Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:

Maybe Soloman and I will just come for a visit for say... the whole month of February? I hate being in MI in February.
I am so pleased with this guy that I gave away my older Del rooster.

 

[joletabey]

Come on down, Laura, but I can't promise better weather here in the mountains- we sometimes get a big bunch of snow-

I don't blame you for choosing this guy, he is a honey!

 

[capayvalleychick]

I have another question.

I looked at what was written for the standard, and the photos, on the DPC website. Should there be any black on the wing feathers? I'm wondering because I'm looking at my 11 day old chicks. Some of them have black in their wing feathers.

Could that change as they mature? Or is that an indication of what their mature plumage will be?

I know that you have to build the barn before you paint it.

I'm just curious and being a little impatient, wanting to know what these cuties will become. Hoping for that big bowl shape!

I'm feeding them Purina non medicated turkey starter, because the main ingredients are soy & fish meal. None of my chickens have ever been as big as the ones that I see in shows. Maybe the extra protein will help.

Kim

 

[speckledhen]

Wings do have black on them, yes. That is normal. They shouldn't be all white.

 

[joletabey]

Yes, the black is usually hidden until they flap their wings, but it is there and is correct.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I hope you all aren't getting sick of me posting so much. These chicks are so cute!
I've never brooded chicks in cold weather before. We are having freezing temps at night and my coops are open. So, I have a small stock tank in my office as a brooder. Having a little problem with that...

Precocious and friendly!

Where do I put them now?

Kim

 

[joletabey]

Ha, Kim, that is so typical! Can you make a cover out of hardware cloth? I have used tubs and cut the hardware cloth big enough to curve over the sides so I can slide it back and forth and little wanderers cannot get out.

 

[pdcttc]

Hello everybody.
I am fairly new to chickens as I got my hatchery chicks a little over a year ago.

I have decided I am going to stick to just one breed ,and have pretty much decided on Delawares. I was going to get some hatchery Dells but I saw some pics of some barred rocks on another thread. They look nothing like my 2 Barred Rocks.

My question is how would be the best way to get started with breeder quality Dells.?
I have never hatched eggs before, and I don't have a roo so I can get some practice. So I would not feel good about buying shiped eggs.
There is someone who posts here, that is within driving distance, (I live near Boone NC) but I dont know if they sell chicks or just eggs.

Do you experenced people here think I would be better off geting hatchery chicks to start, then try to improve on them, or would I be better off buying eggs and learn to hatch on the fly.

 

[joletabey]

I am only a couple of hours away from you, and would be happy to help you get into Dels. I should be hatching this spring, probably late March - PM me and lets talk. I think you will really like their personalities and egg laying abilities.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Some of the girls checking out the pond which has iced over