Derbyshire Red Caps...

[Blue]

hi
does anybody keep Derbyshire Red Caps?

we have hatched 8 from the incubator, they are 4 1/2 weeks old.
they were different colours, some quite yellow and some a lovely deep orange. now they have the "proper" feathers and just their heads are different.

I wondered if anybody else could kept the breed, and could advise about clues to early sexing?

one is almost vicious, and flies to peck when we put food and water in, though hasnt quite managed to make contact yet!
any suggestions as to ways to stop this also appreciated...

 

[Davidd]

Hi, it's a breed i have never kept- but they are great looking birds and quite rare. If you can post some pictures we can try and sex them for you. Do they have feed all of the time? They should have chick crumbs ad-lib- so, they might be pecking if they are hungry.
regards, David

 

[Blue]

oh yes, they have ad-lib crumbs... one is just a little b**ger for flying at us when a hand goes into the cage!
and they eat loads!

will post piccies when a) I get my camera back from o/h
and b) have batteries ready charged - quite a rare occurance here!!

 

[Blue]

Really hard to get a decent, in focus close up of combs... but I hope you like them anyway!
see the difference in yellow to orange...

 

[ncotb]

Dont keep them but would hazard a guess at 2 boys in the 1st pic (?). wouldnt be surprised if the one that keeps flying at you is a boy, Ive had a few boys do this. just try & ignore it, dont pull your hand away & handle it loads nice chicks by the way! look forward to seeing more as they grow.

 

[Blue]

just to update a little...
there are 8 redcaps and a black frizzle pekin all the same age. we let them out of the cage today into the shed - they have been "looking at" the 2 light sussex & 2 BC Marans pullets for a while now.

one of the black coppers tried having a peck or two, but I had a word!
the chicks went round in a pack - all 9 together, so they looked after each other, and went from corner to corner, checking out the potential dust-bath areas!
and went back into the shed together, for nosh... and wouldn't let little chalky-white sussex in for a drink!

I think they can look after themselves, despite the size of the pullets!

:lol: