Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[jeremy]

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The other cockerel with heavier barring is my second choice, I think I'm going to try to rehome the little Colombian marked boy this week. I feel pretty lucky having these two to choose from. I'll hold onto both him and Stewart for the time being.

As for the dwarf, I'm going to have to cull him, I know. I just have to figure out how. Should I rehome him, or ... ?

I have a Canon Powershot SX 120 IS that I use to take pictures. I paid almost $400 for it. Mostly because I have no skill in photography what-so-ever, so I bought a camera that would do everything for me!

It's really a great little piece of technology. Thanks for the compliments Kathy!

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I've noticed his sad face, joletabey. He looks a pathetic, I know.

He keeps up with the other guys but you can tell that sometimes he struggles. If I were to rehome the Colombian marked boy, what do you mean by "sell him as a cross"? Should I just let people know about his faults against the standard?

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Cynthia, why do you think these babies would be so light compared to most of the others that you've seen hatched from your eggs? I'm hoping that as Stewart matures he does fill out nicely. As far as Quasi's comb, the very first point looks a little funny to me- what do you think?

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Cetawin, you made it so easy for me to answer your question, thanks

. By the way, your pictures at your new place are all so gorgeous! I wish so much that I had that much room!!

1. He eats and drinks just fine, though he is much smaller than all of the other chicks. I know in large part that's due to the dwarfism, but could it be because he isn't getting enough nourishment too?
2. He hobbles around on his little toes with the rest of them. When he was a little chick they gave him more difficulty than they do now.
3. He acts like a chicken yes, he isn't exhibiting some of the early signs of being a roo like the other little guys (standing up tall, sparring, approaching me as readily as the others, etc.) but he does everything else that all the others do.
4. I would like to start my own breeding flock of Dels, I obviously would not use the dwarf chick in said program. If he is a little boy, which I feel like is the overall opinion, then I honestly don't have room for him. As a breeding bird, or a pet.
5. If I were to keep him I'd give him all the love in the world! He'd be adored! I don't know how well he'd stand up against the other roos though when they all reached maturity. I've noticed now every once in awhile that they will pick on him, grabbing his comb or rushing him. I can only imagine how harsh they would be towards him when they're grown.


Thanks so much everyone for weighing in. I'm going to start looking for a new home for the Colombian marked boy, hopefully by his weekend he'll have somewhere new to rule over. I think he'll make a good roo, he's pretty even tempered like the rest. As far as the dwarf goes... I've never had to cull chicks this age before, a couple of you have given me advice in the past, would that still be the way that it should be done? Please feel free to PM me with the practices that you've found best. I'm going to want to figure out what I'm going to do with the little chick very soon. I feel terrible that his young life may be ending soon.

 

[kathyinmo]

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Jeremy, we use an axe. (DS has a terrible weak stomach and can not do it, so if DH is not home, someone else has to do it.......) Same as when processing a bird for the freezer. Another way is to use one of those processing cones (looks like a cone that says, "Wet Floor," in the hospital) .... It is used with the small end down, and the head sticks out the small end, then you can easily cut the jugular (and catch the blood in a bucket), and the bird does not flop around (because it is contained in the cone). We have had 4 occassions when we had to do this when it was not for processing. It is no fun, but it had to be done.

 

[speckledhen]

Cynthia, why do you think these babies would be so light compared to most of the others that you've seen hatched from your eggs? I'm hoping that as Stewart matures he does fill out nicely. As far as Quasi's comb, the very first point looks a little funny to me- what do you think?

It's gene roulette--you never really know exactly how they will combine. All you can do is start with good parent stock, then cull the ones you don't come out as well as you think they should have.

As far as Quasi's comb, the first point will develop into a real one by the time she is a teenager.​

 

[Cetawin]

I used a pair of sharp scissors for a chick and the only older bird I have had to cull I used a sharp axe. I drove two long nails into a tree stump about an inch apart...I placed the chicken's neck between the nails (head above the nails, body below the nails) and gently pulled her body to me a bit to stretch her neck out a bit, then one swift swing just below the nails on her neck and it was over. It was fast, humane, not very messy and there was no prolonged waiting and such. I made the choice to cull her because she was an egg eater...a trait I could not pass on to someone else, could not break her of it and could not let her teach my flock.


I cried like a 2 year old afterwards. I just made up my mind it was time, went and got the nails and hammer, put them in the stump, got the axe, got her, put her there and one swing and it was over.

I honest think it is the fastest method for both you and the bird with little to no stress on the bird. He is young enough that a pair of garden shears should work for him. If you question it, use an axe.

Good luck with you decision and I know it will be a difficult one for you....just remember that this is not about you or how you feel but about the bird and what the right thing to do for him is...nothing else. And let no one say anything to bother you or upset you about culling him...he not one you could rehome so culling him is a merciful act.

 

[joletabey]

Jeremy- shoot, I am the world's biggest wuss. I took mine to the vet and paid to have him humanely put down. Unlike Cetawin, I would NOT make it in the woods unless it's berry season.

I wouldn't have done it, but he was crying a lot, and the others would walk on him.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Hi everybody. I noticed you were talking about quick culling. I have tried quite a few methods and there is one that works the best for me.

It isn't pretty but it is quick and easy and it even works on the oldest Roosters tough as they are to kill.

I like to use an axe handle but have used a 2 x 2 or any thick long piece of wood. Take the bird by it's feet and lay it down on the ground with it's whole body down (or at least it's head)

Place the axe handle directly on the neck (the head is still able to be seen)

Then I place each foot on the ends of the wood, hold the bird by the feet and quickly, forcefully pull up.

I do it hard enough that the whole head comes off. I do it because I want it done quick and as painless as possible. Once the nerves are severed I was told there is no pain to the bird.

Then I quickly put it into the killing cone to let it bleed out before processing.

This works for the littlest and biggest birds.

I would rather quick than painful and long for the bird. I hope this helps

 

[Cetawin]

rwoman..you are braver than I...that method is very effective but would be too hard for me to do. Just the time of getting the bird laid out and with the axe/2x2 would make me a nervous wreck and I would not be able to do it and since the birds are "my pets", it is up to me to handle such things. DH would do it for me if I absolutely could not but I would never ask unless it was with a bird like Thor or Cannonball or my Speckles, Luna or Ruby....because I a so attached to them that I just could not do it.


Beth...you would be surprised what you can do when you have to or need to. Never sell yourself short or under estimate yourself...you would do fine in the woods.

 

[jeremy]

MY BBS ORP EGG IS HATCHING, IT'S ACTUALLY HATCHING! IT'S PIPPING AND I CAN SEE IT'S LITTLE BEAK BREAKING AWAY AT THE SHELL!!!

AHHHHH!

The Del egg that went into incubation hasn't pipped yet though, I don't know if it will.

 

[zephyrcreek]

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I'm so jealous. BBS orps are the other breed I have been wanting for over a year. I held off as Rhandi had them also. As she is not doing birds anymore I am on the hunt.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Congratulations on your Orp baby! It is a miricle everytime a chick hatches. That is why I am so addicted.

Lady Hawk, I do understand how hard it is when you are attached to them. I have my old Del Roo who, well..... needs to go. I am having a difficult time getting myself to do it.

I try not to get too attached to them and the ones that I do attach to, no I don't process. I just keep them in the bunch! I had a blind Maran that I just adored. I took care of her when she went blind due to an early case of cocci. Made sure she had food and water.

The dog attack a month ago took her away from me and I sure miss her.

When I do process for food I try to look at it in the Indian manner and give thanks for their gift to me. That is why I try and do it quick and as painless as possible.