South Carolina

[RedBugPoultry]

Mine all started that way too. I took a picture of them today, but I realized the one with really yellow, almost orange, legs also has the most baby fluff. Might be a matter of time before it turns too. Most of their legs look like they're something between yellow and green - like the chick in the foreground.


Adorable! Keep the pictures coming!

Been trying to catch up on the thread as I have not been on here in a while. Reading about people's Delaware I just wanted it interject if no one minds...Our Delaware's legs, like many, do have green issues which we are working on but if you have one with really yellow legs EggieRowe it is probably a rooster as that is the way it is working out this season. May want to keep that one if the rest of him turns out good for breeding. I am finding though if the pullets legs start out greenish they are, for the most part, turning pretty yellow as they get older. This indicates they still have that black or slate gene somewhere but we are working on it. Now personality--they should be friendly birds from the get go. That is a big Delaware trait. Mine use to fly up to my shoulder with out any training or extra attention as chicks. I still have a hen that tries but I kind of nicely try to keep her to my arm. I love that people are getting more of this breed! A few years ago you hardly ever saw them. Enjoy your birds!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Huh, smelly sweaty t-shirts. Not only does it help keep predators away but I can use this to get rid of my DH favorite nasty t-shirts. I LIKE IT!

 

[EggieRowe]

Been trying to catch up on the thread as I have not been on here in a while. Reading about people's Delaware I just wanted it interject if no one minds...Our Delaware's legs, like many, do have green issues which we are working on but if you have one with really yellow legs EggieRowe it is probably a rooster as that is the way it is working out this season. May want to keep that one if the rest of him turns out good for breeding. I am finding though if the pullets legs start out greenish they are, for the most part, turning pretty yellow as they get older. This indicates they still have that black or slate gene somewhere but we are working on it. Now personality--they should be friendly birds from the get go. That is a big Delaware trait. Mine use to fly up to my shoulder with out any training or extra attention as chicks. I still have a hen that tries but I kind of nicely try to keep her to my arm. I love that people are getting more of this breed! A few years ago you hardly ever saw them. Enjoy your birds!

I had asked on another thread about what qualifies as green since none of them really look green to me. (Of course the only comparison I have is an EE chick that had almost hulk green legs that matured into slate.) I tried to take pictures of the range of yellows I have, but every time I pick one up, it snuggles down on my arm or palm so I can't get a clear shot of it's legs.

Your Delawares' tenderness with the brand new chicks really paid off last night. The rain storm we had here blew out their heat lamp late last night. I look out the window and saw the brooder was dark and freaked. Ran out in the worst rain & lightning storm I've seen all year and everyone was sleeping together, all peaceful and comfy like nothing was going on.

 

[JenGalbraith]

We're down to the two Muscovys that are staying here. All the others, parents included, have found homes in ponds and bathtubs all over the upstate.

Haha! The 6 I got from you are getting so beautiful. We have one that we are 100% is a drake so we have named him Jake the Drake the others don't have names yet. We just love them!!

 

[JenGalbraith]

I got my email update and it said I had 36 unread messages!! I feel like I am completely missing out! What has everyone been up to? I have so many different sites to keep up with not to mention my own flock... Miss you all though!!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

I had asked on another thread about what qualifies as green since none of them really look green to me. (Of course the only comparison I have is an EE chick that had almost hulk green legs that matured into slate.) I tried to take pictures of the range of yellows I have, but every time I pick one up, it snuggles down on my arm or palm so I can't get a clear shot of it's legs.

Your Delawares' tenderness with the brand new chicks really paid off last night. The rain storm we had here blew out their heat lamp late last night. I look out the window and saw the brooder was dark and freaked. Ran out in the worst rain & lightning storm I've seen all year and everyone was sleeping together, all peaceful and comfy like nothing was going on.

That is wonderful they took care of their brooder-mates! As far as green legs~if the legs are not that nice yellow color you have on the one chick you probably have another gene bleeding in--I know I have several generation to work on before I am really happy with my birds but I did not make this the season to cull anything other than one rooster and add some of my better pullets with the yellowest legs.

By the way, if anyone is interested in some very nice Heritage Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds let me know. As much as I hate too I have decided to sell my small flock of these birds.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

Here are pics of my 10 days short of 7 week old Hertiage Delawares. And let me tell you the roos already are seeing who is king of the yard. I don't mean chick chest bumping either. One even got a little blood drops around his face. I figure they will settle it. Will have plenty of roos to sell and cull when they get a few more months old.

 

[EggieRowe]

Here are pics of my 10 days short of 7 week old Hertiage Delawares. And let me tell you the roos already are seeing who is king of the yard. I don't mean chick chest bumping either. One even got a little blood drops around his face. I figure they will settle it. Will have plenty of roos to sell and cull when they get a few more months old.

What age do you plan on culling? I hear 16 weeks for heritage birds, but that still seems young. The more I watch these chicks, who are pretty hearty eaters and foragers, I can't help but think that Cornish X's are serious freaks of nature to be eating size at 8 weeks.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

LOL. That they are. There nasty birds if you ask me. Not really sure. I have HRIR and was told to hold them until 7-8 months old. Then think about culling. Heritage breeds just mature soooo slow. But it maybe before that with maybe a few. Don't think that growing pen is going to be big enough for 25 full grown birds. I will at least get read of some of the aggressive roos. Plus from what I read, HDelawares mature pretty fast. But most people don't start culling for dinner until 7 months.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

What age do you plan on culling? I hear 16 weeks for heritage birds, but that still seems young. The more I watch these chicks, who are pretty hearty eaters and foragers, I can't help but think that Cornish X's are serious freaks of nature to be eating size at 8 weeks.

If you have room you may want to keep longer than 16 weeks. If you see obvious faults even now you could start culling but some breeders take longer than others to develop--just a thought....