Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[joletabey]

I absolutely adore the total bizarreness of genetics!!! Spot could be "expected" no matter what way you look at it.

I do have to come up with a better name than Spot. Help? He is a feisty little guy- He screams like the Orps when you pick him up, and pecks like crazy if you hold a hand out to him. Looks grumpy or fierce most of the time. I really need to send him to Cheyenne to tame him down. When is her birthday?

 

[speckledhen]

No, Kathy, he's not a cross. Suede is from the Sandhill Preservation lines. All we can figure is that when they crossed in Blue Rocks to offset inbreeding in the Blue Orps way back when, a barring gene got in there accidentally. You can see the barring in his sickle feathers.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Hey, I was wondering, does anyone have any birds from Whitmore Farms? How do they compare to other lines? Any better meat production qualities? Are they pretty? Just ran across them last night when I was looking up info about a breed of rabbit they raise, and noticed they had Dels, too. It's pretty cool how heritage breeds are addictive, huh? (And turning out to be quite profitable for some, apparently!)

Actually, as far as larger producers, what are the different lines known for? The more I spend time with my Dels, the more I like them.

However, I will say, it does not appear that year-old hens adjust to being moved very well! Neither my two girls from MrsDeb or my friend's birds (Ideal stock, bought from someone at a year old,) are laying much, if at all, after several weeks to adjust to their new homes. Actually, my birds layed more the first couple of days I had them than they have since. Can a change in diet through them for a loop? They're on a 16% textured layer ration with free choice oyster shell, but I don't think it's the same one Deb used.

Is this typical, or are we both doing something wrong?!

 

[kathyinmo]

Rachel,
A year ago I got a trio of Cuckoo Marans hens from a friend. They each layed an egg the first day here, and then never again for a full month. I think it was the stress of their move, the heat, change in feed, and their new environment. After that they resumed laying, and rarely missed a day.

Whitmore Farms .... hmmm, seems like someone here has some from there, but I can't remember who. Maybe Jeremy?

 

[speckledhen]

Whitmore Farms is Will Morrow. I think hcammack knows him (Henry). Will started with Dels from Ideal and some hatchery in Alabama. I haven't seen his stock lately that I'm aware of, but I know he's improved on them some from the early beginnings.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Thanks Kathy. That makes me feel much better!

 

[jeremy]

I had considered Dels from Whitmore Farms but decided against getting birds from them. No real reason why.

My lines come from Cyn (Janet Holtman) and Bill Braden, next year I'm looking into adding 2 more different lines.

 

[Gerbil]

They have nice yellow legs! I am so happy!

(It is a horrible pic and It was taken in bad lighting, I will try to get a better one tomorrow.)

 

[kathyinmo]

This morning I was worried about Jacob. Still moping around, even when I let them all out to range. BUT, by midday he was back to his old self! I really think he was depressed! Is that crazy, or what?

Calling the girls:

 

[speckledhen]

I do believe he was depressed. Those Del boys love their women and they also like their freedom.