Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[joletabey]

Well, the wind is CRAZY here, and the electricity went off for over an hour - I am SO glad I wrapped insulation around that brooder - and I am proud to report my Del babies took the loss of their lighting rather calmly- there were a few anxious chirps, and then they settled in to wait -
No one got cold- in spite of the wind it is almost 60 here, and they were fine. So they got chopped up hardboiled egg for being troopers in an emergency!


Would Midge be itching just from feathering in? Some dogs and horses are bothered more by losing and gaining seasonal coats than others, so could she just be sensitive?

Or vain?

 

[speckledhen]

She could be itching, but she may have inherited some type of slow feathering gene that was floating aroung in the pool. If she is generally healthy, there's no real reason to be concerned.

 

[kathyinmo]

Call me crazy, but I swear Midge looks better today. I moved the others outside yesterday. Could that have made a difference? One day? I dunno, but she is not preening as much today. I was about ready to construct one of those dog collars in mini form to prevent preening! LOL I also thought about an Aveeno bath! I didn't follow up with that one, because I knew she would want the full spa treatment with the jaccuzi and massage, too!

Ya know what else ... I think with the vitamins and protein, she is catching up with the others, sizewise. She is growing. Maybe she just needed a boost.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
WOW, they really are hardy! Isn't this winter weather just the pits? I'm glad they made it through the power outage ok.

I got back from Iowa just in the nick of time. Last night they closed down the interstate that is the route I take. Family in Iowa are reporting snow, ice, winds, and general misery! We have cold, no snow currently. It is only 16 right now. Of course I moved the chicks outside and now it is the coldest day we have had! Geeezzzz, worry, worry, worry!

 

[speckledhen]

I moved my very first flock out to the coop at the end of February several years ago. They were 4 weeks old, in an 8x8 insulated coop, with one 125 watt heat lamp suspended 2 ft above the floor. The temps dropped down to 12 degrees one night just afterward and they did just fine. None were Delawares, but if they don't have drafts at floor level and plenty of deep bedding, they'll do great, Kathy.

 

[joletabey]

Kathyinmo, wow, you did get back just in time! I keep wondering if this is going to be an especially nasty winter all year?

I do think these Dels are VERY hardy little critters - I guess, unless the power goes out entirely, I am going to quit worrying so much - they are most certainly out of a draft, and they keep scratching holes in the bedding down to the wood. . . . .I guess their little chickie brains have their own ideas of comfort!

We'll see if I can manage to not freak tonight!

 

[delawaregirl09]

Oh my! Chilly nillies! My 8 week olds are doing pretty good. Deep bedding, heat lamp. They really dont need it, but theres a couple I worry about since they seem to be slower than the others.

Kathy, thats odd about Midge. Maybe being outside will help

Best of luck!

I hope everyone is staying warm in this cold weather. The wind last night here in Norman was horrible, and it was 27 all day it seemed, plus the wind chill. All my birds are doing good, I just have one little ole' problem. Rooster combs. I put Petroleum jelly on them last night, and boy are they dirty today, but I dont know what else to do.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Mind control stuff going on there gal...watch that one. Seen that look before here....it preceeds trouble.


I have two of these set up in the garage with 4 EE crosses in one and my 2 Dellies and 2 Suede babies in the other....each has a enclosed coop area and nest box. My plan is to put plywood around all of the hardwire cloth areas and completely enclose it for winter....then I will put both of them outside in my fenced garden area for the winter...they can have a lower watt heat bulb in there to make sure they are at least 40 degrees at night. Each one is a hair over 19 sq ft of floor space plus the enclose coop and nest box area.

 

[kathyinmo]

Current temperature here .... 9 degrees. Brrrrrrr.

Cetawin .... that is a very nice set up you have there! How old are yours that you are gonna put in there? Babies? I didn't realize you had chicks. They should be quite comfortable in there!

 

[joletabey]

Cetawin,
Those are beautiful! And I think that would be great to put them in the garden.
Yeah, mind control, no kidding. . . . .
I have to finish a run in the next two weeks, and then see if mine can handle indoor/outdoor conditions once they know the coop is "home" It can get very sunny and warm during the days-