Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[shelleyb1969]

Good morning, everyone!

It's a beautiful day in Del-ville!

I have Bill Braden's website if anyone wants it and can't find it. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post it in the thread, though.

I'm in contact with Sand Hill about their Delawares. Mr. Drowns has been breeding the Delaware since 1989 and has infused several strains into his line for improvement. I'm seriously considering getting some of his Delawares just to see how they are.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Quote:
Well, that's the plan for next year's winter quarters. The DH never wanted chickens, but there are little drawings all over the house of a double coop with outlets for the nest box heaters and roost warmers and ceramic lamps in the "coop" area. He states he wants the "coop" to stay about 40F and they can play in the colder unheated area on better days. I have to keep reminding him of the need for ventilation, he wants to make it very tight. He really feels for those boys who are losing their comb points.

Same guy didn't want cats but has a heated "cat hut" set up in the garage. The cats at least are smart enough to spend time in it when it is cold.

Any way, that's why I am still looking at Dellies. But for their own good, I will need to see construction under way before I buy them. So maybe it is good I have to wait for June. {sigh}

 

[speckledhen]

Beth, my Ellie and Georgie have a bit of the lacing on the feather tips in addition to the barring. It's not unusual. Isaac doesn't have any of that. My goal was to concentrate on picking the very best rooster I could get out of both hatches; Isaac turned out much larger and with a spectacular comb in comparison to Jake, from the first batch. In fact, I rejected about 15 to get to Isaac.
I had only five girls other than L'il Bit, who is owned by Scott now. I kept every one of them, though Maxie has very little color at all on her. Both Janet and I wondered what would happen when Kira, who was Jake's half sister and had a not-great comb, was bred to Ike. Ike's influence won out with Gracie's comb, which is very nice, so it does take two to make a chick. What one lacks, the other can make up for. All my girls have good body type and size, which is paramount with just about any breed.

 

[joletabey]

Cyn, that is good to know- as I have one hen with some slight lacing-but these two roos have it quite heavily, which is why I was asking if that ever molted out. At this point, body type is all pretty comparable, there are slight size differences as to who is larger, and in that area I know I need to wait a lot longer to see what happens. I do love Gracie- I think she is just the prettiest thing!

Don't let Cetawin sneak off with her!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Mornin' everybody!!

Still cold here, but only a THIN layer of ice in everyone's water bowls this AM....headed for the 50s later this week, yeah!!!

All of my baby Del girls are still doing well, even Sweet Pea, my little dwarf chick. For such a little thing she sure makes a LOT of noise.

I stuck 4 of L'il Bit and Peppers eggs in the 'bator yesterday. I am incubating a test/fertility check batch of my Blue Rock Roo over my BBS and Barred rock hens, so I put all the Del eggs I had on the counter in there too (Kathy is a bad influence...."hatching queen"). My rock girls are suddenly laying like it was springtime. Getting 6-8 a day from 14 pullets that just started laying at the beginning of the month. Can't imagine what springtime will be like.

Pepper and his girls were sure glad to free range yesterday after being keep in the coop/run for the few days of snow/ice we had here. But BOY are they nasty looking today. Looks like they found a mud puddle to play in yesterday!!!! L'il Bits chest is "Georgia clay colored"...not white at all.

Hope everyone is well.

PS - headed to Las Vegas, then California for 2nd/3rd/etc interviews on Feb 3-5. Hoping by early next month to have an offer I can live with!!

TTYL

 

[joletabey]

Yardfull- you caught the fever!!!!

Good luck on those interviews- we'll be thinking of you- but don't get so busy you can't post pics of cute little chickie babies!

 

[speckledhen]

Scott, it's snowing up here and sticking. The temp is dropping, too, rather than going up, and the wind is picking up. We put everyone back in the coops since I saw snow sticking to their feathers-don't want a bunch of damp birds in there in this cold!


Beth, whether the lacing molts out or not, only time will tell. I'd say it probably won't, but you really never know with Delawares! I just caught Gracie laying an egg. It's such a beautiful little egg, too.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Cyn...it snowed here for about an hour earlier and quit. Hope it does the same up there!!

My birds are truly "chickens"....if it starts snowing, they head to the coop. They would play all day in the rain, wind, etc....that "white stuff" freaks them out

Its funny to watch them....

 

[joletabey]

Cynthia, you tell that good little Gracie girl how perfect she is. . . hmmm...an egg plus snow= TREAT TIME!!! !

I have my doubts about those hackle feathers changing, too, so just to make room, I may let those two boys go fairly soon- the other ones, including Buckshot, have better markings, no black on the beak and better combs at this point - I don't mean to be antsy, but space is an issue, especially since I need to build a home and get a harem for Ultrasuede!

It is colder today than yesterday, with just a little dusting- tomorrow is supposed to be better and Thursday and Friday better yet - so hang on Scott, Cyn and all the chickens! I always await spring, pawing at the ground, but this spring will be way more welcome than most.

 

[kathyinmo]

Scott,
The way I see it ... just leave that Sportsman plugged in! You just never know ... someone might need chicks! I threw in some of my Silkie eggs, since it is running for my secret eggs, and am expecting some eggs in the mail this week. (I'm hatching Orps that originate from Bamachicken, for a friend at work, won on the 24 hour auction thread last night). Then, soon, I will have Buckeyes from James to hatch. And then ...... <<<off to build more coops>>>

So, Beth, you are gonna start culling now. I keep looking at the chicks, and I just can't see past their sweet temperament. DH was out there yesterday, and one immediately climbed up on his boot. So, DH kept raising up his foot, and lowering it ... like a ride at the county fair... and the chick just stayed right there, enjoing the attention! LOL I am getting excited, seeing them grow!

I hope I get a majestic, regal looking roo out of the bunch!