Meat Bird Project - Delaware, White Rock, Dark Cornish

[JenellYB]

Thank you for the experienced advice, I'm glad you had such a great experience with WRs! At this point I'm thinking the WRs will be my bird of choice, not too sure about the Dels but they may grow on me. And I'm thinking a DC roo will be a good watch-bird for predators, hopefully...

I have a 2 year old son, he's pretty good with the birds but temperament is definitely a consideration. I know a local breeder who recommended Dels for their temperament, she didn't have any at the time so I went with hatchery chicks. I assume her line of Dels are much better than the line I have, they're not "mean" necessarily but they don't hesitate to peck. They're very comfortable with people, they peck at my glasses, fly at me whenever I open the mobile pen, and are the first to find a way out to the other sections of the pen.

The DC are just all around good birds (so far) as well. They're all cockerels, with very even temperament and solid personalities. A bit skiddish, but that's mostly my fault since I don't hold them as often as I should. I'm going to make it a plan to go out and hold the larger ones a few times a day, as I'm likely not going to keep any of the small ones. Only one DC cockerel will make the cut, as well as one WR cockerel. Guess I should start holding all of the WR hens as well, since likely all of them will be around for a while.

BTW, I think ALL of the White Rocks, and most other chickens, I had over those years were from Ideal Hatchery, through one feed store here that I trust completely. I am presently raising my first decent sized flock in nearly 30 years, but not being interested in raising meat, I have 9 Golden sex links, 16 weeks, and 5 Ameraucanas,or at least what Ideal sells as that, 14 weeks. I bought them through that same feed store I've been dealing with about 50 yrs now, maybe longer.

My mention above about White Rocks not being very wary or watchful for danger, and having a few of some more watchful breed to sound alarm, I eventually settled on Ameracanas, I love their funny faces, they have lots of personality, flighty if not handled a lot young, and my kids and even other adults were just so amazed by the blue eggs. But a few of any more flighty breed are good. I remember even as a kid how many of our country kin that had chickens had, in addition to layers and any for meat, a little flock of game bantams around, for their watchfulness.

 

[Kiki]

Cesar Milan....CRACKED ME UP!

Good work!

 

[Kiki]

BTW, I think ALL of the White Rocks, and most other chickens, I had over those years were from Ideal Hatchery, through one feed store here that I trust completely. I am presently raising my first decent sized flock in nearly 30 years, but not being interested in raising meat, I have 9 Golden sex links, 16 weeks, and 5 Ameraucanas,or at least what Ideal sells as that, 14 weeks. I bought them through that same feed store I've been dealing with about 50 yrs now, maybe longer.

My mention above about White Rocks not being very wary or watchful for danger, and having a few of some more watchful breed to sound alarm, I eventually settled on Ameracanas, I love their funny faces, they have lots of personality, flighty if not handled a lot young, and my kids and even other adults were just so amazed by the blue eggs. But a few of any more flighty breed are good. I remember even as a kid how many of our country kin that had chickens had, in addition to layers and any for meat, a little flock of game bantams around, for their watchfulness.

My Easter Eggers from Ideal...hatched 2 days ago....They are not true Ameracaunas....so I've been told a hundred times already.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

BTW, I think ALL of the White Rocks, and most other chickens, I had over those years were from Ideal Hatchery, through one feed store here that I trust completely. I am presently raising my first decent sized flock in nearly 30 years, but not being interested in raising meat, I have 9 Golden sex links, 16 weeks, and 5 Ameraucanas,or at least what Ideal sells as that, 14 weeks. I bought them through that same feed store I've been dealing with about 50 yrs now, maybe longer.

My mention above about White Rocks not being very wary or watchful for danger, and having a few of some more watchful breed to sound alarm, I eventually settled on Ameracanas, I love their funny faces, they have lots of personality, flighty if not handled a lot young, and my kids and even other adults were just so amazed by the blue eggs. But a few of any more flighty breed are good. I remember even as a kid how many of our country kin that had chickens had, in addition to layers and any for meat, a little flock of game bantams around, for their watchfulness.

I'm hoping that my handling of the chicks a bit more over the next few weeks will ensure that they are okay around people. I handle them a few times a day now, but it's only to move them or check their leg bands, etc., not very long or personal. But I've already found that they are quite used to my hands and are calm when I put them against my chest/stomach.

I'm looking into some Americaunas as well, maybe next year. I love their look, and they seem to have a great personality from what I've seen. And my egg-buyers love the green eggs I get from one of my hybrids, so blue eggs will likely get them salivating for more! I agree that the flightier roos are often more watchful (if not TOO watchful and paranoid), and that's a great attribute. Especially when I have to go outside several times a week with the dogs because I see the looming shadows of aerial prey! My BB gun has winged many a turkey vulture for circling too low over my yard, and my dogs know that they are fair game if they land anywhere on my acre+. I have no mature roosters now, so I'm looking forward to having a few sentinels watching out for my girls.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I've not heard of Ideal before, I just looked them up and think they will be my next hatchery to order from. I wasn't thrilled with Welp, not the quality control at least - I've noticed a few less cockerels than was ordered, and the original shipping issue caused a bit of a headache. So I'm looking for a new hatchery, or I'll try to get some standards/non-hatchery chicks from solid breeders, if I can handle the extra costs that will come along with it.

What makes Ideal better than the rest, so much so that JenellYP bought from (mostly) only them for the past 30+ years and KikisGirls bought from them last? Just curious.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

Doing the math (and trying to explain it to my wife, who doesn't care AT ALL but pretends...), apples to apples, the biggest WR cockerel at 3 weeks old, eating 24% protein, is 17% larger than the biggest WR cockerel eating 22% for the past 12 days. That's a pretty HUGE difference when looking at it from a distance.

Definitely switching back to 24% when that 20% back is gone. I may end up feeding it to my layers (mixed with 16%) to fix their feathers, as the 5 oldest are looking a bit ragged for the past 3 weeks.

 

[Kiki]

I've not heard of Ideal before, I just looked them up and think they will be my next hatchery to order from. I wasn't thrilled with Welp, not the quality control at least - I've noticed a few less cockerels than was ordered, and the original shipping issue caused a bit of a headache. So I'm looking for a new hatchery, or I'll try to get some standards/non-hatchery chicks from solid breeders, if I can handle the extra costs that will come along with it.

What makes Ideal better than the rest, so much so that JenellYP bought from (mostly) only them for the past 30+ years and KikisGirls bought from them last? Just curious.

I like Ideal because they are fairly close to me...My chicks hatch usually at 10 am on a Wednesday and I have them in hand Thursday morning at 7 am when my post office opens (less than 24 hours old)
I also like how there is no shipping fees for me...I THINK the out of state fee is .15 per bird. They are cheap and quick! AND I like how you don't have to have a minimum number of birds ordered..your total price just has to be above 25 dollars.

I haven't ever ordered from any where else.

What cost me about 35 dollars for 9 chicks from them would cost me triple that at least because of the shipping fees from other hatcheries.
Next year...I plan on starting the meat birds like you.
I can get them for 85 cents a piece.


There are many haters of Ideal out there....mostly what I have read or people ( I should say person ) that I have come across that do not like Ideal is because they didn't receive exactly what they ordered.
I have each time.

 

[Kiki]

Doing the math (and trying to explain it to my wife, who doesn't care AT ALL but pretends...), apples to apples, the biggest WR cockerel at 3 weeks old, eating 24% protein, is 17% larger than the biggest WR cockerel eating 22% for the past 12 days. That's a pretty HUGE difference when looking at it from a distance.

Definitely switching back to 24% when that 20% back is gone. I may end up feeding it to my layers (mixed with 16%) to fix their feathers, as the 5 oldest are looking a bit ragged for the past 3 weeks.

I love all these numbers!
I think it is great!

I can't believe that little percent amount in the feed makes that big of a difference.


Do you feed them table scraps or treats?

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I like Ideal because they are fairly close to me...My chicks hatch usually at 10 am on a Wednesday and I have them in hand Thursday morning at 7 am when my post office opens (less than 24 hours old)
I also like how there is no shipping fees for me...I THINK the out of state fee is .15 per bird. They are cheap and quick! AND I like how you don't have to have a minimum number of birds ordered..your total price just has to be above 25 dollars.

I haven't ever ordered from any where else.

What cost me about 35 dollars for 9 chicks from them would cost me triple that at least because of the shipping fees from other hatcheries.
Next year...I plan on starting the meat birds like you.
I can get them for 85 cents a piece.


There are many haters of Ideal out there....mostly what I have read or people ( I should say person ) that I have come across that do not like Ideal is because they didn't receive exactly what they ordered.
I have each time.

I feel a certain loyalty that way about Welp, I don't want to be a hater or anything about them because they missed a portion of my order - they were quick to fix it and ship out another 11 at no charge (when I only was missing 5) to make up for their mistake. I'm very happy with their stock, at least so far - we'll see how they are when they get full-grown. But $.85/chick, that's unbelievable! I'm happy to average about $2.50/bird, but I guess if you went with all males it would be cheaper. I will check them out next order when I need fresh blood to keep my lines as pure as possible!

 

[Ulladh]

Still following this an everything is looking great! Really interesting to see. I was feeding my quail a partridge starter fine crumb. 28.5% protein with all the necessary vitamins etc. Do you think could be a bit of an over dose of protein?

I got a photo from the guy hatching them for me and they are just begining to pip, all due tomorrow so this is it. Cant wait to see and compare our results!