Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Hillbilly Hen]

I would like to post pics of my delawares but they are so dirty right now from having wood ashes and dirt in the run, plus they are molting

Winter cannot be over soon enough. The snow is so deep that I cannot even let them out of the run.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Quote:
I bet once all this hatching everybody's a doin' right now gets done and over, there'll be more baby dellies on here than you could shake a stick at.

I'm ready!

catdaddy

 

[jeremy]

I'm thinking about rehoming 2, possibly 3 Delaware pullets (they'll be a year old in May) soon. I don't know if I will be shipping, as I've never done so before, but I may consider it. For now though they will be local pick up only, these birds are from Bill Braden.

Why?

Because they are the meanest chickens I have owned yet! That is saying a lot too for Delawares! I dunno if it's the line, or just bird specific but I've got a couple girls who are just terrible. Not towards people, they are still like puppies with me, following me around begging for treats... but they terrorize some of my other hens. My poor Buff Laced Polish is losing more and more of her crest everyday due to the wenches.

I've done everything possible to avoid rehoming them, increased the run sized, offered more food/water stations, given them things to do in their run and coop but these girls are just bullies. It's weird though, they are only mean to other hens that aren't Delawares. They pick on my Ameraucanas daily but they will leave the other Dels alone. I think they're just too dominant to be in a mixed flock.

 

[kathyinmo]

Sorry to hear that, Jeremy. Maybe you should just get rid of everyone else, and just keep the Dels.

Kidding .... but ya know, I have heard many people say their birds (any breed) pick at the Polish crest. Not that that is any help to ya, I know.

Really though, you shouldn't have any problem selling your pullets. Good luck!

 

[rancher hicks]

Jeremy - I think it's just the temptation of the Polish breed. Seems to me that some breeds just don't mix well. My wyandottes don't seem to mix with the rest. I gave the SLW's and Aussies away and have two GLW and only one seems to be growing back her feathers.

I finally got rid of the last of my chicks but had to sell them cheap.

I have a flock of pullets but no good camera. I will try to get DD to use hers and take some nice ones. I just wish I could get rid of some of the roos.

Who is Bill Braeden? I see his name thrown about but nothing other than that.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

Hey Jeremy- I might have a possible home for them. Do you want to sell them or give them?~ Tacey

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
http://www.landoftobe.com/

 

[speckledhen]

If there is a breed that tends to get picked on, like any crested breed, a Delaware will pick on it. They notice everything, absolutely everything! That is why Isaac's wattle and comb are scabby at times. It's just the way they are. I really think they are best in a flock of their own kind rather than a mixed flock, generally.

 

[delawaregirl09]

I agree with speckledhen on this one. My Delaware girls are true sweet hearts towards me and my cousin, but to the rest of the flock, well, not so much. I have a few bald backed girls right now due to my BLRW Wyandotte hen and my two Delaware girls. My Del rooster I had was good to the girls, no problems, etc.

But! They re laying great! I get the biggest, prettiest eggs from my del girls

I'm pleased with their egg size and ratio.

Rancher, dont give up on us yet. With all this bad weather everyone is sure busy. I know I have nearly mountains of snow everywhere, especially in the run. I got to let the girls our for the first time today and they just looked at me like a was crazy, lol. The first snow is always fun.

 

[joletabey]

Well, I wonder if they are OK when raised with birds of another color. No one picked on my Orp roo when he lived with the Dels, and I have one pullet in with her foster mom and sister, who are BSL, and she does not bother them. I may find out differently when I put a different mix of them together in a layers pen in a few weeks, but right now, I don't seem to have an issue with it. I agree with Cyn though, that they like to pick and poke at everything - snoopy birds, and not afraid of very much.

Jeremy, wish I was close by, I like your pullets!

Delgirl- my eggs this year are huge and beautiful, too. I guess the girls have come into their own. I am really impressed with the egss!