Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[rancher hicks]

Ok, here's the pic or two I promised. This is my broody del hen. She's a Western NY girl about 2 years I'd say. She doesn't look happy but I don't care as long as she stays on her eggs. She's in a wooden box I found on CL converted into a broody box. She's sitting on 6 Del eggs. A little late in the year for a hatch but broodies have a mind of their own. She has 12 days to go. I wasn't sure I'd get a Delaware that went broody so I'm pleased to have that trait in my line. It's hard to get pics and I've got to get some bands and keep records.

 

[Cetawin]

What a wonderful broody box. She is safe, tucked i nice and has room to stand up and move if she wishes. Great job!

 

[kathyinmo]

Tim,
I love your broody box.

That is perfect! She looks pretty determined there!

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You would not believe how many times I have started to call him Isaac! He really really does look like his daddy. I am telling you, he is just gorgeous. I can not even capture it in a picture. We all just love him. He has both looks and personality.

Well today's trauma is over. We waited until roost time, and just finished. The bandings and moves are done, after cleaning all the pens out in preparation (all day long). The Delawares and Miss Holly, of course, were just so easy to move. They come up to us and actually like to be picked up. The others all wanna squawk and carry on. Jacob was worried sick about the girls, and was finally settled when they all got there. #2, on the other hand, was just walking around like he was out sight seeing. He is quite carefree. I probably won't keep him, in the end. Jacob is the Alpha, for sure, and we sure hope nothing ever happens to him.

My Buckeyes are (half) 18 weeks old and (half) 14 weeks old, and the boys are attempting to breed. So, now they are in their own pen (12 of them). The Rhode Island Reds and rosecomb RIRs (25 total) are now penned together also, awaiting the finally cull. My Barred Rocks (a dozen roosters and THREE pullets!

) and Orps will soon be penned together, for the final choices, too. This is when it is gonna be difficult (the final cull of all breeds).

I don't know how many Ameraucanas to keep for my Silkied Ameraucana project. I must say though, I am getting excited to get blue eggs. The only blue eggs I have ever seen were the ones I hatched. I did pen together my older Silkied Ameraucanas with 2 older Ameraucanas today. They are 20 weeks old, and I am hoping they lay soon. I also have 4 Lavender Ameraucanas (I think 3 are roos), but I don't think they will work into the project. (I may keep one roo and the pullet?) I have already culled down my Jersey Giants (6) and Lavender Orps (6).

I will sure be glad (and sad) when all this down-sizing is done.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I have to say that I'm surprised her comb is so red. Usually they fade or at least the other broodies I have do. Funny thing too, is that her poo doesn't smell like when Frenchy was in the box. Frenchy's a bantam Friz. Lord have mercy she was stinky. It's crazy the things we notice.

Kathy have you posted your Rosecomb RIR's on the RIR post. Is there one. I have plans to get some in the spring. Me and trylin are going halvsies. She doesn't know it yet but she will. Are these a common cross with a single comb? Is there a difference in birds. One larger than the other that type of thing.

 

[kathyinmo]

Yes, I posted some pictures on the RIR thread a while back .... here ....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=283534

post # 211. Not good pictures though, and I do hope to get better ones tomorrow. I got them from Dick Horstman, and I know nothing about the differences between RIR and Rosecomb RIRs.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Wow Kathy it must have been the day. I moved birds around fixed up the bachelor pad and filled that puppy up. My Dellies are 18 weeks and I've been eying the 4 roos for the final pick as I have more that should be better but just younger my hubby saved 1 they were so close and I can cull again. I will try and get pictures but they get too close for good ones and when they are laying around sunbathing it just doesn't show off their good points...they sure want to mate those hens are not quite ready and they are finally crowing the one I like is the Boss I sure hope he settles down he's just a frustrated boy and he kinda take it out on what ever bird is close but he's nice to me was the easiest guy to catch and he sure guards the flock well and I still have them all together so I have Partridge Rocks and Cuckoo Marans in there too. I have a younger hatch of really nice Dellies these are very chunky ones and I will be going through 20 of them but these should be nice breeder stock but they are 10 weeks old so I have to wait....but they are outside now. I have some slow growing meaties they are still big one has a bad leg so he's going to freezer camp early along with a few of the roos. I need the practice before they all need to be done...

 

[ChksontheRun]

You all sure sound like you had a day yesterday. I hope you get to rest today. Supposed to be 97 degrees here today, and after a huge thunder storm I am sure it will be horribly humid.

. Sounds like a good day for ice in the chickens water......

Happy Fathers Day to all of you Dads!

 

[kathyinmo]

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Do you have any problem with housing the roosters together? Does it work out well?

I agree with ChksontheRun .... ice water for the chickens today!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

 

[Lotsapaints]

Well they are brooder mates the worst offenders are the littlest ones and they are in a big run and they are going to freezer camp in 2 weeks they are 18 weeks. I think as they get older they might fight more but this pen is like being loose there is a tree in it and some things to block attacks and the Marans and Dellies just don't seem to do much but pinch it's the Partridge Rocks that want to fight now that there are no hens close they seem to have calmed down and just crow...teenage boys it can't be helped. I have too many breeds and it seems the PRs are going to be the ones to go. I still want Rocks going to try SPRs as they are beautiful and not from a hatchery most of my first birds are culls anyway I just got SR and mostly roos when my other hens start laying I'll get rid of these but I want eggs and they are very close.

 

[ChksontheRun]

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Interesting that you say that about the PR. I think they are beautiful, but they are not friendly at all. If I were to get rid of any of my chickens it would be them. I think I like the barred rocks, and Dels the best, then orps, then ausies, then PR. I wonder if they are better layers than the others......