D'uccle Thread

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Claudia, it's the funniest thing. I have 3 broodies right now!!!! I wish I could loan you one.

The cream d'Uccle is pre-sold, but setting. She'll take any goldneck chicks that hatch with her when she's delivered, to keep DH from killing me.
The lavender d'Uccle that I'm keeping thought setting sounded like a good idea, so she has the nest box next to the cream girl. It's good, because she's coming into it later and can take any late starting eggs that the cream leaves behind.

Then my partridge showgirl, after laying a few eggs, decided to go broody! She's clamped tight to those eggs and growling at me when I reach for them. She was broody hatched & started, so I'm not fighting her on it any longer. Problem is, Tennessee is Rapunzel's main man when they free-range together. So I'm going to have some truly fugly d'Uccle x showgirl babies if any hatch. My only hope is that George, the partridge silkie roo, took advantage of her when they were penned and I might get a couple of actual silkie/showgirls from the hatch.
I can see why the girls favor Tennessee over George: Tennessee is a ladies man and a gentleman. George is a young punk and borderline bully.
But I really REALLY do not want crossbreeds

The new millies are settling in nicely. Some are VERY happy to have a run they can scratch around and wallow in. Some stay inside on the shavings and look confused. Almost all of them came running when the other birds got scratch last night, and asked for some, too.

 

[spook]

Please keep your finger crossed for me! We have 3 dozen D'uccle eggs coming within the next few days, 8 porcelain and the rest MF. 2 are coming from the New England area and the 1 is from a place out of Arkansas.
Now, earlier someone suggested I put them in the incubator right off incase they were warm. I'm wondering if we should do the same, wait for the ones from Arkansas and then start them all at once or just toss them all in and have a different hatch dates.

I've never had great luck with shipped eggs, but I assumed it was due to the incubator, the old one was one that my mom had made me just before she passed. So in the time between then and now, I have a incubator, turner with a fan.

So, looking for opinions please and thank you in advance.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
If it were me, I'd let them set for a few hours next to the bator, and then put them in. If the eggs should all arrive pretty close together, like 48 hours apart, then I might wait and set them all at once. But I wouldn't let them set much longer than 48 hours.
And having the bator all tuned up and holding a steady temp already is a must, of course (sorry, you probably know that already)

I noticed a distinct correlation between distance traveled and hatch rates, for me personally.
I also noticed that shipped eggs are more persnickity about humidity than my own eggs.

Hope you have a great hatch!!!!

 

[Celtic Hill]

Quote:
I LOVE THE HEN! Okay, good luck!

 

[Gypsylion]

We got a heat wave, so everyone got baths yesterday... here's my lavender/blue baby boy, "Little Blue"... I know - it's the most original name ever invented.

I call this one "Bird in towel"

Poor thing was SO terrified - his eyes were super HUGE and he didn't move at all the whole time.

All dry

And just for fun, the silkies... cuz what's more ridiculous than a silkie? A wet silkie.

Tribble

and Wembley

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Quote:
Claudia, it's the funniest thing. I have 3 broodies right now!!!! I wish I could loan you one.

The cream d'Uccle is pre-sold, but setting. She'll take any goldneck chicks that hatch with her when she's delivered, to keep DH from killing me.
The lavender d'Uccle that I'm keeping thought setting sounded like a good idea, so she has the nest box next to the cream girl. It's good, because she's coming into it later and can take any late starting eggs that the cream leaves behind.

Then my partridge showgirl, after laying a few eggs, decided to go broody! She's clamped tight to those eggs and growling at me when I reach for them. She was broody hatched & started, so I'm not fighting her on it any longer. Problem is, Tennessee is Rapunzel's main man when they free-range together. So I'm going to have some truly fugly d'Uccle x showgirl babies if any hatch. My only hope is that George, the partridge silkie roo, took advantage of her when they were penned and I might get a couple of actual silkie/showgirls from the hatch.
I can see why the girls favor Tennessee over George: Tennessee is a ladies man and a gentleman. George is a young punk and borderline bully.
But I really REALLY do not want crossbreeds

The new millies are settling in nicely. Some are VERY happy to have a run they can scratch around and wallow in. Some stay inside on the shavings and look confused. Almost all of them came running when the other birds got scratch last night, and asked for some, too.

Lori, I just read this post to my DH and he is laughing! We can't wait to get these gorgeous birds! So in love with them already!!

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Lori, I just read this post to my DH and he is laughing! We can't wait to get these gorgeous birds! So in love with them already!!

That's me, the comic relief.
DH is already sooooo stressed with the number of birds I have. He will flip when he realizes there are broodies.

I have way more project d'Uccles than I can keep. I thought Tiffany (aka barnyard) might get some and be my research partner, but it looks like that plan fell through. She has some of Tennessee's offspring, and could've crossed back as well as against each other for comparison with my breeding. I'd sell them if I didn't have such a burning desire to know the outcome of their breeding. And they are SO SWEET!
Some of the pullets have gold lacing on their chests. And the roos I chose to keep are all marked differently and soooo gorgeous. I try to decide who to keep and they ALL end up in the keeper pile...

 

[spook]

omg what poor chickens and roo...you should be ashamed

There really isn't any nice way to was them...and if they understood the saying of "madder then a wet hen" , you would be in real trouble...well the rest of us too! Ha ha
Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it even if it is rerun info, you can never be refreshed enough and if someone new is reading this link, its helpful to them if they have eggs delivered.
Who knows when they will come, or how far a part, but I'll keep you posted!

Thanks!

 

[spook]

Quote:
CONGRATS its so exciting isn't it! I mean, I did a happy dance finding 2 layer eggs in the nest box. (all our birds are on strike at this point- moult)

 

[teddiliza]

Quote:
In the spring, im getting eggs in the spring! haha, and its not hard to not have love-at-first-sight with Tennessee!!!

True! True! The first time I set eyes on 'Ol Tennessee he was barreling down his ramp....taking charge of his flock!! Whew...what a ROO!

Seriously though, I've really got my homework to do. I'm finding this thread, and the other pertaining to color genetics, to be interesting reading. I have owned a single pullet as a pet for the last 10 months and the breed is simply delightful with tons of personality. Perhaps I will have something worthy of Showing next Fall from my hatch and I can promote the breed in our area. Oh, wait, they have to get through the trials and tribulations of my horrible hatching abilities!! Where is a broody Silkie when you need one?????




Claudia

Why do you need a broody silkie when you could have broody d'uccles instead! Trust me, these girls have paid their dues hatching their own and being good mamas in my flock!