OK Sorry guys and gals I made a post about my Delawares and forgot to separate them from the rest of the birds in the pictures....
Everything is hatchery EXCEPT the Delawares. They came from a private breeder with a line from two old show lines combined with a little Sand Hills Preservation. My plans are to acquire a few more from sand hill culling hard for the best and doing the same with Whitmore Farms.
Bassleg... I am ordering this year as soon as Sand Hill is taking orders for next year to get my Delawares and Buckeyes. I have a few buckeye chicks now so they will be worked into what I have now. It does take forever but thats why I am ordering from them its the quality I am after. Whitmore Farms focused on bringing the Delaware back to standard for the males size so i want some pullets to keep sand hills egg laying proficiency from creating too much of an offbalance.
The Delawares in my pics are only 7 months old. The pullet started with a few medium eggs then went straight to large eggs with the occasional extra large egg. The cockerels are gentlemen for the most part but they like to share so I am going to have to start putting only one out with everyone on an alternate week rotation to promote a tad of competition instead of *sharing the girls* so much.
They have great attitude and the boys respect myself and my wife so no problems there
the pullet is as nice and pleasant as can be also. I have some of their offspring hatched out on june 4th so I will have more layers this coming winter/spring. I have never shipped eggs and the one time I have recieved eggs i was blessed with 7 out of 28 which only 4 have survived. I can only pray its not four roosters.
Speckled hen... Two things, first the best thing you can do to fix those hens is to take a pair of dog nail trimmers and snip those beaks reeaaalll good and I promise by the time the tip grows back they will never peck another critter ever again... Its a major attitude adjustment for them and don't forget to put them with the others so they can learn their place!!!!
Second I am looking for some high quality Barred Rocks and am curious if you know anyone closer to or in Arkansas that has some. Please PM me thank you