Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kathyinmo]

Oh, yes! Definitely, you have a dwarf, Pink! We have the dwarfing gene here somewhere. I am, for sure, going to have to do some single matings and try to figure out where it is coming from. I sure hope it is not both of my roosters.

I will talk to LadyHawk today, and see if we can get a copy of the literature her vet wrote, too.

 

[pinkchick]

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I love her....she is so sweet, I think I may have a very difficult time letting her go, but these boys would give her such a loving home. Should I or shouldn't I? What would you do with her?

You know she stands her own and doesn't take any stuffin's from any of the other birds. Funny, until a few weeks ago she was no different than the rest of them. Then the rest shot up and she didn't. She has all the attitude of a big girl, she makes me smile everytime I see her.

 

[kathyinmo]

I hatched out 3 dwarfs .... mine were all males. It was obvious to me that they were suffering. Their toes curled, they were slow, etc .... I killed mine. I waited longer than I should have, I am sure. I really felt they were miserable. I could see no reason to keep them.

 

[kathyinmo]

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I know .... it took awhile before I could see it, too. Once you notice it, more signs and symptoms begin. It was like an old man deteriorating before my eyes. Curled toes, poor feather quality, retarded motor movements. It just gets worse and worse.

 

[pinkchick]

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Can't wait to read it....I think it would be fascinating!

Thank you and Thank you again for sharing these magnificant birds with me. I will never be without them in my flocks. I should have got them sooner. My friends and family are so amazed at how sweet they are. My mother who wouldn't own a chicken says that they are her's and goes around town telling everyone she has Heritage Delawares that are the friendliest chickens in the world. I had to LOL the other day when she and I went to the jewelry store (she was showing me what she wants for X-mas from my father.....she has to show one of us kids, so that we can take our father to buy it....works great from them...she gets what she wants and all dad has to do is shell out the $$...oh and most importantly he can't forget this way..

) anyway....we are standing there at the display counter and the gentleman behind the counter hears my phone ring (it's a clucking chicken song) and starts talking chickens, so my mother joins in. She has no clue except for what she has gleaned from me but here she goes talking about her Heritage Dels. All I could do was smile and listen. Amazing how they (chickens) touch people.

 

[pinkchick]

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I know .... it took awhile before I could see it, too. Once you notice it, more signs and symptoms begin. It was like an old man deteriorating before my eyes. Curled toes, poor feather quality, retarded motor movements. It just gets worse and worse.

Her toes are good and she gets around just fine......do you think she may regress as she ages? She does have droopy wings as you can sorta see.....do you think it would be best to cull?

 

[kathyinmo]

It is so true! Your mother is very wise woman! It is funny, isn't it .... chickens do touch people.

I really believe the Delaware breed is the sweetest, friendliest, and most enjoyable of all. They were our first non-hatchery birds, and they amazed us all. They certainly won us over. We won't ever be without them.

Love your parent's shopping routine! That's great!

I have a few Del eggs incubating now. My older girls are molting, so these are from the younger ones. I will see how these turn out. It is possible that my younger gals are from different parents. This will be fun .... a mystery to solve! LOL

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I know .... it took awhile before I could see it, too. Once you notice it, more signs and symptoms begin. It was like an old man deteriorating before my eyes. Curled toes, poor feather quality, retarded motor movements. It just gets worse and worse.

Her toes are good and she gets around just fine......do you think she may regress as she ages? She does have droopy wings as you can sorta see.....do you think it would be best to cull?

Yes, I would most certainly cull. The symptoms will worsen with time. The curled toes started a bit later on mine, too.

Here is a link to my photos ....

http://s847.photobucket.com/albums/ab31/kathyinmo/12-20-09 Delaware comparison/

 

[pinkchick]

Yes after 45 years I think that my parents have got it all worked out.

Thank you for your advise, Mamma Kathy knows best! Thanks for sharing the photos of the toes, I will take care of it today, deep down I know it is best.
I will just give the boys another Del pullet instead of her. These boys are home schooled and are learning the ropes to being self sufficient and animal husbandry at a very young age, they are 3 and 6. I am amazed at how well versed they are, they talk of taking care of their chickens and planting and tending their garden....at 3 and 6!!!! I believe the best birds for me to share with them are Dels, but I can only share 2 of the girls with them right now until I have more. They are willing to wait, the 6 year old wants to get into 4-H with the Dels. I love that! I am sharing 2 Marans, 2 Welsummers, 2 olive eggers and 2 Dels with them, think they will happy with that?

 

[kathyinmo]

I think those boys are very very lucky to have you for a friend! That is so sweet of you. They will surely have a great time with those you are sharing with them!