Breeder quality Delaware hens/pullets -- any pics available?

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CovenantCreek

Chicks Rule!
12 Years
Oct 19, 2007
1,360
7
171
Franklin, TN
I recently read the standard for Delaware hens, and am trying to figure out if my girls come anywhere near it in terms of their topline. I'm not sure if I understand what the "cushion" refers to and would love to see pics of some good quality girls to compare mine to.
 
Lorie, hi. I'm not sure what you're referring to. I don't see a reference to "cushion" in my Standard. That's usually a term I see referring to Cochins. Delaware backs are supposed to form a "gradual concave sweep."
 
Just saw this post. I'd take new pics of my Kira, but cant get to the coops (broken ankle). I would never say a Delaware had a "cushion". Orpingtons and Cochins, yes, but Delawares have a different body type.
 
Is the cushion on the top (in front of the tail) or bottom (under the tail)? I haven't been able to get a clear idea of what exactly the term is referring to. Here are pics of a few of my girls -- I'm thinking that they aren't as close to the standard as I'd want for a true breeding program.
hen2a.jpg

normal_hen3.jpg

normal_hen5.jpg
 
Quote:
Ok........after reviewing my copy of the standard I'm starting to think I'm crazy. I know I read something, somewhere that mentioned Delaware females shouldn't have too much cushioning, but apparently not there.
hmm.png
 
The cushion is at the saddle area, where on some birds, it looks like a big cushion, puffy like a bustle, if you know what that is. Here is a BLue Orp hen-see the big pouf just in front of her tail? That is the cushion.
DCP_7753.jpg
 
If you look at the pullet in the BYC pic of the week, you can see that she has a little cushioning, but her back isn't bad. I do have a couple of females with a better sweep to the back, but that one is my largest girl, has a great comb, and good black in her tail. She also carries the genes for clean, precise barring. So there are lots of factors to keep in mind.

Lorie, that bottom girl in your pics has a decent sweep, but her body is a little on the shallow side overall.
 

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