Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Yard full o' rocks]

Cyn, Sasha has yet to lay either and she's not even playing in the nest boxes yet. Lil Bit on the other hand is now playing "hide the eggs". She has NEVER used the nest boxes, always the floor of the coop, in one corner. Recently I haven't seen any form her....BUT, today they are all out free ranging and I hear the Lil Bit egg song....she's in the woods. After about 15 minutes I found a depression in the ground and a clutch of 3 eggs...BAD GIRL

My BBS and Barred girls ARE starting to lay!! YEAH

Got one barred, one black and one blue rock egg yesterday...and ALL were in the nest boxes

 

[speckledhen]

Bad L'il Bit! But you can't be too mad with her. She's too sweet.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I have a Delaware question. How much black is allowed on the beak, if any? I have some nice looking birds with half black beaks and was wondering if that is OK or a flaw.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

How do you catch them in the nestboxes? Mine must be really fast because I never see any other chickens in them but the RIR's and Barred rocks.
But I got 10 eggs today. Someone is laying that I don't know about!

Joletabey, have you tried mealworms or chopped up egg? Wait to see how mean they get then! It is a hoot!

Yard full of it, Sasha is beautiful! Lucky man. Naughty Lil Bit...

Cetawin, Darn those kids sometimes. Yours sound alot like mine but I have boys. My DH worked out butts off the last two days (laying new flooring) while he was over at friends playing playstation. He comes home and what does he ask...? "When will the tv be back in?"
Ughhhh!

Cynthia, did you do the egg dance with her yet? She is waiting for that before she lays. Talk to her and do as she says.

Laney, now I am hungry!

Kathy, where are you hmmmm?

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Kathy, it is a flaw and the extent depends on how much black is on the beak. A small spot isn't terrible. The almost all black beak is not good. Scott's L'il Bit had that on hers, the most of that entire bunch. Even Ike had a tiny bit, but as he aged, it seemed to disappear or get smaller. It's hardly noticable with him anymore.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I'm busy over at the Marans thread ... tryin' to figure out what the heck a Marans is!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
I'm busy over at the Marans thread ... tryin' to figure out what the heck a Marans is!

We may never see you over here again then!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

From everything Kathy has hatched recently (and has growing up) her DH needs to build one big @$$ barn for all her critters!!

BTW - do you spell Maran with a D??

Kathy - don't be a traitor now

 

[kathyinmo]

Yard full o' rocks :

From everything Kathy has hatched recently (and has growing up) her DH needs to build one big @$$ barn for all her critters!!

BTW - do you spell Maran with a D??

Kathy - don't be a traitor now

My first love is the Delawares. Marans are just for fun .... a challenge, I say. I'm likin' these Jersey Giants though!

Construction here ... oh, yes ... BUT, I'll have you know, I am pretty good at it all by myself! DH works out of town (out of state), and I do much on my own. I am in the middle of finishing up the conversion of the boat barn into breeder pens. It is 30 some feet long by 13 feet wide.

Then, there's the layer coop ... it holds 45 birds. The Silkies have their own coop. I also have a huge run attached to another little coop, that is 8' x 8'. I call it, "the bachelor's pad!" The little rabbit hutch style coop is presently occupied by 8 Seramas, who are leaving as soon as someone volunteers to take them! Anyone?
My plan is to cull down to around 100 by spring. I have to have alot growing out, to have more to choose from! Right?

ETA: I also have these 2 Light Sussex, that I am really liking! They are as friendly as the Dels. These come from Australia stock, and are growing like crazy! I have 2 more to go pick up, but really should get a few more!​

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Bad Bad Lil Bit.


So, I went out to hug a chicken a bit ago and guess what I saw? Thor was trying to dance for Cannonball

I say trying because he had jammed himself between the waterer, the corner of the little coop and a pile of bedding (someone kindly scratched into a huge pile in one corner)... he was flirting and trying to dance...she ignored him.

Mean ole Dellie