D'uccle Thread

[Olive Hill]

M to the Maxx -- That's about what mine look like (though less feathered out as they're younger...) and porcelain d'Uccle is what I've come up with in my searches as well.

Flower -- I agree with you whole heartedly that it's going to depend on the individual birds. I think that can be said of any breed, but some are more likely to go broody than others as a general rule. The Silkies and Cochins are well-known for it, I was just under the impression in the limited reading I'd done tonight that the d'uccles were as well just maybe to a slightly lesser extent. So I guess therein lay my surprise to read here that it would be considered a rarity to have a broody d'Uccle. Interesting stuff. They're beautiful birds whether they go broody or not.

 

[flower]

Olive Hill........This is my first experience with d'uccles . Mine a about two months old and are calm. Today while they were not confined a cat came into the yard and they became alarmed but quieted as soon as I walked out the door and the cat took an about face. Although I try to handle them frequently, so far they do not fly up on my lap as others have mentioned. I enjoy having them decorate my yard and watching the activity but I plan to have another breed with hope for a broody hen.

 

[lilcrow]

So far, in my limited experience with the d'Uccle, my observation is that it is a breed with great diversity in type and disposition and traits. This is NOT a good thing in my thinking. I've heard many, many people rave about the sweat d'Uccle that love to cuddle and make excellent pets, as you mentioned flower they would fly up and sit in your lap; then I've heard the other side of the coin, those who taut the evils of the little monsters, how flighty they are and in particular the roos! You can't turn your back on a d'Uccle roo. Up until my current roo, I would have agreed with everyone about the roos...........well, I guess I'd have said the same thing about the hens, not that they'd attack, but that they just had lousy dispositions. But I've been very lucky, and last year I was able to pick up 2 hens with exceptional dispositions, and one that is very sweet. My roo isn't a lover with me, actually he doesn't really like me, but he doesn't attack and that's good enough for me. Really he's a chicken - not just literally, but if the going gets tough, he gets going. He leaves a lot to be desired in the arena of roo behavior, but I've got to start somewhere and not getting attacked every time I walk in the run is a good thing. Regarding broodiness, it's the same thing, only mostly that they don't go broody. I haven't seen it in any of mine, but I haven't had these new girls long enough to say that they will or they won't. Does broodiness go along with a sweet and loving personality?
Hummmm......

I guess I'll find out. I just recently collected about I doz. eggs from my d'Uccle and they appear to be finished for the moment, no one has gone broody and eggs are in an incubator. I don't think this bodes well for their chances as broodies. Who knows maybe it'll kick in later on as they age. Personally, I'm not so sure that it is something that I want them to do all that much. It really is very hard on them. I have plans to show a very nice blue Cochin hen of mine next weekend. However, she just cycled out of laying and has gone broody just this past week. I noticed a bald spot on her forehead a couple of days ago, much to my dismay, so I picked her up to see what was going on with her. HA! Her belly was plucked clean, and her poor little comb has some red and angry spots on it where SOMEBODY! has been pecking at her head. It could have been the roo, but I'm more inclined to think it's the girls trying to dislodge her from the "spot" in the coop where they all lay their eggs. I've seen her in there setting and I'm sure they've been upset with her for monopolizing the site.
I know hens raising chicks are adorable and natural but as I said, it is very hard on them. If they are successful in brooding a clutch of eggs, they usually go light for those days they are on the nest. You'll need to take her out and keep her by herself so she isn't harassed by the rest of the flock, because it puts her in a very vulnerable position that she can't defend easily without threat to the eggs.
It isn't a cake walk...................but it is very sweet.

 

[Olive Hill]

Thanks for sharing your experiences flower and lilcrow. I guess only time will tell which type of d'Uccle I have -- the calm, quiet, friendly type or the flightier, not so friendly type. Of course having two daughters who cannot keep their hands off the chicks may be to my advantage either way. They are chicken-tamer extraordinares!

 

[flower]

OLIVE HILL The woman that sold me my chicks told me that d'uccles like to fly and roost in trees when possible. Humm..........that is a problem with so many hawks, road runners and other predators here. But I do not let them free range unless I am within hearing.
LILCROW About your blue cochin, talk about turn of nature! No show for her right now must have been a disappointment. Raising children, plants and animals teaches me much. I have learned to expect surprises. Chickens can look so cute and behave so ugly. I have had then nasty experience of seeing a little bantam cock be pecked to death by other cocks more than once but never seen hens try the same. If I ever do get a broody hen I WILL provide a safe environment for her as soon as I notice the behavior change

 

[lilcrow]

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Absolutely! There's nothing better than kids to tame/train chickens, as long as the children are gentle and have been coached on correct handling. You're very lucky in respect. Maybe I could find a "Rent-a-Kid" kind of deal and have them come here and handle mine. It makes all the difference when it comes time to show them.

 

[amazondoc]

Hey guys --

Anybody want some golden necked chicks?

Due to Ideal splitting my chick order, and therefore being faced with the prospect of receiving **10** packing peanuts in the second half of the order, I'm going to end up getting a lot more golden necked chicks than I had originally intended (I could either get packing peanuts or order more chicks in order to make up the difference in numbers). I do NOT need to keep all of them!

I'll be keeping them for at least a few weeks to see how they start developing, but then I'll be selling most. If anyone wants a few, and especially if you're in my area, let me know!

 

[lilcrow]

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Yeah, actually I think all of them can be pretty ruthless under the right circumstances, and that's most of the time.

I'm always a little afraid to introduce a new hen to a flock unless there is a roo with them, 'cuzz the hens alone will not police each other. The roo is usually the peace keeper and more often than not, won't tolerate too much fighting and squabbling. If the girls start beating on someone, it's his job to break it up. Without him, they can keep on going until she's dead.

Yes, I love my chickens and when they are in harmony, there is nothing I enjoy more, but upset the status quo and boy is it an ugly place to be.

 

[Olive Hill]

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Hmmm... we have hawks, eagles and owls but have never had a problem with them (*knock on wood*) yet. Ours all free range dawn to dusk so we'll see...


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My youngest is 5, she has to be supervised. But my oldest is 8 and very trustworthy with them. I usually let her keep them in a brooder tub in the house for the first few days and that usually sets a pretty good tone for tame, friendly birds. As I type this she's sitting on the floor behind me "mothering" two ducklings.

Maybe I should start renting her out to locals who show birds. LOL!

 

[flowerchicks]

OK, how old (usually) is a D'uccle before she starts laying?? Mine is 8 months old (born 8/2), her comb is red, she has been letting the roo do his thing for a couple weeks now, she has been hanging out around the nesting boxes (with him usually), but still no eggs. What's up

Also, what color are their eggs? I have a silkie/cochin that lays very pale brown eggs about 2/3 the size of the other chickens, how will the D'uccle's eggs compare?