Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

Tried to get pics of Gracie, but couldn't get great ones. She and Riley, the barred EE, are always together, so Riley is in almost every picture of Gracie. Riley is 22 weeks and Gracie is 20.

To show how these pullets evolve with their tail color sometimes. I think the extensive barring in Gracie's tail in the pic below, taken at 13 weeks, is due to Isaac's very dark tail barring and his influence. Now, as you saw in the top pics, the barred feathers have molted out and she has nice tail black.

 

[joletabey]

Riley is picture worthy!!! I don't mind seeing another pretty bird. Gracie sure looks good.

Come on, Gracie, you got your tail feathers! Let's Lay Cyn your first egg!!!
Maybe she is waiting for it to be a Christmas present?

I do have a question on hens molting out the barring - what age? Since I am heading into the coldest part of winter, do you think my babies will wait till spring?Or is this tail thing a small, ongoing molt as they grow?

 

[speckledhen]

The tail thing is subtle. Suddenly, one day, the last two barred feathers were gone and her tail looked white, unless you really looked beneath the outer ones and could see the tail black coming in. That was maybe three weeks ago, not sure. So, between 15 and 20 weeks, I'd say, they should be molting out the few barred feathers. I posted the 13 week picture to show that this breed is hard to cull too early. Gracie isn't as chunky as I would like at the moment, however, she will fill out as she begins laying.

 

[joletabey]

I just took some shots in the new brooder - no more Rubbermaid Palace - it's now the Plywood Palace for a few more weeks - until Superchick is caught up - then they move into the Dellie Digs and the great outdoors.

I may need DH to help me transfer the pics to the computer, BUT I have some great back shots of the more wildly marked ones for everyone to see and hopefully comment on. I tried to get Buckshot's little comb, and a good one of Superchick so you can see, but who knows if they will be clear. These kids move so darn fast!!!

I see what you mean, Cyn, about waiting - if it took that long for Gracie, I will hold my horses.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
He coos and bonds with all of them then he ignores the girls when they present themselves as girls

Although I do catch him talking to Cannonball and playing with her on ocassion. hahahahaha

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Wow, that is such a change. Thank you for the pictures Cynthia, it helps me understand much better. Your EE is big! And handsome. I can see why Gracie likes him.

Gracie is beautiful.

Oh gosh, this is a delayed post because I got the ok from the DH to go buy a incubator that I found on Craigslist. I is....drum roll...

a never been used Humidaire cabinet style incubator! I still have to go get it out of the car! I am so excited

 

[speckledhen]

Congrats on the new bator! Oh, Riley is a pullet and she should be laying her first green egg very soon, from the looks of her face and comb. She's a chunky girl, being 1/2 BR and 1/2 blue Ameraucana.

 

[joletabey]

Congratulations on the 'bator, Rustyswoman!!! You will have fun!

Cetawin, tell your husband that "he-- hath no fury like a Dellie scorned", and he should watch out for what the rejected girls might do to his phone bill! Of course, that may be better than what my DH has been up to. . . .looking for rejectable roos and licking his chops. . . .EEEEK!

Riley is lovely, glad she is a she and please post a pic of the first egg, Cynthia, hers and Gracie's both - I will be curious to see size of first eggs!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Ok....my turn

Here is my "group of 13 heathens" that were hatched from Cyn's Issac and his girls and my Pepper and Lil Bit

Here is Allie, the pullet I hatch from a "fertility test hatch" of Issac and the girls (I hatched 2 but one was a roo...he is now down in Acworth, Ga). She is 18 weeks old and really needs to be introduced to the "big girls" but I hate the thought of her getting picked on while the pecking order is established.

Here is Lil Bit (the original pullet I got from Cyn...not an APA std bird, but a real sweetheart)

Finally, here is Pepper, the original roo I got from Cyn. He too is not a "typey" bird, but he is MY buddy. He comes running anytime he hears my voice....and he is REALLY good with the girls too.

Scott

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Those are really good looking Dels! The first pullet has great coloring!