Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

They just got into a habit of picking at him when his wattles got really dirty once and went overboard. Now, it's an ingrained habit and I absolutely refuse to mop up blood, cauterize wounds and keep him separate for most of his days; it's not fair and he's done nothing wrong. Ike is just a love, he really is and he is super-protective of his ladies, comes charging across the property when they yell, ready to do battle. He's just exemplary so far, he really is. Unless someone pays me some good money for that boy and his ladies as a package (which wouldn't solve the problem since the problem would be going with him), he can stay and watch over the rest of the laying flock and they can go, if I can't break them of it.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
OOooooohhhhhhh, don't tempt me!

 

[joletabey]

Cynthia, you are right, Isaac deserves better, and so do you - full time nursemaid - uhuh! Is Janet close enough to start you with some new hens for him?It seems a shame not to keep breeding him, when you have so many of us with his babies, and so many more people interested.

 

[speckledhen]

Janet is in Ohio so no. Really, this Delaware thing was probably a temporary project anyway. I am again thinking of how to simplify my flock and cut costs, so I may be allowing my numbers to dwindle, whether as they pass on, by selling some, etc. I already know that when Suede goes, I will probably sell or give away Dusty and Smoky or just put them in the laying flock-no more BBS Orps.

 

[joletabey]

Well, it makes me sad for you, but I understand - I had to get myself down to three horses for some of the same reasons, and will NOT replace any of these when they go - chickens are easier than horses!

 

[speckledhen]

Dang, Gracie started in on him, too! So, now, poor Isaac is in the Firetower all alone. He doesn't deserve this. Guess we'll let him out in the morning when he's really frisky to mate the ladies then put him back before they get used to him being in the pen and start in on the poor sweetheart.

 

[joletabey]

Are his wounds still visible? Or is she just going for the red? Poor Isaac! Is there no respect?

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

...and the sad thing is we teach our "boys" not to hit the girls!!! Like everything else, there ARE limits! Poor Issac ought to lay his spurs into a few of those gals when they pick on him like that.

 

[speckledhen]

He has scabs all along the edge of his wattles. They weren't bleeding, just scabby. The scabs are black, not red. Gracie started one bleeding again.

I wish he would get mean with them. Dutch has learned to avoid being pecked to death finally. Hopefully, Ike will, too.
Here is the evil Gracie today. She is now 21 weeks old and finally, her comb is turning red.

 

[Cetawin]

Cyn, hang on to those girls...I will come get them when I get out that way. By that time Thor will be well above their size and he will put a gentleman's butt whopping on them. He has already proven he will not take that stuff. Bad Gracie...what on earth was she doing picking on someone his size? The girl ain't right in the head.

Joletabey...Athena was dark like that too...we thought she was black for a few weeks and then starting questioning her being blue...it took awhile be we knew for a fact she was blue. So

that Ultrasuede shows true colors soon.