Maybe but his pattern so far also doesn't match Delawares. Both genders are mostly white with black sprinkled in the tail, a little around the neck and wings. He's got loads all over his body so far. Besides the other 4 are wrong too for Delawares which is what they're suppose to be.
MollyD
One chick is different??
Did the order form read right?
Yes it did. Had everything just like I ordered it.
MollyD
Maybe the hen was in love with a different roo, and Mr. Moustachio is their love chick!
ROFL! An out of wedlock chick! Never thought of that one!! But where did the other 4 chicks come from? They don't match Delaware roos either (at least not yet).
Edited to add that the description on this page would fits the 4 chicks (3 now) as far as temperament is concerned http://www.mypetchicken.com/Delaware-B43.aspx and the picture would fit if they were all hens. That would be very peculiar since Ideal said they were out of Delaware poulets!
MollyD
This message was edited May 22, 2008 5:37 PM
does this look like Hercules?
this is the best i can get of Spunky Monkey's feathering in at a few days of age. he just won't be still! tell me how old HErvules is again, and i will try to get a pic of that age...
From what I can see I would say no . At a few days old Hercule was all creamy pale yellow. He's now 17 days old! LOL He seems so much older. btw this morning I heard a painful squawk and turned around in time to see Hercule having his feathers pulled by a 'gentle' Buff Orpington! The bird ended by pursuing Hercule for a few mins till Hercule took refuge under my legs!
I took some pictures yesterday but Paul didn't get them off his camera for me. Maybe tonight.
MollyD
Ok, ok, maybe she was in love with a few other roos. A hen of many passions!
Ahem! Are you calling Hercule's mother a slut by any chance? LOL
MollyD
I wanted to say the same thing as Patchouli, but couldn't think of as delicate a way to say it.....
LOL well here is more info. I found out there was a society for Delaware Chickens (the people who own them not the chickens!) so I emailed Hercule's photo to the president of that society and got the following response:
"Hi Molly,
Hmm, that is interesting. He doesn't look like a "normal" Delaware roo, but I would wait until he begins to feather. What happens with Delawares sometimes is that they can take on different traits as chicks, since they are crosses.
Please keep me updated on this little guy and let me know how he turns out. This will be interesting to see.
Thanks,
Christopher Fernandes
Not 20 days old and Hercule is making his mark in the world LOL I'm so proud of him (sniff).
Here's a few pictures of him taken yesterday
MollyD
another
and yet another (hopefully the computer won't cut his head off again!)
It did!
a closeup, darn server keeps croping the pictures
spot on his head (hope it shows!)
This is what the other chicks that had the same down color as Hercule ended up looking like so far
side view of other chick. These all have very gentle affectionate dispositions.
So do these help anyone?
MollyD
That was what I wondered about--Delawares were created by what had been an unstable cross between BPR roosters and NH hens. It was a sex-link cross (barred females/red or dark males)--but there was one Rooster "Superman" who reliably produced all Delaware patterned chicks. So I did wonder if the cross might be a little unstable and voila! Hercule! Can't wait to see what happens.
Oh Molly he sure is cute and hey, if his mom preferred to read Danielle Steele novels AND live by them, then so what, right? (Actually I really don't know any of the names of the authors that write those particular novels, but I'm pretty sure Steele writes books somewhat similiar, anyhoo). ; )
Well he sure is a little puzzle! Today I noticed dark feathers are beginning on the back of his neck and white ones are coming in on his chest. The one big difference between him and a regular Delaware is really his beak. They just don't have dark beaks!
Now what do you think those light colored ones are? They're with Hercule in being Id by Ideal as Delawares.
MollyD
Molly,
Don't worry...when we double click on the photos, his head is there! ^_^
Jody
Thanks Jody! I'm glad the head is in there too!
MollyD
still singing that Sesame Street song, LOL.
Molly, it was the barring that looked familiar to me.... here is a close up of Spunky Monkey on day 5
really glad at least one of your orps has decided to change her ways LOL...
tf
tf is that a tail or a wing??
MollyD
left wing...
His is similar. The back of his neck is getting dark feathers. I can see them through the down.
MollyD
i have some other pictures of older ones. very creamy colored chicks. they turned out dark red, so what color are NH's?
The NH's are turning a reddish brown color. Some are darker than others.
Here's a picture of one. This was taken 2 days ago. They're even more feathered out now.
MollyD
they don't look a thing like HErcules...
NH range from golden to chestnut red--supposed to be lighter than RIR. My RIR are getting darker and darker, the literature says they used to be a lighter red colored breed, now they are very dark red with black tail feathers. NH were derived from the older type of RIR so are lighter for that reason as well. I think you have id'd the NH...now for Hercule?
Catscan I heard from the Delaware Society president again. I sent him Hercule's pictures from 5/21 and he said
Quoting:
Neither New Hampshire Reds nor Barred Rocks have the black beak, so some roo might have wondered over to the Delaware pen. At any rate, he is adorable but I wouldn't use him if you are looking to breed Delawares. He could pass those traits on and not produce desirable traits in your Delawares.
So Hercule is definitely NOT a Delaware because of his beak but he could be a Delaware cross. That explains him but not the other 4 chicks sold as Delawares by Ideal that in no way shape or form could be seen as Delawares! In other words I paid for 5 Delawares and didn't get any. Could be a source problem that Ideal has and doesn't know about.
Iding the NH and BOs has been easy. They look like what they're suppose to be. There are ten of each too.
MollyD
Are we able to list livestock vendors in the Watchdog?
Maybe Ideal ordered the "Barnyard Suprise Mix" from eggbid:0)!
I would definitely push Ideal--I'm sure they don't want to send out miss-identified or non-pure breed eggs. They need to get back to their source. Pronto.
jasmerr I don't see why not since a vendor is a vendor. I've seen feedback for non plant items so why not on the Watchdog.
Catscan you're right. I will write to Ideal again since not one of those 5 chicks is a Delaware.
I just noticed a NH problem. Note that Mr. Fernandez says that NH's don't have a black beak but two of my NH's from Ideal are developing a black beak! Definitely a source problem there. I knew I wouldn't be getting show quality birds from this lot but I thought they'd be purebred at least!
MollyD
yes, after you have this resolved with Ideal, you should post your dealings in the Garden Watchdog...
At the rate they're responding it may take a while!
MollyD
here is naother lefet wing of Spunky Monkey, at about 8 days old...
In Hercules case the speckling seems to include his rump!
MollyD
hmmm... is your speckling kinda cream/black/light red? no rump on this guy yet...