Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Germaine_11.20]

Hi Laney, chances are that it is just membrane stuff over the eye. But if it is only one eyed yes you probably shouldn't breed it. But on the bright side they capture your heart. The handicapped ones are more needy and therefore more reliant on you. I have one hen who is now completly blind. And of course my favorite. I get to carry her around and get her special feed.
She can listen to the others (I have her in a small easy to access pen) and find the food and water. She is about 30 weeks now and a sweetie. She hasn't laid yet and I don't know if she ever will but that's ok with me.

Shirly--those are great nest boxes, did you make them? And your Dels look so cute in them! I love Stu too. I have White Rocks and they fit in well with the Dels. And those are great pictures. I wish I could get mine to turn out like that.

Speaking of Dels...those little imps!!! Now they have decided they should be allowed in the house

They followed me all the way to the front door, up the steps and I had to quickly close the door before they got in. The stinkers!! So now I have to look first to see which door to sneak out of.

Cetawin, that would be mind control right? I haven't got the mocassins yet but ohhhhh I am wanting them. Maybe today.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Good morning everyone!

It's bright and sunny here today and all the birds are loving it.

Prince has already brought his harem outside and they're dust bathing in the sun right now. I could just sit and watch them all day.

 

[TimG]

My Delaware chicks at 14 weeks.

I have four pullets.

One of which is as white as I've seen a Delaware:

And here is my cockerel, at least I think it is a cockerel -- he has not started crowing and I thought he was a pullet until recently when his comb started to get bigger and brighter than the pullets' combs and he developed more color in the tail and neck.

I don't think the coloring in the tail feathers is what one wants to see in a Delaware -- more barring (yes, there is some in there) is desirable, right? But, I also understand that Delawares tend to not show their true coloring for a while.

Some of you know that my interest in Delawares is primarily as a potential dual purpose bird, so I am more interested in size than conformation to a standard. These guys are nothing special in the size department, so I will likely look for new stock if I am going to experiment with Delawares. But, I am happy to have four pullets that should be good layers.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Hi TimG!

As for barring in the tailfeathers, you do want it in the roosters, but not the hens. And yes, it takes quite some time (after 1st molt) for Delawares to show their "permanent" color pattern. I had a pullet that started out solid white...when she was about 4 months old she started to get the barring where she needed it. And she hasn't been through her first molt, so she's still got some changes to make as well. Best of luck with your program.

 

[speckledhen]

Bet that white pullet will get more tail black later, but I do have one hen who is mostly white, too. My youngest girl didn't really show her tail black till she was about 16 weeks old. At first, every tail feather was barred, then those molted out and her tail was white, but slowly, the black came in. She has very nice tail black now.

You want ALL barring in the tail with the males, ideally, no solid black. My Ike has one of the darker tails, but every feather is barred, though it's hard to see in photographs.

 

[joletabey]

Tim, I have one girl that is pretty white, too. I am patiently waiting on them all to get through this first teener molt, and then see what happens after that. I want all my girls for layers, too, and will pick out the best of them for breeding.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
It is mind control. LOL what the heck...why aren't they there yet? grrrrrrrrrr


Laney I would keep little one too...see what happens because one eye will not hinder her as a layer but if it is a roo and they eye is not functioning or missing, then I would cull. Maybe...probably...

 

[speckledhen]

Sometimes, the nictating membrane will stick closed, it seems.

I find that I will not have any room for my Delaware eggs that I collected in the bator, so I put 10 of them, plus BRs and EEs (Ike over blue/splash Amer) as an auction for pickup only, 24 eggs in all. Might be a chance for someone to hatch them some Dels.

 

[kathyinmo]

I am interested in proper nutrition for our Delawares (and other poultry, of course). Have you been reading these threads, on the topics of protein and soy products? They are very interesting! Excellent threads, in my opinion!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=286598&p=1

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=285318&p=1

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Quote:
Did you get the "test bator" Cyn??

What all did you start?