Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[christine9]

I'll be culling a Del this month also for aggressive tendencies and none too stellar laying performance.  A needlessly aggressive hen upsets the whole flock social structure and I never tolerate it...and she is rarely a good layer...never culled one for aggression that was also a great layer.  Could have something to do with hormones. 

Oh, my Dellie hasn't missed a day yet and lays a purplish egg. Ahh! I'm going to try to wait it out. It's a tough decision.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Deep litter and feeding FF will go a long way towards decreasing the stink and mess of meaties. Just keep layering in the litter over the poop and it will keep down the smell and the flies. Also helps if you give them a lot of fresh air, a place for sun and exercise...you can do that by putting feeder on one end of the pen and the water on the other. You can also build them roosting off the floor to keep them cooler at night and also cleaner. They need nice, wide roosts....much wider than other birds...10-12 in. wide.

I'm noticing that they are quite stubborn in going outside. (as in not willingly on their own) More so than "regular" chicks. Yesterday, they all got pushed outside, so I could clean the coop. They all stayed outside even past dark, and I know for a fact there are a couple that figured out the ramp. Today, none want to go out again. I pushed 5 out, hoping they would attract the others to go out. It doesn't appear to be working. Should I remove the feed inside the coop? Will that encourage them to go out? I currently have feed and water both inside the coop and in the run.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm noticing that they are quite stubborn in going outside. (as in not willingly on their own) More so than "regular" chicks. Yesterday, they all got pushed outside, so I could clean the coop. They all stayed outside even past dark, and I know for a fact there are a couple that figured out the ramp. Today, none want to go out again. I pushed 5 out, hoping they would attract the others to go out. It doesn't appear to be working. Should I remove the feed inside the coop? Will that encourage them to go out? I currently have feed and water both inside the coop and in the run.

Yeah...they will stay close to the feed. If you've got nice weather, I'd leave that feed outside all the time and also the water. Wherever they linger, there is where the poop will be so try keeping the poop out in the open air as much as possible.

That food motivation is what makes them such good foragers...a hungry bird will hunt for food and these are hungrier than most. If keeping them in a coop and run it, can work to your advantage by making them work for their food...you can place the food up on a surface they would have to walk up a ramp to get to, just to strengthen their legs.

Also place the water in the same way...if you are using nipple buckets, place them high enough that they have to stretch up on their feet and legs to access the nipples. If using an open waterer, put it up on something they have to climb. Hang food items from the fence and give them an obstacle course to have to climb to get it. All these things can build muscle and a stronger bird to support their quick weight gains.

I even use layer rations so they get more calcium for their quickly growing bones.

Even when my birds were much older I hung the waterers high so they would have to stretch to get them... they had a big 5 gal. nipple bucket inside the coop and one smaller one(their original chick waterer bucket) out in the forage area in the shade.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Great information! I do have the feeder up on bricks, but I can't raise everything too high yet. I have one little one that isn't growing much. She's 1/4 the size of all the others. She seems perfectly healthy, just really small.

I did move the feeder outside and it has encouraged a couple of them to come outside. We'll see how it goes.

I have some layer feed, so I'll mix that in with the flockraiser when I open the next feed bag.

 

[LindaB220]

Ok so here's the story. She's a Delaware. Her and my RIR get along great. The other two are brahmas. One gets bullied by the Dellie, the other was second in the pecking order. I'm guessing there was a little challenge and my brahma got hurt. She's still separated and I have no rooster, but have eggs in the bator.

This might be normal chicken stuff, but I don't like having to worry about her hurting another girl. My one and only dog crate is occupied.

I have heard (no personal experience) that hatchery Delawares are more aggressive. I have ordered 7 from Meyers but will keep my eye on them. Later, I'll upgrade to a breeder. They are supposed to be so much nicer.

 

[christine9]

I have heard (no personal experience) that hatchery Delawares are more aggressive.  I have ordered 7 from Meyers but will keep my eye on them.  Later, I'll upgrade to a breeder.  They are supposed to be so much nicer. 

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Yes, it was the chance I took. She also came from Meyer but I think it's partially that she's really bossy and partial that the brahmas are so timid. My buff brahma just always gives the Dellie lots of space.

 

[LindaB220]

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Yes, it was the chance I took. She also came from Meyer but I think it's partially that she's really bossy and partial that the brahmas are so timid. My buff brahma just always gives the Dellie lots of space.

How are your Bramas? I've been thinking of trying them even with the slow grow out.

 

[Beekissed]

I have heard (no personal experience) that hatchery Delawares are more aggressive. I have ordered 7 from Meyers but will keep my eye on them. Later, I'll upgrade to a breeder. They are supposed to be so much nicer.

Mines from a great breeder...I just think it's the breed itself. I've not been too impressed about what I've read about this breed and not too impressed now that I have a few. Sort of like Wyandottes...eat a lot, lay some, cranky birds.

 

[ronott1]

Mines from a great breeder...I just think it's the breed itself. I've not been too impressed about what I've read about this breed and not too impressed now that I have a few. Sort of like Wyandottes...eat a lot, lay some, cranky birds.

So far the New Heritage Delawares from kathyinmo are mostly friendly. capayvalleychick said a couple of her hens peck at her feet.

It is possible that Kathy selected for temperament.

 

[christine9]

How are your Bramas?   I've been thinking of trying them even with the slow grow out. 

I really like them. They are beautiful. My buff is the most timid. My light is the one in isolation. I think she's the prettiest and the sweetest. My buff lays everyday. My light every couple days. Although they did just start last month.