Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[NestingHillsSC]

Wow, these chicks are a growing. and a eating. I think they eat more than any chicks I have ever had before. Of course they num. more than I usually have at a time this yr too. I have them along with GNH, SLW,JH,BR,WOrp too. I'll have a time this fall sorting them out but oh they are fun now. The Dels are not consistent in color but their growth does seem pretty consistent so far. None seem excessively behind the others. I seem to have a large num. of hens so far which I like also. I like egg layers. My GNH male Jacob tried to crow today. What a hoot. I had my A1 testing today too.
In Dec. The other NPIP testing and mg/ms will get done again. All seem really healthy this yr. I restarted the natural cider vinegar with mother back this wk. I always use it in the summer if I don't in the winter. The water gets more junk growing in it in the summer during the day between changes and it helps to keep things down. It sure has been wet here. Looks like it is going to be wetter still with the tropical depression Andrea getting developed so watch out everyone and stay safe

Boy I hear you there. I have 25 plus 6 GLW with them. They eat 2 1/2 gallon of FF everyday!

 

[Jake Levi]

Mine are eager eaters too, otoh its an egg a day from each so I wont complain, not at all. I am hoping their offspring are as productive, it will be interesting too finding out when their POL is. Thats a biggie too, but with the production now I am expecting it will be very competitive with other breeds.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Mine are still too young to lay. I'm eager to see when they start to lay. At what age these Heritage Dellies start.

 

[Jake Levi]

I have the three breeds this year, hope to add 2 more next year, and while I amnot comparing them to see which is best, I am going to be tracking POL, maturity for the freezer etc. I want to make a notebook with these for all three breeds. Each has something distinctive about them that makes me see them as distinctive and worthy heritage homestead breeds. So I want to see what numbers they make under my own management conditions. It will include free ranging several times a week. POL on the pullets is important to me. Right now have two Delaware and two Icelandic chicks in the hatcher brooder. So they are off to an early comparison.

I am setting new eggs the next two weeks, hoping to get a far better hatch without any power outages. I have a dozen still in the hatcher due today and tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I have the three breeds this year, hope to add 2 more next year, and while I amnot comparing them to see which is best, I am going to be tracking POL, maturity for the freezer etc. I want to make a notebook with these for all three breeds. Each has something distinctive about them that makes me see them as distinctive and worthy heritage homestead breeds. So I want to see what numbers they make under my own management conditions. It will include free ranging several times a week. POL on the pullets is important to me. Right now have two Delaware and two Icelandic chicks in the hatcher brooder. So they are off to an early comparison.

I am setting new eggs the next two weeks, hoping to get a far better hatch without any power outages. I have a dozen still in the hatcher due today and tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed.

yea I went from 1 breed to 6. Breeding time next year should be a challenge. I'm done for this year. Just wanting for all these others to start.

 

[Jake Levi]

Just doing right by these three breeds is a challenge, what with pens etc to keep them separate. And ranging gets less with each additional breed. I want them to range as a single breed, so 4-5 breeds means almost half as much time ranging as with 3. But it could be worth it with just four. We'll see. If four then it will be the Albertan 'Chantecler'.

I want to add some of Kathyinmo's chicks or eggs if I can find them, the ones I have now are of her older stock, but look like Delawares, and produce.

I will be hatching on into July to get the numbers that I want of each breed, 10-12 hens and two roosters. Then we'll see how the numbers work out.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I have community areas for all breeds. Roos on one side and hens on the other. WHen breeding time comes I'll be setting up probably around 8 breeding pens on the back of the areas. 8x8.

I just haven't figured out yet on what I'm going to use or build for the houses while they are in there.

They all are outside all day everyday from 2 weeks old on. So there eating bugs, grass, leaves SNAKES hahaha, anything they want out there. Plus there FF. And there still eating me out of home. LOL

 

[Jake Levi]

I have thought of running them all together but I want to keep track of egg production per breed so keeping them separate is the only answer I came up with. Its costing more then I'd thought on building pens, and still have houses to build.That wont be til late summer at best. But with the flock size per breed I am planning it should all work out. One breed will be out every day, and shut up at night. They all have to be penned at night, owls, coons and coyotes, good populations of each.

Life goes on.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I have thought of running them all together but I want to keep track of egg production per breed so keeping them separate is the only answer I came up with. Its costing more then I'd thought on building pens, and still have houses to build.That wont be til late summer at best. But with the flock size per breed I am planning it should all work out. One breed will be out every day, and shut up at night. They all have to be penned at night, owls, coons and coyotes, good populations of each.

Life goes on.

I do lock them in when they go to roost. Same here on the wildlife.

 

[EggieRowe]

Is there a concise list of active Delaware Breeders available? I was surprised the ALBC didn't have a breed organization or club listed for them. Could someone point me in the right direction? I'm thinking about phasing out all my other chickens in favor of Delawares.