Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

Have a great time, Scotty-boy!

Oh, my Georgie lays a very dark, almost Marans-like egg; well, to qualify that, hatchery Marans, maybe. Hers from today is very, very dark. I'll see if I can get a pic of it, but I already put it in the fridge and it may have changed a bit.

 

[Cetawin]

Hey Scott...I just said I was firing up the bator so ha

You know you want some.

Have 3 glass of red wine...1 for me please.



Rather than talking sternly to the women Scott use a little finese. Talk gently to them and explain you need your eggs...do this while giving them goodies, installing the satelite TV, Fans and hiring the Cabana boy. That will work much better and make sure you put batteries in their remote, it pisses them off when they cannot change the alligator show on the animal planet to the latest Top 100 Music Videos.

Cyn...so where is the pic of this Maran wannabe egg?

 

[speckledhen]

Couldn't get one--the fridge had already changed up the color. I need to get a shot of one as soon as it leaves the nest.

 

[crazyhen]

Scott look out for those red wine headaches. You should see my babies. How can you tell what color the little rocks will be . one is on the lighter side and one darker.
the Dellies are so much fun to watch. They are getting independent . She( Misty)scolded a cat outside the run and here thy came out of the coop to egg her on..i see them riding on her back real often but she does not seem to mind. They use her as a lauching pad for their getting into things. She has her hands full with those three. The little rocks are right there to enjoy the havoc. too. Gloria Jean

 

[jeremy]

Hiya everybody,

It was warm (warm being an understatement, it was sunny sunny sunny!

) yesterday and the teenagers were itching to get out of the brooder, I took some pictures of Stewart and Quasimota so everyone could weigh in on their development.

Look at his barring!

ALL he wanted to do was preen.

I thought this one was hilarious, where'd his head go???

His wing feathers aren't always dropped like this.

Quasi, she seems too smutty to me?

Don't mind the Buff Laced Polish tail feathers. L0L.

 

[speckledhen]

Stewie is looking much better in the color department. Wonder how dark he'll go in the end? His leg color is awesome and the comb is good, even though one point is a bit "serrated". Looks like his hackles will have some pretty even barring on them when all is said and done and he appears to have good body shape. Is he pretty chunky? Quasi should molt out her barred tail feathers and it may look completely white before she gets some tail black. Took Gracie up to 17 weeks to start getting tail black.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

This is my first post in this thread... The end of January, I bought 5 hatchery bantam Delaware.

My reason was after reading about:
1. Temperment. By all accounts they were said to be docile and quiet.
2. Wanted a darker egg layer, of course knowing that no bantam lays a dark egg, that I know of.
3. Delaware folks seemed to love them.
4. We show birds and I am into rarities and things you just don't see in the midwest. Unfortunately, judges are not so open minded and stick with the safer more comfortable breeds. Just once, I'd like to see a judge go out on a limb, or hear from one that does. Sorry for the minor rant, I'll save that for another thread.

After growing the birds out for a few months, I selected one pullet to keep, which was my goal. After sending a few pics to a breeder of LF Dellies, I found out that the pullet I'd selected (named Della, of course), well, is Del! Still no protruding comb but after examing the pics, def. the tail and wing barring of a male. After coming out from underneath the shell of my embarrassment, I have resigned myself to the fact that HE is still a handsome young bird that will hopefully be ready to show by the middle of Aug.

I am asking for others input and some info on the best way to keep his feathers stark white. We live in the heart of corn country so all feeds here will have corn in them and I cannot grind my own. Is there a way to yellow up his legs a bit or is the leg color okay? They seem a bit pale to me. The color in the pic is accurate

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt78/mrandmrschicken/Della008.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt78/mrandmrschicken/Della009.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt78/mrandmrschicken/Della003.jpg

I welcome any and all comments on my new... cockerel?

 

[joletabey]

MrandMrschicken- Del looks like he is off to a good start-I am not a big expert, but it looks like he will have good markings. I don't know anything about bantams, so I am assuming that the bantam version of an LF would have all the same characteristics, just smaller?

Jeremy- Stewart is looking really good. So is Quasi- like Cyn said, the tail feathers will straighten out.
They both look like they have nice personalities. Stewie's tale has nice even barring, it's very attractive!

Scott- have FUN!!!

Good morning everyone else!!!!

 

[PacsMan]

I sold my 2 roos and 5 Del hens last weekend. I’m down to 21 ‘baby girls’ – 12 Delawares and 3 each of RIR, Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Golden Sex links. We also have 15 other layers right now.

My current project is to make a 6 nest rollout box, like Opa’s shown here . I’m almost done with it, and it should be installed in the next 2 weeks.

We’ve been talking up our new Delawares around work and the neighborhood, and now have a pretty good sized list of folks who want eggs. My first question is; can anyone tell me (with some certainty) when do most Delawares start to lay eggs? I’ve read anywhere from 18 weeks to 22+ weeks. All of the ‘baby girls’ will be 14 weeks on Monday, so we’re getting ready!

Secondly, a lot of you Delaware fanatics (and I refer to you as fanatics in the most loving way…

) seem to be hatching lots and lots of eggs… I’ve hatched a few birds under a broody, but with only limited success. I’m seriously looking into a nice incubator setup. What is the best incubator for the highest hatch-ability percentage? What are the most important things to remember to get the best hatch rate? And, assuming I can get some fertile Del eggs from the guy I sold my roos and hens to, what is the best time of year to hatch? Early spring?

Marty
Salt Lake

 

[joletabey]

Marty, well not to brag or anything (cough, cough, choke) but my Cora started at 17 1/2 weeks, so anything can happen. All of mine were laying by 20-21 weeks. However, Kathyinmo's started later, but have been steadier layers. Mine were rather erratic for those first weeks, and I still only average 6.5 eggs out of 8 hens a day, and someone has a problem with extremely thin shells. I think Kathy's do better. I am not sure about anyone else.

Hey, can we get on the Delaware Club site? I looked today, and can't get on - nothing comes up.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR LIZZIE!!!

I put her back in with the flock today. So far so good, but she is staying to herself in the coop while everyone else is under it taking dirt baths. She did get treats with everyone. Ultrasuede and Luke tried to "herd" her around, but nobody has jumped her. And believe me, I am out there every five minutes, checking!