Bielefelder X Delaware Broiler Sex-links, AKA Delafelder Breeding Project

[SweetieChicken234]

My boys weights(in grams) today at 8 weeks
1257
1256(broken toe boy)
1204
1078
1004
1200
1129
1065
1247
1278
1295
1346(Long tail)
1290(Meatball)
1400 (King)

It seems like the big boys weights are becoming close now and the little guys are close. I noticed my little guys are feeling skinny. Almost like the big boys push them away from food. I have 3 different feeding areas for them and also multiple waters. I feel like maybe their lighter weights are environmental not genetic.

I had 1 death overnight night before last. Looks like a spider bite to the wattle(wolf or even black widow maybe?). He had a swollen leg. Looks like he got bit on the roosting bar and fell off injuring his leg in the aftermath. Very sad morning for me to find him yesterday. I know he suffered.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

I won't have a whole lot more data to come. 4 boys bloodied up already. I will have to start the culls much sooner than I want to. What a waste. They will be 9 weeks old on Sunday.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Maybe remove the primary culprit and let the others heal?

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Maybe remove the primary culprit and let the others heal?

I have my injured removed and seperated. The culprit that is really struggling with rooberty was seperated for a bit but I see a few males having issues. I'm considering letting them mix with my adults now in the open yard. I think they are needing to be out of the pen.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Happiest day of my life!! Post master said it's fine to put chicks in box and send. No vet paperwork needed. My boys are going north. The day he picks them up and they are at their new home that will be my next happiest day.

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

Congrats! That must be a relief! Rare breeds are hard to find, but easy to sell!

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Had to process the aggressive guy today. I would have preferred to wait til he was more meaty but unfortunately he kept going after the other boys. I think they had some disagreement while I had them in the pen and he couldn't let it go. Too bad. He got processed young. 9 weeks today. Here's the weight before and after.

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

not bad for an 8 week bird. some are hard to cull others are easy haha. batter the whole thing and put it in the pressure Fryer! probably a super tender little guy hahah

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Since I culled that 1 chick there's been peace amongst the males. I penned them up separately again since the hens were pushing them away from food and water and they have been peaceful. I took some more weights just randomly since I've been running my tail off.
9+ weeks

This last one was King 2 days ago.

Pretty decent weights

 

[AZHomesteadPoultry]

and there was peace and prosperity in the kingdom once again... lol. they're shaping up nice!! a few more days till the meatballs hit week 8 for me. theyre really packing in the food going through 50lbs a week roughly for 15 birds