Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
So, large roosters help too? You've made my decision .... I'm going out to buy a few geese. I know they won't stay up here near the chickens, with the water behind us. But, I am thinking that is why I never had this problem before, when the geese were out there. What about turkeys? I read somewhere that turkeys deter hawks. Is that true? I am still putting up the netting, as well. Just won't be any free ranging for awhile anyway.

We had crows and blue jays around here. I wonder where they all went???
Thank you all, for your input and advice!

On a Dellie note ....
I will post pictures of my 8 male and 2 female Dellies this week. They were hatched at Christmas, and are coming along very well! I see my # 1 roo developing in this group!

Cute little camera hog there, Lady Hawk!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Kathy I was told too that turkeys deter hawks. I've been thinking about them too. I have peacocks so I wonder if that scares hawks off?

 

[Cetawin]

Turkeys and Peafowl work because of the sheer size...why would a hawk take on a bird that size? But your toms and roos may have problems with each other...it is hard to say. The roos do their job..they warning the girls, they love the girls, defend the girls and they die for the girls....that is their job in their eyes...it is what roosters do.

The reason I say the geese is this....

Up at Holderread's farm, they run an adult pair of geese with groups of baby ducklings and goslings to deter the hawks...he is far more an expert than I am so if he is doing it, I would guess it works pretty well. I have been attacked by a goose and that thing made me a bruise from hips to my knees....oh if that child had not been standing there I would have kicked that gander's butt and choked him till his eyes buggede out but....the kid was enjoying the geese sooooooooo

That Cannonball makes taking a picture an olympic event...sheesh

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh yes, Geese can hurt you. I haven't been the recipient thank goodness, but my son has. My goose Hammy that loves me, hates him and will beat him up at every chance (and he is 6'2") LOL

I hatched out a baby goose and had no spare room for it so I brooded it with the chicks. I would move it around as it grew and now it thinks it is a chicken.

I have 6 adult geese out there and this one 8 week old goose who is outside snuggled up with all the little ones. So when it is grown, I am hoping it will protect them. The big geese just wander around and would miss a hawk attack.

Now the peacocks are always in the midst of everything and flirting and fanning every moving creature.

 

[Laney]

Cyn,

I was just reading an article in a poultry magazine, don't remember which one, the British one. It states that lack of salt and sulfur in a diet can cause pecking and canabalism. I don't know what to put into a diet to increase salt and sulfur, they didn't mention what the correction would be in that case, but I thought I would mention it.

Laney

 

[speckledhen]

Honestly, I dont think they are missing anything at all, but thanks for mentioning that, Laney. I've heard about the salt, but not the sulphur. Mine get salt when they eat the canned fish I give them every week since I don't make an effort to get the salt free kind. Wasn't aware they needed sulphur, but I'd think it was in the breeder crumble they're eating now if its a requirement.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
If you're feeding them boiled egg yolks, they're getting sulfur.

 

[speckledhen]

Yup, they're eating boiled eggs most weeks. Thanks, Tori, I didn't even connect the two things.

 

[Cetawin]

Great info Tori thank you for sharing it.

 

[CoopDelisle]

Well, I'm trying to get back in the saddle at BYC, and with a new batch of chicks, re-invigorated to get in on some chicken talk. Here are our new Delaware chicks, we have one guy and four gals.