D'uccle Thread

[babymakes6]

I am currently fascinated with my self-blue flock. I added a couple of Karl Urshel pullets last year and was a little disappointed because some threw me mottled lavs instead of solid. But the babies that I kept because their type was so good have lost the white and gone all lav. And because their type is good, they are GORGEOUS. The no-longer-mottled roo is kicking the non-mottled lav roo's butt when I show them. Not only is there no white left, but I think the lavender is a little deeper, almost blue instead of lav. Absolutely gorgeous!
I also have a pullet that was also mottled but is no longer mottled, who is adorable, and the same deep color.

I am going to put Mr. Typey over my original hens, and see what I get. I only have one Karl hen left, and she is currently broody. I sure hope I keep the lovely deep lavender feathering and don't end up with any white that sticks around. Have to wait a month before I can hatch, though, or my spouse will KILL me. But I've had a lot of past compliments because my lavender was such a rich shade, instead of silvery pale, so if I can keep this in my bloodlines I should do really well on the show circuit with lavender.

We'll see how Mr. Typey does in OH in November. All of my self-blues did well at Crossroads, and I think they look even better this year.

Pictures?

 

[hdowden]

With mine, I have noticed a parallel between thick & thin fuzz, and future foot feathers. The ones with very 'hairy' feet tend to have better, thicker foot feathers. The ones with a thin line of down tend to have stubble on their middle toes and not truly good feathering.

That said, I had a pullet with stubble instead of good middle toe feathers and she now has a nice set of foot feathers. Just a late bloomer, I guess. She's a self-blue, and they tend to faether slower than my other varities.

Another key to good foot feathers, for my flock, is additional fat & protein in their diet. I try to wait until they're around 3-4 months before I seriously start on the fat & protein treats.

what do you use for the fat and protein and how well does this work?

 

[hdowden]

well mine didnt have a lot of fuzz on the middle toes but they had a bit on every toe

 

[Lorilyn Farms]

I am currently fascinated with my self-blue flock. I added a couple of Karl Urshel pullets last year and was a little disappointed because some threw me mottled lavs instead of solid. But the babies that I kept because their type was so good have lost the white and gone all lav. And because their type is good, they are GORGEOUS. The no-longer-mottled roo is kicking the non-mottled lav roo's butt when I show them. Not only is there no white left, but I think the lavender is a little deeper, almost blue instead of lav. Absolutely gorgeous!
I also have a pullet that was also mottled but is no longer mottled, who is adorable, and the same deep color.

I am going to put Mr. Typey over my original hens, and see what I get. I only have one Karl hen left, and she is currently broody. I sure hope I keep the lovely deep lavender feathering and don't end up with any white that sticks around. Have to wait a month before I can hatch, though, or my spouse will KILL me. But I've had a lot of past compliments because my lavender was such a rich shade, instead of silvery pale, so if I can keep this in my bloodlines I should do really well on the show circuit with lavender.

We'll see how Mr. Typey does in OH in November. All of my self-blues did well at Crossroads, and I think they look even better this year.

Interesting that that's how some were born. Glad that you shared because some might have culled and it might not be neccessary. I guess with the mille fleur pattern, it's always just a wait and see. Good to hear you are kicking serious booty at the shows!

 

[Lorilyn Farms]

ooooooohh....my goldnecked cockeral - that i was hoping would become a great representation of the color- must have fallen from his perch and broke his neck. he was lying on the ground, seemingly paralyzed. he is still alive, so i'm going to see if maybe he will come out of it. he's sitting on my lap now, shivering, eyes alert.

update, he's moving his head a little!

 

[wegotchickens]

what do you use for the fat and protein and how well does this work?

Something like homemade oatmeal suet.

I can't have nitrates or nitrites in my diet at all, due to migraines. So we started buying 1/2 a pig from a guy that pasture raises them. There is always a big bag of fat chunks (like fat back, unsalted) in with the packaged meat cuts, so we cook it down in the crock pit and package it in 1-pound blocks. It is still a little chunky with meat-like bits and such.

When the birds are molting or need a nice shine, I take a block, melt it down, and mix it with oatmeal until it's fluffy and won't harden back into a block. When cool, I scatter the grease-soaked oatmeal into each pen of birds. They LOVE the stuff, and are especially pleased when they grab a chunky meat bit for themselves.

 

[nicalandia]

ooooooohh....my goldnecked cockeral - that i was hoping would become a great representation of the color- must have fallen from his perch and broke his neck. he was lying on the ground, seemingly paralyzed. he is still alive, so i'm going to see if maybe he will come out of it. he's sitting on my lap now, shivering, eyes alert.

if he is able to move his legs I dont see a broken neck, maybe an scorpion got to him?

 

[wegotchickens]

ooooooohh....my goldnecked cockeral - that i was hoping would become a great representation of the color- must have fallen from his perch and broke his neck. he was lying on the ground, seemingly paralyzed. he is still alive, so i'm going to see if maybe he will come out of it. he's sitting on my lap now, shivering, eyes alert.

Bummer!

That's how I lost my best millie boy. A tree limb fell onto the roof of the coop. Did no damage, but must've scared my boy badly enough that he flew off the roost and broke his neck on the wall of the coop. Sad moment when I founf him there, as it was too late to do anything for him.

That's why I hesitate to commit to sales that are a ways off until delivery: weird things happen, and either you lose a bird you planned to sell or you need the bird for yourself.

 

[wegotchickens]

Pictures?

Working on it. He doesn't like to cooperate....

 

[coffeekittie]

ooooooohh....my goldnecked cockeral - that i was hoping would become a great representation of the color- must have fallen from his perch and broke his neck. he was lying on the ground, seemingly paralyzed. he is still alive, so i'm going to see if maybe he will come out of it. he's sitting on my lap now, shivering, eyes alert.

update, he's moving his head a little!

Oh no! Maybe he is just badly stunned and

will be ok...