Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Cetawin]

Gloria Jean if the membrane starts looking really dry, take a moist wash cloth and wrap around the egg...make sure the slit or opening in the mebrane is exposed so the chick can breathe but keep the rest of the membrane coverd with the moist wash cloth.


BTW all....check out the potential names for my new blue baby GIRL...let me know what you think about them. I want Cyn to start calling them by their names so they know they are supposed to BE GIRLS

So far we have Rose and Ebony.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4143503#p4143503

 

[kathyinmo]

Scott, How are your broodies doing?

Jeremy, Did you take those pictures today? I'll just scream if every one of your Dels is as perfect as Stewart!

Gloria Jean, It looks like you are about to have broody babies! YAY!!!

 

[jeremy]

So I took a few pictures today,

...I hope it's okay to post this many, it's only 19 shots. These are the babies I hatched from Cynthia's eggs. Can y'all give me an idea of who's a keeper and who's a cull?

We'll start with Stewart first.

Saying hello to the older women,

Stewarts in the foreground, the other cockerel behind him I think is his only competition, though he's much smaller.

Quasimota is next, my only pullet. (I think.)

She's a little camera shy.

These are the other cockerels, one has what looks like Colombian markings and the other has barring like Stewart.

Barring in the hackle feathers?

Colombian pattern in the hackle feathers?

Last there's my possible dwarf chick, I thought hard about it and I think this was the only chick that hatched out of one of the named eggs, which I believe was from Kira, Cyn. I couldn't remember before when you asked if I had hatched any chicks from the eggs with names, I was almost positive that I didn't. But the more I thought about it the more I feel like I did have one chick from a Kira egg. I think.

All the others I'm certain were from unnamed eggs.

This is the only chick that I'm not sure of the sex on, it's comb is still very small but it looks like it's turning pink to me. Boy, or girl?

This chick was 1 of the 2 that had the major feet problems early on, the other we had to cull if y'all remember. This one fought though and has managed to keep up.

The lot. The only way I could get any of them to stand still was to dump their food all over the ground, so if you were wondering, no they aren't normally fed that way.

Sorry for being so long winded! What do you think?

 

[kathyinmo]

Stewart is a cull .... send him to me and I will take care of him.

Seriously though ....
The dwarf needs to be put down. He will get worse, and suffer. He is already suffering with those feet.
If you are only gonna keep one roo, I would go with Stewart. That other one looks like he may be a keeper, too. Really to young to know at this point. I would cull the dwarf and the Columbian, who looks to have those funky feathers like one I had. Look at all those nice yellow legs!

Nice pictures! What kind of camera do you use? Lovely photos!

 

[joletabey]

Jeremy- what Kathy said. My dwarf got worse and worse- you could tell it was unhappy, and yours already has that sort of sad mouth and eye that mine had. I would think Stewart is a definite keeper. Pretty boy! The one with a Columbian marking would be a cull in a breeding program, but if he has a nice personality, you might want to try to find a barnyard home or something for him- sell him as a cross??
Keep your other roo for a backup- I thought I was being so smart keeping Luke and Buckshot and having two lines going, and then Buckshot died.

My Suede babies are doing SO well- they have gotten the idea that when I say "one two three", I am going to pick them up on "three" to move them somewhere, and they stay calm about it. The other three are still flits, but they are all so pretty and growing nicely. They send you LOTS of love, Kathy.

I haven't gone back and read up the last few days- sorry. Hope everyone's broodies and hatches and chicks and whatever's are well.

 

[speckledhen]

Jeremy, that is a dwarf, yes, and yes, Kira had to be its mother. Cetawin's girl, Fattie, who is also Kira's daughter, carries a double dwarf gene--genetic testing confirmed it. So, we know that Isaac is in the clear, that Kira was the one throwing those all along.

It's interesting that your cockerels are so lightly marked! I don't believe I've seen any with that little color on them at that age. Not sure what to say. Stewart has good type, but he needs lots more color in him. Give him a few more weeks and maybe he'll "color up". I see that Quasimota has an awesome little comb. I am seeing quite a few wonderful combs coming out of Ike lately.

 

[Cetawin]

Stewart is a cute thing as is Quasimoto. That little dwarf...before you decide on culling, as I am always one to give a fighter a chance, ask yourself these questions...

1. is it eating and drinking well enough to thrive?
2. is it getting around without much difficulty?
3. is it acting like a chicken aka like its siblings?
4. are you establishing a breeding program or are they pets?
5. can it have a good quality of life if you continue to give a chance?

I just think that some of these little guys, dwarves and those with minor handicaps, can be good pets and even good layers...provided they can have a guality life. When their disabilities interfer with that, then I consider culling. I use as examples of this "quality of life" two birds come to immediate thought Zane and Tiny...both living happy lives with Speckledhen. They are happy, enjoying life, thriving and being chickens outside their individual disabilities. But both are great pets to her.

Guess I cheer on the underdogs but I look at them differently than many and give them time...they tell you in their own way when it is time to let them go.

Good luck with that little one.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Morning all and happy Monday

Got a few pix this morning of Sugar, my "Del from H*@L".....she is viciously sitting on her eggs and the other pix is of Cora, her current "coop mate" who is also broody. Cora is a Black Rock Hen

But have 6 eggs and they were "set" on Cinco de Mayo....so the 26th give or take, we'll see what happens. My other Black Rock hen that is broody is sitting on 4 of Pepper x "his girls" eggs and 6 others (don't remember what to be honest). Its COLD here this morning, but no complaints as the A/C went out AGAIN on Friday. HVAC company says it is the compressor, so thank goodness it's still under warranty.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

BTW - Landon (my oldest) killed his first wild turkey Saturday morning with his grandfather. Check out the post under Family Life

 

[crazyhen]

It didn't make it,

My first del to try and hatch did not make it.

I think the momma stepped on the egg and broke it before it was ready. I looked and it was a del. fully formed but with its inside still partly outside. It is still three days away from official hatch date and everything else is quiet. I here by will not will not pick her up and check any more. We are on lockdown. Poor little baby. Misty is such a big mom and I think she would have been so nice to it. Now to watch and just wait.

Gloria Jean

Ps hope all else are doing well. The broodies are pretty, nice and cozy.

 

[kathyinmo]

Cetawin, Believe me .... Jeremy's dwarf has no potential for a happy life. I kept mine too long, hoping for that possibility. I think it is a sex thing, as my female dwarf is doing just great, and will live her life out here.

Scott, Sugar and Cora look quite content! Won't it be soooo cool to see mama and babies running around the yard! I look forward to that.

Gloria Jean, I am so sorry to hear of the accident. I know things happen, but it is always sad to lose one. I hope the rest do well, and you have babies very soon!

Beth, I am so glad you are happy with the Orp girls! This other one that I kept (from the older group) seems to be a girl. I thought sure it was a little roo. My Suede Jr, "Cord," is growing like crazy right now ... like a growth spurt or something. I can hardly wait for all my Orps to grow out! Orps are such beautiful birds.

Delawares .... my Dels continue to be such sweet birds. One of the girls tries to peck at little Miss Holly (dwarf BR) once in awhile. It is rather comical, as Miss Holly stands up as tall as she can (like on tippy toes) and pecks her back, until she (the Del) turns away. I have to try to get a picture of it.
My Delaware girls sure are good layers. I have the 6 pullets, and get 6 eggs nearly every day. I love my Dels!