the pop-door. I finally had to just chuck them in with no cuddles.

I had a broody with chicks that I thought would be fine, but then the wind started swirling around the hill we live on, driving rain in HARD. Between bursts of storm I went and gathered momma showgirl hen and her 15 d'Uccle chicks. Momma was soaked to the skin on top but her babies were warm and dry. I moved them all into a small brooder inside the coop. Rapunzel is SUCH a good mother!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Thanks for the answer. I was pretty sure I had that right.

Some of the d'Uccle chicks I hatched out look very smooth faced, whereas others are obvious for muffs. I have owned EEs and Ameraucanas and Faverolles so I knew they should be there at hatch. I am glad everyone is tagged. They will make nice pets for some friends that are wanting my extras. I want ones that are close to the standard. I don't expect perfection but those muffs and beards are so adorable on them.

 

[wegotchickens]

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If you're talking about chicks, though, the same rule applies as to feet feathers: Give them time.
I've had some chicks form SQ parents that threw chicks with no cheeky chick fuzz. But the beard and muffs grew in later.

 

[Doug the Chicken Man]

I have to find the time to get pics of our young hatchlings.
We have been good sofar for foot feathering.