Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[LeslieDJoyce]

Wondering if you guys could give me some feedback on these two boys. They are F'4' Kathyinmos Delawares, hatched the first week in April. Very slow to mature, just started crowing (sort of) and hasseling the girls No eggs from the girls yet either, some comb development happening so maybe soon. I have been cautioned to pay attention to tail development, don't really know what to think about that........... Also a pic. of my favorite pullet even though she is Coloumbian marked. It has been recommended to get the ticking, to breed to a Cock/Cockeral with stronger barring, not really sure what that means either.

They are pretty birds, and I'm very curious what people have to say about them.

 

[3riverschick]

Yep...the Ents were searching for entwives in the stories but could not find them. They had moved away from the ents because they liked to plant and control things...the area to which they moved was later destroyed by Sauron and so..no more entwives could be found.

Can't believe I know that and can't believe a discussion of entwives has made the pages of the heritage thread....

Ent story...
When I was in in High School, I discovered the Lord of The Rings. My friends and I would sit around swapping stories
and esp. appreciating the poetry. Ok, so my younger brother comes to me and says, he needs a poem to recite in class
and can I help him pick one? At the time, I was enjoying Treebeard's ramblings so, in all sincerely, I gave him one to share.
He came home from school and told me it didn't go over real well with his classmates. I guess he got made fun of by them
when he stood up and started reciting " When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf and sap is in the bough.....". Hey, I really
liked the poem and it didn't occur to me, that others might think it funny coming out of a middle schooler's mouth. He has
never asked me for another poetry reference and that was circa 1969.....
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Craigslist came thru. Just sold the extra pullets for 15. ea. ,sight unseen, to a local guy
in a neighboring township for an egg flock. He picks them up tomorrow.
Thanks for all your help and advice!
Karen

 

[Lacy Blues]

There is a knitted windscreen fabric that is also a shade cloth. The British breeders use it to cut the wind in their paddocks.Since heat is such a problem, why not simply build covered runs with one wall solid? You back the sleeping coops up to the wall, and use the wind screen on the sides to cut the wind.This is basically what I do in SC.This keeps a nice DRY run for the birds, as mine are sand 18" deep. Easy to rake up and screen the sand every day. The dry sand will really cut down on parasite loads too.

Portable kennel panels make nice runs, and because they ARE portable, do not usually qualify as a structure.I roofed mine with colored steel panels, so the birds are very secure.

I'd be careful about planting roses for the birds to hide under. I have one big Knockout bush in my orchard that I have to keep limbed up, or the Orps will tear their combs and feathers on the thorns.One hen came up limping this year, and I pulled a rose thorn out of her foot. Big hydrangea bushes do a much better job of giving the birds shade, and hiding places. Mine all have bird netting in the canes, so even when bare in the winter, the birds have protection.

I'll look into shade cloth/wind screen for walls... could be.

Thanks for the points on the roses. Hadn't thought about the effect of thorns... unless this is a thornless variety? Do those exist? I'll be sure and look them up. Maybe I could plant them outside the run because I really wound like something hardy that grew lots of rose hips.

 

[3riverschick]

Leslie,
That Delaware pullet is rockin' my world! Such a pretty little lady! Nice balance! I like the first boy better.
I like his silhouette better and the way he settles the balance of his chassis on his legs. Nice balance fore and aft.
There are all kinds of interesting conversations on Google Books in the historic lit about balancing ticking and barring.
I ran across them when I was surfing "Columbian " poultry breeds. No help with my Light Sussex which aren't barred,
but still a real interesting read.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

I'll look into shade cloth/wind screen for walls... could be.
FarmTek specializes in shade cloth, etc. great website. http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/home
check out their specials, "steals and deals". They have both shade and wind fencing.
In "steals and deals", check out: " Shade remnants".
. http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft_fencing_netting.html
nother idea, if you just need a large tarp, is the surplus "side panels" they are closing out which are side panels for their garages.
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplie...&breadcrumb_categoryIds=|150862&maxRecords=20 See, SIDE PNL 20' 12.5oz CLEAR SOLID CARPORT , etc.
Thanks for the points on the roses. Hadn't thought about the effect of thorns... unless this is a thornless variety? Do those exist?
Yes, they do, in several colors. pretty things too. Check nurseries on the Net.

 

[normanack]

. . . Thanks for the points on the roses.  Hadn't thought about the effect of thorns... unless this is  a thornless variety?  Do those exist?  I'll be sure and look them up.  Maybe I could plant them outside the run because I really wound like something hardy that grew lots of rose hips.

I have old-fashioned shrub roses which are large plants with lots of small roses and a heavy crop of rose hips. Hardy in mid-Michigan. Great plants!
But. They are positively furry with thorns, and have bloodied me many times through coat and gloves. I fear what they could do to a chicken.

 

[Pozees]

Craigslist came thru. Just sold the extra pullets for 15. ea. ,sight unseen, to a local guy
in a neighboring township for an egg flock. He picks them up tomorrow.
Thanks for all your help and advice!
Karen

 

[har]

I have a Delaware ckl that I really like in every way except his comb has side sprigs. My rooster selection is some what limited. If I go ahead and use him is that something that is hard to bred out?

Thank you
Scott

 

[normanack]

Craigslist came thru. Just sold the extra pullets for 15. ea. ,sight unseen, to a local guy
in a neighboring township for an egg flock. He picks them up tomorrow.
Thanks for all your help and advice!
Karen

That is one lucky guy. I'm envious.