Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Germaine_11.20]

You're moving on April Fools Day LadyHawk?

 

[joletabey]

Dearest Cetawin, I think once my SUV hits the Mississippi it goes on auto pilot to NC- but then it wouldn't be my fault if all your lovelies ended up at my place, would it? Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!
(forget it, Kathy, I been working hard on this. . . .

)

An April 1 move date- boy does that leave doors open for some interesting. . . .happenings.....
I don't doubt you are dreaming. I think we are going to all have to send some positive vibes and prayers your way - sound sleep, keeping what sanity you have, giving Severus and Fattie to Beth, etc.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Of course it would be a Delaware girl ( I only have 2 out of 18 hens) that would be the most popular one in the coop. I have to make her a back-saver apron. Poor girl. When I picked her up to check her, she complained a little. ALL the roosters came round to make sure I wasn't hurting their favorite girl.

The boys are also going to get their nails clipped again.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
hahahaha I think not. I shall consider stopping over, letting them stretch their legs and guarding them for a couple of hours.

Rustyswoman, we will be on the road on the 1st. I told DH I REFUSE to get to the house on the 1st. We will stop at truck stop and sleep until mignight if need be but I am not gonna start off on that date.

beth...auto pilot you say. What do you drive...a Cessna? I told you....You can have Sirius and Draco and will throw in Sirius' main gal, Penelope. How's that for a trade? I really do need to find homes or a home for those two boys. They are so sweet but they are together with Severus and Penelope...it is starting to get rough in there several times a day. Boys will be boys.

 

[joletabey]

Joanne- of COURSE a Dellie Darling would win Miss Popularity! Poor girl - glad she gets a little apron. How is the cold up there?

Cetawin, I wish with all my heart I could take some of your roos off your hands, but I have 5 I will have to find new homes for myself!!
And I don't blame you for not wanting April 1 to be "the day".

Kathy and Rustyswoman- how are all your hatches coming along? And how are your Del babies doing?

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Weather man says we are in for another week of below zero. The roost hut thermometer said 24F this morning, and it is colder in the surrounding pole shed area where they like to be. Added more insulation to the roost hut. Checked that both heat lamps are working properly. Got out more corn for them to increase their body temperature. Dellies wanted the sprouted oats instead (love their greens). Checked the heated dog dishes we use for water. We're doing the best we can but we have to do MUCH better next year. Poor combs and wattles. I LOVE those big single combs and lovely hanging wattles, but they just are not a good thing up here. The birds seem pretty active and healthy, completely unconcerned, but it makes me so sad to see the damage.

The Sons and I tried moving the roosters into the garage, but the DH isn't too happy with that, between the noise, dust and space requirements.

 

[speckledhen]

Joann, the corn increasing body temp is an old myth. If you give them anything to digest at roost time, it may help them stay warmer since their bodies work to digest the feed overnight. It's not the corn, per se. There is a huge thread on it here in BYC somewhere.

I am so ready for spring! We got snow last night (a smidge) and now, of course, it's windy and cold and wet.

 

[joletabey]

Joanne- Ah, yes, I remember Wisconsin winters- they are why I moved!

Although we are not doing so well down here, either- It is in the 20's way too often for me- I am procrastinating putting the 11 week Dellies in the coop. Its not insulated. I can hang a lamp and it will have inches and inches of shavings, but I am wussing out. Once you get past a certain number of chickens, it's pretty hard to keep up with the vaseline on the combs, isn't it?
How did you insulate your roost hut?

 

[speckledhen]

If I lived in a really cold area like you do, I think I'd definitely go for the pea or rose combed breeds or not have chickens at all.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Quote:
Beth.....stop being a wussssss, an over-protective mother, an "old mother hen", etc, etc. My little Del girls have been out in the coop (uninsulated BTW) with no heat lamp for 6-7 weeks (thru the worst of the cold weather even). They are 15 weeks old this Friday and they are going in with Pepper and L'il Bit tonight (praying for a peaceful transition). I was reminded some time ago that chickens were here in like 2000BC (long before electricity). Those babies will be fine.

PS - I do worry sometimes though when its in the teens, but in all seriousness, mine have done just fine