Belgian Watermaal

[CastielH]

Sorry for the lack of pictures the weather and air quality in Vermont have been terrible so I’ve been inside a lot. It’s not impacting the birds luckily. Here’s some random pictures I’ve taken lately, the first is Peaches and Derby (used to be Big Hat), Terran (who I believe is split to mottled!), Number One (my dad gets to name him) and then two of my beautiful Peaches. The boys are sparring less now but their combs are still healing so ignore any dark spots.

 

[kurby22]

Update on my Watermaals! Between 9-13 weeks

 

[CastielH]

Update on my Watermaals! Between 9-13 weeks

Your birds are beautiful I am so jealous! How have they been temperament wise for you?

 

[kurby22]

Your birds are beautiful I am so jealous! How have they been temperament wise for you?

Oops, looks like some posted twice somehow haha.

So far I’m really happy with their personalities. The boys are friendly but not overly so, and seem to get along well with everyone else too. The girls are rather timid but not stress cases. The little lavender boy is definitely my friendliest! He likes to hop up on me and just chill. The others use me as a gymnasium but don’t stick around for too long. The black one with the super wild teenage do is now Elvis haha. I’m definitely loving these little birds! They seem to have more spice than my d’Anvers but less than my Cochins!

 

[CastielH]

Oops, looks like some posted twice somehow haha.

So far I’m really happy with their personalities. The boys are friendly but not overly so, and seem to get along well with everyone else too. The girls are rather timid but not stress cases. The little lavender boy is definitely my friendliest! He likes to hop up on me and just chill. The others use me as a gymnasium but don’t stick around for too long. The black one with the super wild teenage do is now Elvis haha. I’m definitely loving these little birds! They seem to have more spice than my d’Anvers but less than my Cochins!

My boys were sparring for a little bit while they figured out who was boss but its settled down now luckily, none of mine are really timid but I do have some that are more social then others for sure. I'm so jealous you got lavender!

 

[kurby22]

My boys were sparring for a little bit while they figured out who was boss but its settled down now luckily, none of mine are really timid but I do have some that are more social then others for sure. I'm so jealous you got lavender!

I was really surprised when it started growing a crest! Thought sure it was a d’Anver when it was born! Happy either way, but a super surprise!

 

[CastielH]

I'm so happy with how the birds are maturing, they're starting to look like actual chickens now and not just birds put together with spare parts lol. These two in particular Kenneth (with number one in the background) and Derby are maturing and I can't wait to watch them mature.

 

[kurby22]

I'm so happy with how the birds are maturing, they're starting to look like actual chickens now and not just birds put together with spare parts lol. These two in particular Kenneth (with number one in the background) and Derby are maturing and I can't wait to watch them mature.
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They’re so pretty! How old are they now?

I’m having a terrible time trying to determine gender on these chickens! They mature very slowly and I don’t see obvious saddle feathers like other breeds. Some of them are pretty obvious based on comb color and size, but mine are 12 weeks old and only a couple are red enough to see as obvious. My d’Anvers are so much more obvious and the Ameraucanas have saddle feathers by 10 weeks.

My lavender is a boy, but also has the wrong comb it’s straightish and pea-ish…but he has a tassel. Then I have a couple girls from Watermaal eggs without a tassel and one spike but it’s not centered on the comb Just curious if you’ve found any tricks or signs or if I just have to be patient (impatient)!

 

[CastielH]

They’re so pretty! How old are they now?

I’m having a terrible time trying to determine gender on these chickens! They mature very slowly and I don’t see obvious saddle feathers like other breeds. Some of them are pretty obvious based on comb color and size, but mine are 12 weeks old and only a couple are red enough to see as obvious. My d’Anvers are so much more obvious and the Ameraucanas have saddle feathers by 10 weeks.

My lavender is a boy, but also has the wrong comb it’s straightish and pea-ish…but he has a tassel. Then I have a couple girls from Watermaal eggs without a tassel and one spike but it’s not centered on the comb Just curious if you’ve found any tricks or signs or if I just have to be patient (impatient)!

My girls are only starting to get their combs now which is mainly what I based it off of, it’s a shame about your lav boys comb but it’s probably just from the outcross to introduce lavender, I don’t think it would be too hard to breed out. My girls don’t even have spikes yet their combs are coming in so slow, and my birds are 13 weeks. All four confirmed boys crow like crazy which helps too. I hope that helps!

 

[KristenG]

@kurby22 I am sorry to inform you that number of spikes and presence or absence of tassel are some of those things that just don’t really change from the day they hatch. Sometimes the tassels will be small but you should see the tassel feathers the same time beard feathers come in (6-8weeks). Sometimes comb spikes will develop from spike buds that are so small that you didn’t realize they were there, but many of mine I can tell at hatch (with a magnifying glass). If you cannot see them at hatch, wait about 6 weeks and check again- you will be able to see them as soon as the combs start to redden (6 weeks for the boys, or as late as 16-20 weeks for the girls). If you cannot see them by then, your bird didn’t get the right genes.

Sorry to hear about the pea comb!

Figured I’d share a few of mine
First photo is of a black Watermaal pullet- about 9 weeks old.

This is Cobbs, one of my Quail Watermaal cocks

Next is a Blue Quail Watermaal cockerel, about 4 months old. Ohio National 2023 is supposed to be the qualifying meet for Blue Quail Watermaal to get them admitted to the standard, so I was hoping to show him. I took an additional photo of his comb so you can see his spikes are clearly developed - though his comb is not perfect by any means.

Than this 4 month old quail pullet. I grabbed her because her comb is reddening and it is an example of a challenging comb. Just for the record, her tassel is bigger than I would like to see as well. She may be a bird I end up rehoming. She is very sweet though. Take a close look at her spikes, the two outer spikes are perfectly defined as they should be at this age. The middle one *IS* there, but you have to look close! Middle spike is supposed to be the longest.