D'uccle Thread

[SilkiesForEver]

My two porcelain d'uccles Bella and Luna. They are a little over a year old. They are awesome and super affectionate. They are my first set of chickens, and I couldn't ask for better chickens to start with. I would like to get some additional colors at some point. If anyone ever has doubts out getting a couple girls for themselves, they shouldn't. They're an awesome (and super cute) breed.

Adorable! I love their cute little heads, and fluffy beards!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

It's not that I worry about them attacking anyone, It's when I pick them up I have gotten cut by their spurs, Which on mine are about two inches long and VERY sharp. I have had some strains that naturally are spurless (They do grow spurs eventually, but they only get about half an inch long and are blunt. I would rather have roos that are spurless, then have to cut the spurs off. (in my opinion)

It is very simple on how to fix the spur problem. A dremel (sp) is a great way to despur roosters as it cauturizes it as it is cutting and has very minimal pain. I have been told this by many. I have never actually done it. Spurs don't concern me on the least. I have been cut by a spur once when a rooster flogged my leg. It really wasn't painful, and he learned that that wasn't a very good idea. I can touch their spurs and they are not sharp at all and I have a variety of breeds, lines, and ages. Do you have a picture of their spurs?

I agree with what dafrango has said about the topic

 

[Hannah15]

It is very simple on how to fix the spur problem. A dremel (sp) is a great way to despur roosters as it cauturizes it as it is cutting and has very minimal pain. I have been told this by many. I have never actually done it. Spurs don't concern me on the least. I have been cut by a spur once when a rooster flogged my leg. It really wasn't painful, and he learned that that wasn't a very good idea. I can touch their spurs and they are not sharp at all and I have a variety of breeds, lines, and ages. Do you have a picture of their spurs?

I agree with what dafrango has said about the topic

I don't know that I can agree with this sentiment. I have used a dremel on dog nails, and it absolutely does not cauterize them (not that cauterization is painless...). I have never used it on a rooster's spurs, however. I don't remember if it was dsfrango that suggested removing them, but I would hardly consider that to be more humane than breeding spurless roosters. The biggest problem is that it would be time consuming and possibly expensive, with a very limited market. However, I can not see any way that if it were done (as long as the roosters weren't free ranging) it would be any less humane than removing the existing spurs of roosters. Every way suggested would absolutely cause at least some pain. Plus, I'm really not convinced that the spurs do a whole lot for determined predators anyway. It certainly didn't help my largest rooster when a raccoon broke into our coop last week. The only thing that saved him was the angry peacock (whose spurs are all of about 1/2" long).

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I don't know that I can agree with this sentiment.  I have used a dremel on dog nails, and it absolutely does not cauterize them (not that cauterization is painless...).  I have never used it on a rooster's spurs, however.  I don't remember if it was dsfrango that suggested removing them, but I would hardly consider that to be more humane than breeding spurless roosters.  The biggest problem is that it would be time consuming and possibly expensive, with a very limited market.  However, I can not see any way that if it were done (as long as the roosters weren't free ranging) it would be any less humane than removing the existing spurs of roosters.  Every way suggested would absolutely cause at least some pain.  Plus, I'm really not convinced that the spurs do a whole lot for determined predators anyway.  It certainly didn't help my largest rooster when a raccoon broke into our coop last week.  The only thing that saved him was the angry peacock (whose spurs are all of about 1/2" long). 

I might have the wrong tool name. I will have to ask some of the people that told me about it. Never did I say it was more humane. But IMO there are many other things that are more important to look for in breeding than spurless roosters. Of course every way is going to cause some pain. I wouldn't let one account convince you that the spurs don't really do anything.in one case I had a rooster that fought off dogs, racoons, etc and I am sure would have died sooner had he not had those spurs.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I don't know that I can agree with this sentiment. I have used a dremel on dog nails, and it absolutely does not cauterize them (not that cauterization is painless...). I have never used it on a rooster's spurs, however. I don't remember if it was dsfrango that suggested removing them, but I would hardly consider that to be more humane than breeding spurless roosters. The biggest problem is that it would be time consuming and possibly expensive, with a very limited market. However, I can not see any way that if it were done (as long as the roosters weren't free ranging) it would be any less humane than removing the existing spurs of roosters. Every way suggested would absolutely cause at least some pain. Plus, I'm really not convinced that the spurs do a whole lot for determined predators anyway. It certainly didn't help my largest rooster when a raccoon broke into our coop last week. The only thing that saved him was the angry peacock (whose spurs are all of about 1/2" long).

Yes I agree with you there.

I might have the wrong tool name. I will have to ask some of the people that told me about it. Never did I say it was more humane. But IMO there are many other things that are more important to look for in breeding than spurless roosters. Of course every way is going to cause some pain. I wouldn't let one account convince you that the spurs don't really do anything.in one case I had a rooster that fought off dogs, racoons, etc and I am sure would have died sooner had he not had those spurs.

Yes I totally agree with that. If I had a spurless and none spurless rooster and the later was the better of the two, then of course I would chose him. I would never pick a rooster of lower quality just because he was spurless, if that makes sense.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Adorable! I love their cute little heads, and fluffy beards!

X2! Lovely beards Sofarabbit!

 

[Sofarabbit]

Thank you everyone! I love their beards too and they definitely make me understand why people say chickens are addicting

 

[mymilliefleur]

Thank you everyone! I love their beards too and they definitely make me understand why people say chickens are addicting

Oh definitely.

 

[chisNchickens]

That sounds like a great opportunity! D'Uccles are very small birds and therefore their crow is very small as well. In my experience d'Uccles are very gentle, I have never seen a mean d'Uccle. As far as color is concerned, I think that is a personal choice. If you like variety then get a variety, if there is one color that stands out to you then stick with that color.

With the older birds you know what you are getting and as long as you have a rooster you can always make more babies. If you go with the younger birds you will have to wait for eggs and to see their adult feathers. So I would go with mature birds.

Good luck and have fun.

I am reading this thread from start to finish and had to laugh when I read the above statement (I highlighted in red). Not meaning to poke fun at the poster at all BUT we had a d'uccle cockerel who would run full speed across a full acre or better to attack anyone who came out of the house, or was approaching the house. If he could see a person, he attacked that person. He did damage too...wasn't as cute as it looked (to me haha- he never attacked me). My fault, I named him "Sweetiebird". My husband cut his head off and still relishes it to this day. He is in the BYC 2012 calender for July. Amazing how such a tiny bird could be sooooo mean.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I am reading this thread from start to finish and had to laugh when I read the above statement (I highlighted in red). Not meaning to poke fun at the poster at all BUT we had a d'uccle cockerel who would run full speed across a full acre or better to attack anyone who came out of the house, or was approaching the house. If he could see a person, he attacked that person. He did damage too...wasn't as cute as it looked (to me haha- he never attacked me). My fault, I named him "Sweetiebird". My husband cut his head off and still relishes it to this day. He is in the BYC 2012 calender for July. Amazing how such a tiny bird could be sooooo mean.

That just stirred up an old memory of my first two d'uccle roosters. They were hand raised and had no fear of people. They were very cute until they started attacking people, and even then it was still pretty adorable. you would be walking along, and all of a sudden something would brush up against you. turn around and there would be a little d'uccle rooster all puffed up and ready to go in for another attack. It was not so funny when they started going after my younger brothers eyes. They were quickly removed from the flock. I have never had one like that since though.