Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Yard full o' rocks]

Morning all.....I've been crazy busy with this new job. My 4 young Del girls are now all laying daily...and IN THE NEST BOXES (Praise Glory)

L'il Bit and Sasha, my two older girls don't lay worth a flip. Maybe once or twice a week. If we weren't so attached to L'il Bit, she'd need to go somewhere else. But, she was my original pullet from Cyn and 2 of the new girls are her babies....so, I guess she'll live her life out right here. I don't need, nor eat, many eggs anyway. My rocks are giving us WAY more than we can use

Weather here has been nice (especially now that the AC is fixed, LOL) but the pollen is still killin' me. We need about 2 days of rain. Everything here just has a yellow film all over it.

Hope everyone has a great day, I'm off to get more coffee!!

Scott

 

[speckledhen]

Scott, I wonder if L'il Bit's infrequent laying habits have anything to do with her extra small size and other traits that were what made her a cull. Every one of mine is a good layer, so a Delaware who isn't is just odd. I have ones who are more pets than anything else, too, though. My 4 year old Buff Orp, Ginger, hasn't laid an egg in 9-10 months (she's laying internally). She'll never leave here or be culled unless she goes downhill like Ivy has.

Ivy is alive this morning. That girl just hangs on. As Ladyhawk said, she is one tough cookie. I didn't expect her to live two days, but here she is on Day Two since I realized she was in really bad shape. We check on her many times during the day for signs that it's her time.

 

[Cetawin]

Yard Full Of It...how dare you sneak in, post a blip and then run before I can say "HEY!"

On the dentist front, he gave me some pain reliver stuff but wants to let the gum on the right upper heal a bit more (the two I had pulled before I moved from oregon) so I can chew on the right side. He said if he took the two on the left I would not be able to chew at all.

So....we are hanging in there (me and my tooth/teeth).

So, no baking Beth...it is all good.

On the barn status...I scraped roosts again yesterday dn bleached everything a second time...today I am traveling out with hubby to check out Lowes, 84 lumber, TSC, Southern States and a little Mom and Pop feed store I saw yesterday. I need straw and such anyway, so might as well get my food source lined up too. They are down to about 70 lbs of food each (chickens and ducks). I bought 200 lbs before I left on the trip so they would have plenty of their own food for the trip and after...I did not want to just switch them to something new after the stress of the trip.

Cannonball is healing but still fighting with Fattie...I wonder if tehy are fighting over Thor or boredom? Athena remains unscathed so that makes me think it is over Thor...athena could care less about him. LOL Gotta love Blue Orp women, they just do not care about anything but food and looking pretty.

I still have wandering chickens including a big RIR rooster in my yard every day....so, today hubby goes down to chat with the neighbor. I told him I would and he said "No dear let me go because you might lose your temper"...I am looking at him thinking "might?" HA WILL!

I am off to get dressed, head to town to nose around, sign up at my new gym and then steam clean carpets and clean nest boxes. Check in later all have a great day.


PS: Cyn, I am sorry Ivy has not passed on her own

I sure hope she does or she bounces back, I just do not want Tom to have to help her. I know he loves those girls and it is hard on him.

 

[crazyhen]

Good morning,
wow! what a beautiful day.

My broodie is definitely set.

Today I will move her to a broodie area and if she still sets I'll be emailing Scott. Scott those rocks of yours sound super too. Maybe a mixed dozen of rocks and dels would be better for me. How much is the shipping on the dozen to 28734. Pm me.
I will be gone most of the day. Dr. appt. not severe just nec.
Cyn, I am so sorry about Ivy. They quickly become part of our family and worm their ways into our hearts. I have some that are almost 3 years now my first ones. I would hate to lose them too.
Cetawin , hope all is well and you are getting those garish colors painted over. They sure can influence your moods can't they. Have you got the neighbor problem straight yet? Have a great day everyone. Gloria jean

 

[zephyrcreek]

I've noticed that Gonzo my Del roo has been acting a little strange with me the past few days, basically lighly pecking at my bum while I'm crouched down in the Del pen. I've been starting to get a little concerned that he was starting to show "agressive" behavior as he has never pecked at me before. Today when it happened I glanced out of the corner of my eye and caught him with one wing dropped down and performing the "mating dance" FOR ME. YOWSER.

That was not expected to say the least.

Kermy is still doing well with all the little ones. He has earned a home here for life. All the babies were snuggled up against and under him again last night. It sure is a sight to behold. I wish I could get good pictures, but they are in a chicken tractor, and being a good daddy he keeps them in the back at night.

What good little Dellie's I have.

 

[speckledhen]

I think Gonzo needs a little "aversion therapy". I never let my roosters dance for me--it brings me down to their level, IMO. When it's happened in the past, I've scooped the bad boy up, told him I'm not one of his women (like he gets that

), and carried him around, showing him to the other roosters. They are not happy about that. The last one that danced for me, my first Delaware cockerel, became stew when dancing turned to flogging. Now, once after I'd been away from Isaac for a few days, he saw me, ran to me and started to drop his wing, then remembered his manners. He seemed very happy to see me after my absence so I forgave him and he hasn't done that since. He's my buddy.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:
That is so sweet!

Makes me more impatient.

 

[Kanthaka]

Myself and Mary Delawary!

 

[zephyrcreek]

Quote:
I had to laugh Cyn because that is exactly what I did. I picked him up and very firmly scolded him on his manners. I then carried him around the rest of the time I was outside. As much as I wanted to laugh, we always need to reinforce that we are top of the pecking order. Does not matter if it's a cute little puppy, and 1000# horse, or an overly amorous roo. I scolded him the day before this behavior started, and took away his "buddy" Kermy. I almost wonder if it was his way of making "nice" with me.

 

[joletabey]

Welcome, Kanthaka! How many Dels do you have? That is a cute name for your hen-I like the rhyme. This is a great bunch of people, you will have fun here!

Zephyr and Cynthia- Luke does the little wingthing dance with me once in a while- I usually just have to say his name in a menacing tone of voice, and he stops. He sometimes pecks at my feet if I go out just before it's time for them to go in the coop- like he doesn't want to be rushed, or picked up and put in there. Last night I had to walk around with him upside down for a while - BUT if I stay away till they are all in the coop he is fine. I think we have found our balance? Hoping so, or there will be Luke stew.

Scott- good to know you are alive and working!

I put Lizzie out in the cat carrier with the others this morning, and lo and behold, there was an egg in it that I missed yesterday, so in spite of her injury, she laid an egg. What a good girl!