Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

Beth, yes, you do cull hens for personality. Janet culled a pullet once for signs of aggression, said she'd never had to do that before, so it does happen. The "beaking" they do isn't what I'm talking about, which seems to be such a classic Delaware trait that can be curtailed with the beak-holding sessions. That pullet was attacking her shoes. Highly unusual.

Wow, they're dividing up my birds all over the place! Shadow is non-negotiable, I fear. She is DH's personal pocket chicken he carries around in his coat and gives special warm food to on cold days.

Kathy, that is so typical, the inquisitive nature and intelligence of this breed, at least the lines I currently have. They can be so affectionate, too. Yesterday, Georgie was begging for attention by grabbing my sweatpants (and getting skin in the process), so I put down my worst lap chicken, Gypsy, and picked her up. She had this serene look on her face, but I put her down too soon. I placed her on the top landing bar in front of the nests and started to walk out the door. She reached over and grabbed my jacket with her beak and literally pulled me backwards! They're strong, too!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
I agree completely, joletabey. It's not helping the breed any to do away with an aggressive rooster if you're going to keep breeding and propagating chicks from hateful hens. That's JMO.

As we all know, inherited genes come from BOTH parents...not just the dad.

 

[speckledhen]

Agreed.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Please forgive my rudeness...GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Good morning, Delaware Lovers!

 

[joletabey]

Good morning back to you all - at least it is good here, if not in the rest of the world!

I can attest to strength- they can pull like little draft horses! The inquisitive nature is one of the endearing traits- and the seeming self confidence- I had one of the "lacey" roos square off with Buckshot this morning, and it was just funny - Buckshot looked at him like he had a screw loose and just walked away- I am not sure I have a real cuddler yet- they are content to sit on my hand or arm, falconlike, observing the world. I hope when we get the run done, I can take a chair our there and see if I have a lap chicken!

 

[joletabey]

Can we talk about these markings? I am not sure if they will show up well, and I am a LOUSY photographer and you all know how fast these buggers move- but this is one of two roos who have these heavier markings and more like lacing than barring.......bad? Horrible? Hide them in the closet now?

And here is Buckshot - a little better pics than the other day- little spunker is a gamecock wannabe in that third picture. . . . . .I hope you can see the comb and tail feathers better. He has barred hackles. They are all kind of lanky right now- they look plumpy sitting around, then they stretch and I think I have giraffes instead of chickens!

 

[speckledhen]

I think only time will tell with that one. Buckshot has fabulous leg color, something I love to see! I thought Gracie's would be too pale, but today outside, I realized her legs had actually become brighter yellow. You'll see slightly paler legs in the pullets than the cockerels sometimes, though. And they do fill out alot, too. Gracie has some chunkiness to her now that I was waiting to see. Let me see if I can find a pic of Isaac at that age and maybe his brothers.

 

[speckledhen]

Isaac @ 9 Weeks Old:

Isaac, 12 weeks or so:

Isaac's brother @ 9 Weeks old. He was my #2 choice for awhile.

Here was the #3 cockerel at 8 weeks old.

 

[joletabey]

Cynthia, those pictures really help- especially seeing Isaac at about the same age - the markings are similar in Buckshot and my roo #2 and #3- I will wait and see what happens with the darker lacier two, but right now they are on the bottom of my list. They also have black tail feathers and brown upper beaks.


WHY ARE MY CHICKENS SO DIRTY COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE'S???? I clean the brooder and add fresh shavings all the time- they just seem to poop on each other instead of the ground!