Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Cetawin]

Quote:
I don't know about balanced or breed standards but my two Issac babies are a real PITA. Always wanting attention, jumping on you, climbing on you, getting into your hair, biting you if you give any other baby attention. pffffttttt they are brats and frankly...I don't give a hoot how they turn out looking cause they are my babies.

 

[speckledhen]

They are wild children, that's true. But then, you know the smartest kids are the ones who always get into trouble, right?

 

[ladybuggarden]

Here are pics of my 8 week olds.

and a pic of my new addition.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Ladybuggarden - wow, that's a pretty big comb on an 8-week-old! Does that mean it's a roo?

Here's my Lily at 17 weeks. Hatchery chick. I didn't know there was any other kind back in June

She is my least friendly of the four. She is so terrified when I pick her up. Makes me sad.

It sounds like most people's Delawares are friendlier than she is.

 

[speckledhen]

bawkbawk, I had the same experience with hatchery stock. Turned me off to the breed till a friend asked me to do a fertility test for her young cockerel. I had to be talked into it, but I'm glad I did. These are the real deal and such a difference in personality! Your girl has heavy Columbian Rock influence as witnessed by the solid black in the hackles, as do many hatchery chicks. Im sorry she isn't friendly! My McMurray stock was evil and flighty.

Ladybuggarden's 8 week old is a definite cockerel.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Cynthia, thank you for the info! I'm going to look up Columbians now!

I would really like to add some breeder chicks to my flock next year, but I don't know quite how to do it - if I want three or four different breeds, how do coordinate getting day-old breeder chicks?

I think you're going to tell me I have to incubate eggs. My husband will think I've truly gone mad...

 

[speckledhen]

I meant to type Columbian Rock, not just Columbian, sorry. When the numbers of Dels were dwindling and there just wasn't much stock, the hatcheries outcrossed to Columbian Rock, which messed up the lines. When you see that much solid black in the hackle, you know that's what happened with yours. Yep, you'll have to incubate some eggs, LOL.

 

[rancher hicks]

I can't post pics but I have some Dels (hatchery) that are laying pink eggs. Anyone know why? I hve some (not hatchery that I know of) who lay nice sized speckled eggs. Why? Some chicks I hatched had greenish legs, Why? Should I cull them? I have one who is laying enormous eggs, the shells of which are not normal. Why? I can't hatch any of hers and I don't know which she is anyhow. Should I just hatche the speckled eggs? My roo is big but two out of four hens don't seem to be attended. Why? I've been checking for fertilization and I dont' see enough for my satisfatction. I will say that for 7mos old hens they are laying decent sized eggs.
My orps,glw, slw, aus, and marans aren't as big yet. 23 hens, 7 Dels, 2 roos one Del and one bantam friz.
I alos have 3 cm hens and a roo but they came seperate and stay to themselves.
Any serious breeders who might have some Dels eggs or chicks or a nice hens or roo for sale keep my e-mail. NY state could use some. My birds are friendly even the roo. Not overly so but I like them. oh and 2 of the non hatchery have white legs are they just faded?

 

[speckledhen]

The normal Delaware egg is a definite peachy/pinky tan color. Some really do look pink! So that is fine. The greenish legs you mentioned are really a dusky yellow, which do appear greenish in certain lights, a common trait to cull for-legs should be very yellow, but I myself have a couple whose legs aren't the perfect color. Yes, they do fade to white as they lay more and more eggs, which is normal. Your rooster must just have some favorites and be ignoring others.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Cynthia, you are such a wealth of information on Delawares! Thank you so much!

Will you come hold my hand when I tell my husband I want an incubator for Christmas?