Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Yard full o' rocks]

Shelley, this being "unemployed" bit has REALLY stunk. My wife is sooooo ready for me to go back to work. I am high energy!! and need plenty of things to do. Problem is, without $$ coming in, can't even enjoy doing projects/ working around the house as we are only spending what we HAVE to.

I have always been employed since I was 15 yrs old and this has been the weirdest experience. Fortunately we were financially prepared

 

[E.G.Glayer]

Tacey; I got these dels from Mcmurray last Feb. I was intially worried reading about hatchery stock but I got lucky I guess. I have some eggs in the bator now, 1st hatch. Have 33 eggs some dels and mutts, dont know yet how many of each but will soon find out. I have 18 hens to 1 Radar but he seems to be making his rounds because every egg that I have cracked open to eat has been fertile so I hope that wont be an issue with the hatch.

joletabey; Thanks for the compliments, yes they are really friendly birds, the rest of the flock is fairly friendly as well and lots of folks say that when they stop in and see them. They cant believe how people friendly they are. I must admit though between my wife, kids and myself they had to be friendly because we spent so much time with them. They are still laying pretty good, I cant say specifically what the dels do as they are not separated but with 18 layers I get between 9-15 eggs per day with no extra lighting except a red heat lamp I turn on when it gets below 20 degrees. They were hatched on 2-21-09 and to date I have gotten 2178 eggs (give or take few) counting the small starter eggs at the beginning. We track them every day. I think that is about a 23 egg average per month per hen. The numbers might not be great but they are comparable to what I've gotten in the past.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Yard full o' rocks :

Shelley, this being "unemployed" bit has REALLY stunk. My wife is sooooo ready for me to go back to work. I am high energy!! and need plenty of things to do. Problem is, without $$ coming in, can't even enjoy doing projects/ working around the house as we are only spending what we HAVE to.

I have always been employed since I was 15 yrs old and this has been the weirdest experience. Fortunately we were financially prepared

My other half has been laid off since last April...and I am "sooooo ready" for him to go to work and get out of the house! Trying to homeschool our 4 year old is difficult when my son constantly has his "play buddy" around!

Best of luck to you, yfor...I sincerely hope something comes through for you.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Geez...where is everybody this morning?

 

[speckledhen]

 

[shelleyb1969]

Good morning, Cyn!

 

[joletabey]

ShelleyB- well I was here, and then I went and fed 6 cats, 2 dogs, three horses, 15 chickens, cleaned three stalls, and started to rip up part of the rose garden for a place to eventually put a small coop and run for Ultrasuede when he is all grown up and ready for some ladies- which I will have to raise, etc., etc. I decided I needed some breakfast, and to check in here again! MMMMM- coffee with whipped cream- except I am still flying from this morning,so I better get the decaf out.

Scott- prayers for you! I hope it went well. Let us know! I have worked since I was a teenager, too, and being laid off to two days a week is - well- honestly? Like a vacation and I love it- but thank the Lord my DH has a good job! Or I'd be out there hunting with you!

E.G.Layer- that is LOT of eggs. Sounds like you have a great flock - do you sell the extras? Gosh, mine aren't anywhere near laying and I have all sorts of people winking at me for the extras this spring -

Cynthia, how is Kira this morning?I have not checked into any other threads -

I had a little lap sitting session this morning- I tried rubbing ear lobes and wattles, and just got looked at like I was some sort of sicko....maybe that takes time, too. I never realized before what long, supple necks live chickens have - wow- talk about stretch!

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
Good MORNING all!!!!!!!!!

And here are some of the promised photos including my oooober smutty boys and Toad the part blueish partridgey pullet...

The big ones, got some nice width to them, are about 12 weeks, the thin ones are either from the hatchery dels or are younger birds. Few markings means they're from the hatcherydel moms. And Toad (last three pics) is a mix, I think or from the one hatchery del with some red smut on her wings. Be hard to tell but she's HUGE so she stays. The actually BLUE hen in either these or the next pics is my little blue rock love, Rythm in Blue. I didn't have them labeled at upload so it's a bit chaotic passing on links LOL.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Good Morning everybody! Sorry to be gone but the DH is needing a little extra TLC He is missing me and I am on here too much during the weekends and nights. So I need to spend a little more time with him and just pop in during the weekends.
I don't mind except that I get to missing all of you!
All the Dels are great, healthy and happy. They are by far the most social, want to be around people and into anything that they think they may be missing out on.
I find it hard to believe all the different personalities of chickens! Each breed is different. Some shy, some flighty, some curious, some calm, so onry, some sweet...
But the Dels are just the clowns of the bunch, always underfoot and wanting my attention like a three year old. I love it though. Where I go, they go.
I have come to carrying scratch with me as a protectant. When it gets too bad I throw a bit of scratch so I can make a break for it.
Yes, that is reinforcing that behaviour but if I don't it takes forever to get back to the house because they walk in front of me and all around my feet and don't move hardly at all. So here I am trying to step inbetween bodies--and then they get the others over there and I am stuck. I have never been so wanted in all my life.

Scott--best wishes to you, you're in my prayers. When the right one comes along you will get it.

Cynthia, I am so glad Kira is feeling better-do you think it was the amoxicillian that did it?

LadyHawk, I am so excited to get your mocassins and the baby mocassins. Are you minus a guest yet?

Beth--such a nice piece of sunshine you are in the morning.

Shelley--I want the Fav in your Avatar. He is gorgeous. I have some Fav's but mine are standard and not all grown up yet. I got them for the Roos because they just make you want to sit and look at them for hours with all those colors.

Tacey--you really need some of these Dels. You will fall in love with them.

And to all I missed...Good Morning!

 

[joletabey]

Walkswithdog- are the 6th and 7th pics from the bottom the same roo? The first roo looks nice, too, is that the same? Looks like a great comb and great tail barring! They are really nice chunky birds- I am not sure I see anything thin in there. The last pictures of the cross- that is pretty , pretty hen. How on earth did she get a name like Toad?