Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[joletabey]

Kathyinmo,
mine vary like that, too, Speckledhen says the ones with heavier markings as chicks usually have good markings as adults, but I don't know if she means heavy like these, or if these are too heavy. I got home tonight and it seems like the combs have really popped out on some of them -DH and I tried to count roos -what I noticed is that most of the ones we think are pullets are more lightly marked.

 

[kathyinmo]

Here are some I took yesterday, of the markings ...

This is Midge, tonight. She is a frightful mess! I have watched and watched, and I swear there is no one picking at her. I think she is preening herself into this mess! I am giving her vitamins and extra protein. I do see growth, but ...????

Isn't she a mess? !

She is always preening:

See her in the background ... again, preening!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh, I love the pics you two! Joletabey, I copy and paste the bottom rectangle onto my post and then I hit enter once or twice to start a new line. Then copy and paste again....
Kathy, here I go to check on the babies. I hope I don't make the dog bark.

It is confusing isn't it all the markings. Some are fairly obvious but others just make my eyes cross looking at all those spots and combs.

When I was switching them around today to the garage I tried to check the first six and finally gave up. It seems like I have a higher percentage of roos.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
OK, I'm back ... cold out there ... they seem to be doing ok (without me!) ... 31 degrees.
How's your's Germaine?

I think I have about 1/2 roos. I am thinking 6 roos and 7 pullets. I will need another week to be sure though, I believe.

Tootsie is back in the foot brace ... errr, stylish shoe on one foot! I believe Tootsie is a roo. So cool too ... looks short and stocky; reminds me of a guy I went to school with! LOL Anyway, Tootsie is very broad (and thick legged).

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Oh my gosh Kathy!!! It is so cold out there. I checked the weather forcast and it is 3 degrees out there!!! And the high today (Wed) is going to be 19!!!! What on earth is going on here lately. Tomorrow is going to be the same and then hopefully back into the mid to high 30's with lows of mid 20's.

On the bright side, the Dels are doing fine in the garage. It isn't heated, but I have two lights on them and then 1 light on the quail. They were all just kicking back and looked at me as if to say, "What are you doing at this time of night in here, and close the door, were you born in a barn? HeHeHe no we were!"

I do not want to see my power bill this month. Uggggg.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I'm so glad they are doing ok! They really are hardy, aren't they! I noticed that in my group (JGiants, BCMarans, Lavender Orps, etc) the Delawares were more often away from the heat light than all the rest.

Power bill .... NOOOOO ... (cringe!) ... I have 7 heat lamps on, and the incubator going all the time! LOL ...

My husband had an on the job injury a couple months ago, and never turned it in. Finally it has gotten so bad, and I nagged long enough, he finally did turn it in. He works on the UPrailroad. MRI showed nerve damage, and Dr said, "frozen shoulder." Anyway, he got disciplined. 35 years on the railroad without an injury (blah blah blah) ... so, he had to take a week off with no pay. Great timing, huh? LOL Well, I look at the positive side of it. It's so darn cold out there, and he travels (working in Colorado now), I'm glad he's home safe and sound, and warm!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am sorry about your husbands injury. That is terrible that they would treat a valued (?) employee like that after 35 years! He has got to be so upset about that. A week off without pay, good heavens!

Tell him to enjoy his time off and you two go have some fun! Might as well make the best of a ridiculous situation!

Interesting about the Dels and the lights. And yes with 7 lamps on....I have 5. Are we crazy or what? Well I had better get to bed, I only got up because I was worried about the babies in the garage. Now that I know just how cold it is out there I am even more worried!

 

[joletabey]

Well, if I had known you two were up checking all night, I would have joined in - the wind here is SO fiercely cold and horrible, and I got up three times to see if my kids were warm- at the worst of it, the brooder thermometer was reading 69 and they were NOT huddled up under the light. Mine, too, looked at me as if to say "Mom, go to bed, we're fine".From the start, they have seemed to be fine with cooler temps than the recommended ones. Some tough little chicks!

I have a Messy Midge, too, almost looks frizzled - I have no idea why, either.

Anyway, I think I have 6 pullets and 11 roos. I am hoping desperately that I am very wrong about that roo count. . . . DH and I both think Ultrasuede is a roo - thick, thick legs and a comb coming along nicely, so will be in the market for a BBS hen or two for him - but, again, I could be wrong!!!!

Thanks for the tips on multiple pics - Rustyswoman, I will try that!

Kathyinmo - I am so sorry to hear about your husband - what a stinky thing to do!!! A nasty way for the company to try to save some money. . . . . but I agree with Rustyswoman - take it as a gift and enjoy- and if it keeps him warm and SAFE in all the nasty weather, it's a blessing.

I just got partially laid off- down from five days a week to two, but I figure it gives me time to clean, decorate for Christmas and play with my Dels! And hang out here. . .

 

[speckledhen]

Now, that Midge is very strange! Genes are such mysterious things, aren't they? Never had one feather out weird like that! I think she is preening because she itches. That really looks itchy! From what, I'm not sure.

The markings that go down the center of the back, from the hackles, flowing down the shoulder area and onto the back usually mean male. The markings on the wings will fade out, but the ones with alot of smut usually have good coloring as adults, though it varies a bit.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I was thinking the same thing Cynthia. Midge seems "itchy" for some reason.
I was picturing one of those restraint collars they put on dogs to stop scratching. I doubt if it would work but the mental picture was kind of funny.

Joletabey, one really good thing about all those Roos is that you have a much better chance of getting a really great Roo out of all of them. More to pick from!

My chicks from you Cynthia are so sweet. Mine don't try to climb up my arm yet, but they are the only chicks ever who stand there and expect me to scratch their chests! They all run up and just wait, patiently for the most part. Then they come back for more. I love it!