Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[5pugs]

Well I thought I would post a video of our coop we just finished yesterday. We got these birds from Deldels and they are doing great. They are 1/2 Delaware and 1/2 Delaware recreation. Hopefully we can get some whole Delawares with some work, lol.
We have some worries about the many predators around our place, so I did my best to secure the run. Lots of racoons, Cooper's hawk, red shoulder hawks and foxes.
Hope you like it.

 

[Jake Levi]

Very nice !!


How soon can you move it to Northern MI ??

To add to your list of predators I have to add Owls and Coyotes.

So they are covered and stout, but each breed gets a day out to roam and range but, confined at night. Has to be.

I havent, yet, been troubled by either Weasels or Fishers. But am aware that we are in their territory.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Ahhh the Delaware thread! Yay! So I think this might be a better place to ask this question... I am starting to question whether my pullet is actually a cockerel... She/he is about 6 weeks (maybe a little older.) I have seen pictures of hens with rather large combs, so I am really confused. It has definitely matured a lot faster than my other birds, but two other breeds of mine haven't been too far behind. It only matters because I can't keep a roo in my area. I LOVE this bird and don't want to have to get rid of it. Thoughts???

This was taken today:



This was a couple of weeks ago:

Most definitely a cockerel you will not see a comb like this till right before point of lay 4-4.5 mos. on a pullet. even at around 12 weeks old the comb will still be small and pinkish on a pullet even his head shows boy to me.

Jeff

 

[farminbigs]

Thanks, I'm sad. I really love this bird.

 

[meimalley]

I have 10 chicks from Sandhill that are about 10 weeks old. It's pretty clear at this point who is who. The cockerels already have red combs and-what do you call them?--waddles, that were developing from a young age. My pullets just have very small, pinkish combs, and since they are already older than yours, I think you have a cockerel, too. Below a pictures of a pullet and cockerel, respectively.

Mei

 

[meimalley]

On another note, I have a question about the aforementioned cockerels. They are 10 weeks old. They've started posturing/sparring with one another, and the heaviest is 2.8# as of yesterday. I have read to wait until they are at least 4-5 pounds to butcher them (and when I pick them up, their legs are clearly not meaty enough to pass for a proper drumstick. To those of you that have more experience, when I can expect to butcher these boys? Any tips on fattening them up? They free range in the garden and have been eating organic starter feed from Cashton Farms. They eat a lot of greens and catch bugs, and I've also been giving them treats like yogurt, sweet corn, and fruit. Is there something I should be doing differently?

 

[meimalley]

I have 10 chicks from Sandhill that are about 10 weeks old. It's pretty clear at this point who is who. The cockerels already have red combs and-what do you call them?--waddles, that were developing from a young age. My pullets just have very small, pinkish combs, and since they are already older than yours, I think you have a cockerel, too. Below a pictures of a pullet and cockerel, respectively.

Mei

Can you see the pictures? Sorry.. I'm new, so I'll try posting them again.

 

[5pugs]

Very nice !!


How soon can you move it to Northern MI ??

To add to your list of predators I have to add Owls and Coyotes.

So they are covered and stout, but each breed gets a day out to roam and range but, confined at night. Has to be.

I havent, yet, been troubled by either Weasels or Fishers. But am aware that we are in their territory.

We have owls as well. No weasels around here though.
The run is 225 square feet for the 7 to roam around in.

 

[EggieRowe]

Can you see the pictures? Sorry.. I'm new, so I'll try posting them again.

Pretty babies!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

On another note, I have a question about the aforementioned cockerels. They are 10 weeks old. They've started posturing/sparring with one another, and the heaviest is 2.8# as of yesterday. I have read to wait until they are at least 4-5 pounds to butcher them (and when I pick them up, their legs are clearly not meaty enough to pass for a proper drumstick. To those of you that have more experience, when I can expect to butcher these boys? Any tips on fattening them up? They free range in the garden and have been eating organic starter feed from Cashton Farms. They eat a lot of greens and catch bugs, and I've also been giving them treats like yogurt, sweet corn, and fruit. Is there something I should be doing differently?

I'd wait until they were between 5-7 months. I feed mine FF, plus they are all outside. They are growing fast.