Mille Fleurs

[Frozen Feathers]

Wow, gorgeous guy!

 

[karri25]

That guy is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I think it's funy b/c my DD Bella calls them the polka dot chickens

 

[silkieluvr]

Aww, thats so cute! "The Polka Dot Chickens"

 

[CarriBrown]

Wow. I didn't know that it took two years for their colors to really show. I always wondered why my Sasha looked light. I went out today and now it looks like her head is darker than the rest of her body!

She's about a year and a half and starting to molt, so that must be why.
You learn something new everyday.
Very cute little roo, BTW!

 

[ksacres]

While it's true they don't have their true correct spangling until they molt-most get whiter each year-that's no reason you can't show. One of the guys in my club had a five year old hen, and she was nearly white she had such big spangles, but he also showed the youngins he had too. Just because you may not win is no reason you can't go. That's just silly

Showing is about comradery, not just coming home with ribbons. There are sure to be other young birds there too. If you love the breed, you should stick with it. One thing I have learned is to do what you love-if you don't you won't be happy. And there are a lot of us that don't show and still sell eggs and chicks. Aside from that, the "show quality" moniker is widely overused and holds very little value these days, if that's what you are worried about. good luck, whatever you decide

 

[chickenlady]

I say raise the mille fleur d'uccles AND show them also!! Here is a pic of my little cockeral at only 6 months old. He took Champion Bantam in the show a month ago. He beat out several other 'adult' d'uccles to even be in the running for CH Bantam. However, it is true that they say it takes 2 years for them to fully come into their adult feathers. Don't worry about that for showing though. There are alot of young pullets and cockerals who look beautiful and meet breed standards!! I say go for it!!

 

[silkieluvr]

Thanks everyone for their input, I think we'll still keep trying with the breed because they are so beautiful!

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
Thank you so much for that picture, its VERY encouraging. If that's how nice they can be by 6 months I think we will definitely keep trying with them. When I heard it could take 2 years I figured they wouldn't even have white by the first year, but that cockerel is GORGEOUS!

I love him. In fact, do you sell eggs? Hah, I'll pm you about it. <3

 

[chickenlady]

Here is a pic of a pullet that I got from the same breeder that I got my cockeral from. She is under a year old in this pic.

 

[chickenlady]

Just found another pic for you, lol. These 2 girls are from a totally different breeder than my cockeral and my pullet. I dont think these are as good a quality as my other ones but here they are at about 5-6 months old, they had not started to lay yet.

I think different lines will mature at different rates. The first pullet that I posted has nice coloring for such a young pullet but after her molt, she will probly be way too white whereas the second 2 pullets, since they dont have much color, will probly end up nicer after their molt than my 1st pullet. In this case, I would show my 1st pullet at a much earlier age, and then save the other 2 pullets til after they've molted.