D'uccle Thread

[ScaredOfShadows]

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This little guys are SO quiet compared to my silkie chicks that hatched on the 22nd!!!! I need to go move momma silkie and see how the last 3 eggs have managed over night.

 

[wegotchickens]

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They do test them at the show, but they don't band them. The band was probably an ID tag for the person you bought them from.

 

[wegotchickens]

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I never bathe my d'Uccles. I do let them play in the wet grass in the morning before I load them up for the show. I have shavings in the coop and sand in the run, so they never get too terribly dirty.

The ABA site lists Carpet City ABA meet on 11/27/10. I met some folks at the Cocke County show who said they have the Carpet City meet on Thanksgiving weekend every year, and that it's really large. I've never been.
I was going to take and show my birds there, but it turns out Mom will be out of town (she lives in Summerville). So I'm not sure if I'll show or just attend and scope things out.

 

[orionburn]

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Tell me about it!

I'm just now getting my feet wet in the breeding game with the Millies. I recently picked up a trio from a fellow BYCer in Ohio along with some eggs. Got two dozen in the bator but it's too early to tell how many I'm going to get (personally I think 10 at the absolute most). Too bad the timing doesn't work out a bit better. I'll be down in Indy for the MotoGP race at the end of the month, but if I do get these little guys to hatch it'll be too early to tell which ones I want to keep for breeding. We are thinking of going to the show in Connersville this year. Can't remember when that is (Sept maybe?) but maybe by then we could work something out.

 

[L0rraine]

Interesting info on "keeping them clean". Not sure I will ever show, but wondered about their incredible feathering being subjected to every bit of dirt and how they would fare in the wetter months here in the Pacific NW. I'm going to try to give them a decent shot at staying a little bit tidy (and the sand? sounds like a good thing to try).

I had read here about what sweet birds they are. I don't handle mine a lot (because I have sooooo many animals and don't have time to fuss over everyone), but am amazed at how my little D'uccles hen is always so curious when I'm in their pen and follows me around and, though she protests when I first pick her up, she calms right down and sits and listens when I talk to her. I'm looking forward to a few babies next Spring.

 

[wegotchickens]

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The sand is a great thing. They can dustbathe in it, and it keeps poo from staying wet & stinky. And then later, when you till the dark sand into the garden beds? Happy veggies!!

I always feel sad when I see a chicken that's never scratched in the dirt. So all mine get to play outside (despite the sun-bleaching that occurs) and scratch around. They also get supervised free-ranging. I have too many to play with everybody, but there are certain birds that insist on a little extra attention. One millie hen gets mad when I pay attention to my showgirl silkie, and she flies up onto my shoulder to scold me. The d'Uccle voice is so unique!!

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
Tell me about it!

I'm just now getting my feet wet in the breeding game with the Millies. I recently picked up a trio from a fellow BYCer in Ohio along with some eggs. Got two dozen in the bator but it's too early to tell how many I'm going to get (personally I think 10 at the absolute most). Too bad the timing doesn't work out a bit better. I'll be down in Indy for the MotoGP race at the end of the month, but if I do get these little guys to hatch it'll be too early to tell which ones I want to keep for breeding. We are thinking of going to the show in Connersville this year. Can't remember when that is (Sept maybe?) but maybe by then we could work something out.

Connersville is in Decemeber, Spencer is in Septemeber, Lebanon is in October.

 

[L0rraine]

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The sand is a great thing. They can dustbathe in it, and it keeps poo from staying wet & stinky. And then later, when you till the dark sand into the garden beds? Happy veggies!!

I always feel sad when I see a chicken that's never scratched in the dirt. So all mine get to play outside (despite the sun-bleaching that occurs) and scratch around. They also get supervised free-ranging. I have too many to play with everybody, but there are certain birds that insist on a little extra attention. One millie hen gets mad when I pay attention to my showgirl silkie, and she flies up onto my shoulder to scold me. The d'Uccle voice is so unique!!

We have a bit of an aviary for them due to a huge eagle problem. I have deer netting over a fairly large grassy area and they LOVE their 'free-range' time. And of course the D'uccles are the first chickens I've had that seem to really enjoy some 'flying' space. It's their smaller 'safe' pens that get so dusty with all their scratching, even though they are just relegated to those when I'm not on the property and in the evening/early morning hours. But I will be trying the sand, hopefully before our wet Fall/Winter arrives. And the eventual use as a garden amender sounds like a great idea as well.

 

[TK Poultry]

hey I have a d'uccle genetic question

can I keep porcelain, blue millie fleur, and mille fleur in the same pen? can someone explain this to me

 

[vetgirl00us]

Wegotchickens- I will be there whether I show or not. If you'd like to arrange a trade for something, PM me.