Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[X2Farm]

Ok. here's some pictures I could get of the Delawares today! The Lil Lady wasn't very cooperative, but I got a couple of her. I'll try and get some better body shots. The Roo was very much a ham, and let me take plenty of pictures while he was enjoying the sunshine

Note=I usually quarantine newly aquired birds, but circumstances didn't make that possible upon arrival at home. I'll probably catch some flack for it, but understand, this is not standard practice for me.

Ok, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here's the pictures!

The Hen (14wksish) (I'm going to try and get some better body shots of her later today. Hopefully she decides to come off the roost! LOL)

The Roo (20wksish)

THANK YOU to tnchickenut for this beautiful pair!!! They're a great starting point to work with...and she was VERY honest about them!

 

[jeremy]

SnowHunter, you lucked out!

Other than the tail break in the cockerel (which honestly can change with age) I'd say you have a very fine pair to start breeding with!

Stacy, where's my name on that list?

 

[tnchickenut]

Snowhunter...

Glad you are enjoying them. BTW... she LOVES to roost! The coop she and him were in has a roost in front of a window and I really think that has something to do with it. She'll come down for treats like weeds and pie pumpkins.

Jeremy... I'm hatching my own stock now and raising them in the basement (I know, I know) so that the weather don't stunt them (side note: two of my bantams - a OEG and a SS havegone broody... in OCTOBER). In the spring I'll start two more clutches to test fertility and also to grow out and sell in pairs. Then after the first clutch hatches... eggs start getting shipped. I'm getting pooped just talking about it!

 

[ndemerly]

I JUST got these last week. I love them so far! They aren't very big yet, the pullet isn't even laying yet.

 

[X2Farm]

derf uhhh... Jeremy, tail break? I know I've read what that is, but, at the moment, (well ok, most moments!) my brain escapes me!

I did get VEEEEEERY lucky with this pair!!! They are beauties!!! The Roo really enjoys his time outside.. infact, he's not gone in the coop but a couple times today, only cuz the kids were out in the run with the chicks

I'm hoping to pick up some more from Stacy next year, if all goes right

Stacy, yes, she LOVES the roost! I'm thinkin the 8ft roost coupled with windows on each side plus the view straight across the coop out the window keeps her entertained

Especially this mornin, when all the cows followed me back from the far pasture up front, and proceeded to seranade us

\\

ndemerly, 2 very nice looking young Dels you got there

 

[joletabey]

ndemerly- where did you get them and how old are they? The pullet especially looks really nice at this point! Welcome to the SDWD!!!!

 

[ndemerly]

Quote:
Thanks! I bought them from Star Bright Farm. I believe they're in Brown City, MI. I was told how old they are but at the time I don't remember right now, they're no older than 16 or 17 weeks though.

 

[jeremy]

Stacy, I'll be patiently waiting for my eggs or chicks.

I like to get an early start though, we have pretty mild winter's here in the Bay Area, so I'm typically hatching in by the beginning of March.

SnowHunter, I'm sure somebody can describe it with better words than I could, but it's where the tail feathers are incorrectly angled from the back of the bird.

However it's not that much a problem in your cockerel, it could even just be the way he was holding his tail at the time the pictures were taken. A minor break in the line from the back to the tail isn't something that I would worry over in a bird of his quality. If he had squirrel tail (which he doesn't) that'd be something to be worried about. You have to also take into consideration that your boy is young still and I'm sure has a lot of filling in to do, which might very well correct the "break".

If you take a look at the Schilling illustration you might be able to grasp what I'm saying. See the angle at which the tail comes from the bird's back? How your eyes can continue to follow a "line" to the very end of the sickle feathers? That's what I'm talking about.

ETA: I'm coveting your pullet entirely too much, BTW. Make sure you lock her up tight at night...

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
Gotcha on the tail angle

tresspassers feel free to paint a bullseye on yer toosh

I'm doin the same over your Braden bebies

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
Gotcha on the tail angle

tresspassers feel free to paint a bullseye on yer toosh

I'm doin the same over your Braden bebies

You two should do a egg swap!

I am in line for Braden's Dels next (as well as some others) - thinking Braden's stock could really, really help mine.... so swap you two!!!