D'uccle Thread

[dsfrango]

I have a flock of eleven MFD including two cockerels. Considering deciding on which boy to keep.. They are only six months old but I feel like they're far enough along to decide. If anyone wants to check back in an hr or two I'll try to get pics of them and y'all can help me sort it out? They're not show birds to my knowledge, but I do like to use the best of what I do have..

I assume you'll be breeding these, but for show or backyard enjoyment? If for show I would recommend keeping both. If they get along and you have that many hens it would be good to have 2 to ensure all the hens fertility. They both look decent and you have pointed out the obvious good and bad about each one. They both will probably look best after next molt with more white in the spangling. They are pretty dark. They don't have much white now but will have more for sure.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I assume you'll be breeding these, but for show or backyard enjoyment? If for show I would recommend keeping both. If they get along and you have that many hens it would be good to have 2 to ensure all the hens fertility. They both look decent and you have pointed out the obvious good and bad about each one. They both will probably look best after next molt with more white in the spangling. They are pretty dark. They don't have much white now but will have more for sure.

X2. I always keep at least two unrelated roosters on hand. I like to keep I ratio of 5-6 hens per roo to insure fertility

 

[carcar80]

I assume you'll be breeding these, but for show or backyard enjoyment? If for show I would recommend keeping both. If they get along and you have that many hens it would be good to have 2 to ensure all the hens fertility. They both look decent and you have pointed out the obvious good and bad about each one. They both will probably look best after next molt with more white in the spangling. They are pretty dark. They don't have much white now but will have more for sure.

Thank you so much, and yes they do get along just fine. I have no problem keeping both if you guys think both are decent. Like I said I don't personally show as of now, but would love to offer potential specimens if someone would like to.

They actually came from eggs I got from you, dsfrango.. I didn't make the connection until just a while ago looking back through my records. I ended up with these two guys and two pullets from that hatch, although I can't tell the pullets apart anymore.

 

[dsfrango]

Thank you so much, and yes they do get along just fine. I have no problem keeping both if you guys think both are decent. Like I said I don't personally show as of now, but would love to offer potential specimens if someone would like to.

They actually came from eggs I got from you, dsfrango.. I didn't make the connection until just a while ago looking back through my records. I ended up with these two guys and two pullets from that hatch, although I can't tell the pullets apart anymore.

That's hilarious, I have shipped eggs everywhere! The more shows you win the more recognized your name is, raising the interest in your lines. If you don't show some people may be deterred to buy because they're not necessarily proven. Not a bad thing, doesn't matter to me but I thoroughly enjoy showing as a hobby. The interest and selling is just a bonus to keep the hobby funded!

 

[carcar80]

That's hilarious, I have shipped eggs everywhere! The more shows you win the more recognized your name is, raising the interest in your lines. If you don't show some people may be deterred to buy because they're not necessarily proven. Not a bad thing, doesn't matter to me but I thoroughly enjoy showing as a hobby. The interest and selling is just a bonus to keep the hobby funded!

I agree! I tend to look for sellers who do show. Maybe after these guys are grown I'll find someone to precept me, lol

 

[dsfrango]

I agree! I tend to look for sellers who do show. Maybe after these guys are grown I'll find someone to precept me, lol

It's a fun thing to do. You should enter into a show for haha/s and see how they do. I'm sure you'll do pretty good. My hens do very well showing. The next show I will be at is the NE Poultry Congress in MA in January. This past January I took BB and BV with 2 of my mille hens out of 30+ D'uccles!

 

[carcar80]

That's fantastic!

 

[dsfrango]

That's fantastic!

Thank you, and good luck to you if you do get to a show soon. Not sure if your show season in GA is any different than up here but it's pretty much past this year. Just the big New England show in January and then none until at least May next year.

 

[carcar80]

Actually there is a bantam show about an hour from me this weekend.. No idea how big it is though. Chattahoochee Valley show is in February I believe.. It's actually the only show I've ever been to when I went this year, and it's where I saw my first MFD.

 

[emmaellis111]

My boy, cocker,