Answer to the Delaware Dilemma

[joletabey]

Thank you so much for posting these pictures, Bio! I am not the best expert, but I can give you an opinion or two - and I could really miss the boat, but I am basing it on the pictures- and pictures do not always tell the whole truth!
OK, you said you already know about color, and yes, your pullet needs more color, but the roo color is not too bad. I do like the pullet better than either of the roos body wise. She has a fuller, more bowl shaped look, and a better back line. She is somewhat pinched in the tail, but I think she is a really good start. Good color legs, fairly nice wing set, legs fairly wide apart, comb set seems good.
The roos may seem a bit shallow to me because they are young? But they are high in their tail sets, the first roo particularly appears to be squirrel tailed. The second roo, without the tail band, seems broader, a little more compact looking, his legs seem wider apart, and I like his tail set better than the first. Both look like the set of the comb is good. But,if you are choosing between the roos, I would choose the second one, mostly due to how he looks in the last picture.

I am sure others with a better eye than I have can add more! I do think you look like you have something to start with, truly.

 

[math ace]

Quote:

Biomistake - - - very nice job with the photos. . . . I was wondering when most people start culling - - - What is the min age before you should start making culling decisions ? ?
Is it necessary to wait a full year to judge the body or can some decisions be made earlier like around 5 - 6 months of age ? ? ?

Thanks

 

[biomistake]

You can at 5 or 6 months like I did the first time and now I regret it...*remember I am a beginner and learning myself* I could have had a pen full of cockerels to choose from at this point and one could have been better than these two. All the rest other than 3 *I had 10 or so roos in the batch* weighed over 4lb at 16 weeks. The lady I bought the chicks from can sex her chicks so IF I ever go back and buy from her it would be eggs only regardless the breed... I was snookered to say the least... end rant. So back to topic I would wait 10 to 12 months myself as I just found some information out about when they should hit the SOP Cockerel/pullet weight. I forgot to ask if it was for this breed only or for all LBF as my memory isnt the greatest on one of my meds for my back. Hindsight is 20/20 eh? Looking forward I will wait for the 10 month mark for potential breeders and use the ALBC breeder checksheet. I have one of my del over red cockerels that was born march 28 and size wise he is as big as the two you are looking at and they are huge... I handled them this morning but will do a weight check tonight on them the pullet and the other 4 pullets I hatched this spring. I think I got my date off on the ones I posted I am going to go check the record I just found and edit them for age.

As a tag I am now an ALBC member guess I need to make a siggy now

 

[CoffeeCow]

since we are all posting pics, wanna take a look at my 2 ladies?

I am going to be getting some more, just want to know if i should get from the same place or try elsewhere?

Thing 1 (yeah, I know their names are silly

)

Thing 2

 

[biomistake]

Jolet it was hard getting the side shots of the no band criminal he never stays still and likes to stand at odd angles then move when I go for that side shot. In real on the ground side by side the one with the band has a nice fat round breast vs the other one. Maybe its his brickishness that does it and maybe I do need to stick with no band this time around.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Very good Beth! About the only thing that I would add is that I really like the width of skull in the pullet. You get an A.

Thanks for the good work on the photo's Bio. It makes it a lot easier.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Their bodies are not very deep, the tails are pinched and the back line has a bit of a cushion. Thing 1 has something strange going on with her comb. Can't quite see what it is. I will let the other posters decide if you should try another place.

Walt

 

[biomistake]

Thanks guys so that does clinch it. I was hoping no band was the one now I know for now. I will try to find another roo as soon as I can. One of the this year's pullets is rather flat backed so maybe she will help pull the tail down?? I am taking a stab in the dark here.

 

[CoffeeCow]

they are young in the photo, about 6 months or a little less

 

[math ace]

Quote:
What is ALBC and where do I get a checksheet ?