Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[rancher hicks]

Now I know this is a post about Dels and I'm beginning to love them even more, but I have a assortment of hens, BO, Aus, Dom, SLW, GLW, and CM's and I can't figure out why their eggs are so small compared to my Dels. At least 2 of my Dels are hatchery girls and the same age as the assortment, and yet the assortments eggs are so noticably smaller. They all are fed the same, in fact up until two days ago the Dels were in w/ the assortment and the CM's were seperate. Could it have anything to do w/ my Del roo Nick? I have a CM roo in w/ the assortment now and he is a terror. I will say I'm noticeing less CM eggs since I've made the switch.
So since this is a pic post here are some pics of chicks for you to guess the sex of.

 

[Cetawin]

Beth, Luke is handsome but personality is the choice for me. I am in agreement with Cyn, I like Buckshot's hackles better too. BTW that Blue boy is one handsome boy.

 

[joletabey]

Good morning Dellie lovers,

Thank you for the comments on the boys, Cyn and Cetawin! They are both pretty chunky, Luke is just bigger overall- taller at this point. I think height growth is about to stop and they should continue to fill out for a while, right? Buckshot's tail feathers are charcoal and black, Luke's are (according to the SOP) more correct, BUT didn't you tell us, Cyn that you can use the darker tailed roos to help get more tail black in hens? I am wondering if I can use them both- I have three or four girls with very light hackling and not a whole lot of tail black, and then I have Lizzie with maybe too much, and I could make some combinations. For example, Cora has a 5 point comb and good tail black- I could keep her in with Luke, etc., etc. Luke didn't peck at me at all until last night when I wanted to put them up- and I was in the run with them almost all day, redoing the top netting. So I think there is hope.......
What do you think?

They both still have some smut, but it's getting better all the time.

Cetawin- Ultrasuede gets more beautiful every day- his black feathers shine like they are greased, and he is getting BIG- don't you think his expression is like Smokey's? He comes up to me now, looking for treats.

Rancherhicks- I don't know enough to hazard an answer, really, but even my 5 pullet eggs
(

, Kathy) I have collected this past week and a half from my Del girls are two different sizes. Noticeable different, in that two of them are about 2/3 the size of the other three- making me think only Cora and Lizzie have started laying. As far as sex- again, I could be incredibly wrong, but if the first and third pic are the same chick, I would guess roo, and maybe for the chick on the right in the second pic. All I can say for sure is that the first chick and the one on the right have great leg color and they are all cuter than a bug's ear!!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

I just sold a Del roo and he was starting to red in the comb at about eight wks. I don't need roos of course. And you are very good as the first and third are the same bird. I kinda had trouble posting them so they are out of order.

 

[Cetawin]

Beth, I agree he does have his mother's LOOK hahahahaha

Fattie and Cannonball were both playing dead this afternoon when I was talking to Cyn on the phone. I casually said "Cannonball and Fattie are dead in the garden...all stretched out soaking up the sun". I heard her hold her breath for a second while I finished. LOL Athena would never stoop such a level as rolling in the dirt....who moi? Get dirty? Absolutely Not! Thor will get down in the dirt with the girls but Athena would never think of such a dirty thing. *rolls eyes*

Thor at bedtime was walking around the garden and I said "Thor buddy come on time for bed" He looked at me and looked at Cheyenne and strolled towards me and stopped. I walked over and put my hand on his back and he said "brrrruuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrr" I said "Yes buddy time for bed come on" and I handed to Cheyenne and got his food and water. So sweet. But he will not eat treats....he is so much like Suede....he gives it to the girls. dang it

 

[joletabey]

Athena is SUCH a hoot - she knows she is drop dead gorgeous. I like the drama queen stuff -

I tell Ultrasuede about how cool Thor is everyday and I am convinced he hears it, and that's why we are making progress- you know how some kids adore their older brothers.....

I was so proud of Luke yesterday, even if we did have another fight last night ( I am still winning, so Luke is still living

) One of the other roos is figuring out how to breed and jumped one of the girls who is NOT ready- not red in the comb yet, she screamed, and Luke body slammed him off her. I also threw him a huge worm and he called the girls over instead of eating it- he is showing SUCH good head roo instincts. I really hope we can work this out! I had to put two roos in rooster jail yesterday- one for pulling the girls combs and one for going after my feet.......I am working myself up to roast rooster.

Hope you all had a great day yesterday- this thread was so quiet!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Snowing here ..... which results in little or no internet service.

I worked on chickens for 3 days! Building, cleaning, moving, hatching ..... I love it, really I do. I have now separated my breeds, so I can have pure eggs. Well, that would be IF I ever get eggs!

Still no eggs from my 19 week old Dels, or 20 week old Lavender Orps, JGiants, Olive Egger. NONE of the Halloween hatch kids are laying. Well, they all have nice new nests now, so maybe they will consider it, huh?

 

[speckledhen]

Kathy, I know what you mean. I get such pleasure from my flock and even the work is satisfying, in addition to just communing with and watching them live their little chicken lives. I'd be lost without at least a few!

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
If you like Drama Queens you need a flock of Blue Orps then for sure. LOL aaaawwww Ultrasuede will be a great boy, he is just growing up and finding out the human is not so bad afterall. It is chicken love.

Kathy enough with the snow okay...in a little over a week I plan on being somewhere around St Louis so knock it off with the snow.

I agree Cyn...I think I would be lost without the feathered kids especially certain ones...OMG the attachment I have is unbelievable...way more than I ever expected it to be over a chicken...

 

[speckledhen]

Heck, we're even attached to each other's chickens!