D'uccle Thread

[johnsonpoultryfarms]

We received a shipment of 25 Friday they apparently had a really tough time in-transit though as I had 6 DOA and lost 3 more within a few hours but the others seem to be healthy.... I was really surprised at how small they are!! When I was a kid I was quite the chicken enthusiast but as I got a little older chicks of a different kind got most of my attention

and I got out of it..... But here I am 15 years later and I was telling my fiance about how I used to have chickens and she talked me into getting some more, I had always wanted some Mille Fleur d'Uccle but couldnt afford them back then so this was naturally my first choice.... We are so excited to be raising them its taking me a little to get my "Chicken Legs" back though

so if anyone has any suggestions or helpful advice please feel free to share it with me!!

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
Be sure and watch the remainder of your chicks for "pasty butt." Many babies get it but for sure the babies who have been exposed to that kind of stress will develop it. If you don't keep their butts clear they WILL die. The rectal opening crusts over and they can no longer defecate (poo). I use a Q-tip and while I'm standing at the sink with the warm water running, I just keep dousing the the blob of poo with water. You will be surprised at how easily it will dissolve, loosen up and wash away. If you hold them in one hand, I use my left, with their heads pointed into the palm of your hand and their butts sticking out between your fingers, they will very soon settle down and relax while you do this. Some folks use other methods that work very well, but this is how I do it. Some folks trim the feathers on the rear end, but I'm too old and my eye sight isn't good enough for me to trust myself with a really sharp pair of scissors that close to their skin. I know that others just pull the poo off, but again I'm too much of a chicken (no pun intended) and I'm afraid I'll do something to damage them. I just keep an eye on them and make sure they stay clean, they eventually get over it.
Good luck.

 

[johnsonpoultryfarms]

Thank You I actually did that yesterday not all of them were pasty but probably 1/3 of them were... though it didnt seem to be covering their vent just right below it so maybe it was just in the beginning stages again Thank You all so much we're really looking forward to raising our babies and everyone on this site is so helpful!!

 

[Lady Chickadee]

I have 11 d'Uccle chicks(5 mille fleur and 6 porcelain chicks) that I got from Cackle hatchery. They're almost 5 weeks old, and we just moved them and the other chicks into the big new coop. So far I think we have 1 mille fleur cockerel and 3-4 porcelain cockerels. Were keeping 1 mille fleur cockerel and one porcelain cockerel. The only thing is my only mille fleur cockerel (well that I can tell is a guy)has a crooked tail

. He's a odd little thing. I also have one mille fleur pullet(well, I hope shes a pullet.So far she looks like it)that will fly onto my leg or into my lap every time I go in there and sit down to watch them. This is the first time I've had bantams or d'Uccles and so far I love it!I'll try to get pictures sometime and post them on here.

 

[LauraB]

My daughter has 3 mille fleur d'uccles, one rooster and 2 hens. We do have other chickens as well; a silkie, a cochin, and 2 other chickens that we aren't sure what breed they are yet.

I'm sure that this has been asked/answered before but I am wondering about the winter months. I have heard that the d'uccle is not a cold hardy bird. We had planned on moving the coop into the garage for the winter but what other things can we do to ensure that they make it through the winter? Some suggestions that I have been given is heated water dishes, vaseline on the comb, and heat lamps. Anything other information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
How cold does it get where you're at?

I found that the roosters that had nothing but a lean-to to hide from wind and rain last winter survived just DANDY. I did have to take water out a couple of times a day during the coldest days (lows 10-15 some nights).
The rest of the flock had access to a shed that was kept right around freezing on the coldest days. The water froze on the worst days, got a film of ice most of the winter. Those birds did just fine as well.

I did not grease any combs, even on the boys outside. A few of thier tips darkened a little, but came back just fine.

I know some folks that keep them in Alaska and the birds romp around in the snow (built in snow-shoes, if you think about it).

Bottom line: If your birds are healthy they should do fine with 'normal' chicken care. If they're weak, or have been pampered a lot, then you might need to make some special considerations.


BTw, don't let a little 'shivering' fool you. It's a normal d'Uccle thing that my birds all do from time to time year round.

 

[LauraB]

I am in the Midwest, about 25 miles southwest of Chicago. It can get pretty cold here, sometimes well below zero, which is why I was concerned. I figured that moving them into the garage would solve the issues with draft/wind and freezing rain and snow. I didn't know what else I should do or needed to do with them after that.

I don't think that they have pampered too much. They live in a coop most of the time and get 'yard time' every day. I have a husky that isn't nice about sharing the yard so that's why I don't let them roam around all day. Our goal for next summer is to build a run to go with the coop so they can be out more. The kids do play with them every day.

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
I live in SW Ohio and we get some similar weather to yours, not AS bad but similar. My birds (each variety/color) are split up into breeding runs, each one having it's own coop. The coops are small so that they don't have any problems with warming the area with their bodies. We've had some temps around zero F and a little below and never have had a problem. I don't use Vaseline, I just make sure that they don't sit out in the wind. My runs are enclosed in heavy sheet plastic in the winter. This also helps to keep the water from freezing during the day. If you move your coop into the garage they will be very comfortable, and you won't have to sit and worry about them when it gets really bad.

 

[teddiliza]

I have only had trouble with frostbit combs, and that was because the coop was too drafty. Maybe the loss of a toenal, but other than that my porcelains have done fine.

 

[Doug the Chicken Man]

We have very few problems in our weather.

We do get colder than you an have few problems with silly chickens who must soak thier heads in water once in a while other than that if it is draft free and well ventilated we have no issues.

Just have to make sure they have thawed water you can use a Heat lamp, heated poultry waterer, a heated dog bowl, or a rubber pan/ bucket to nock the ice out of. But they must have thawed water through out the day.

We also have the roosts as 2X4's that are width ways up to allow them to settle down and the feathers will cover thier feet and toe nails.

This is the way all of our roosts are. We do not treat them any differently than any other chicken.
the difference between our chickens and the wild turkeys across the road from us is we provide the draft free place and thawed water where as the turkeys must look for thiers each day.