Answer to the Delaware Dilemma

[kathyinmo]

I was thinking to look only at the body shape to begin with. You know, "build the barn before you paint it." I am looking at my girls, and am gonna put Oliver over the larger, bowl shaped girls, and see what I get. I am not gonna work on color quite yet. I hope I am doing this right.

 

[joletabey]

Kathy, you are probably right, and I am probably putting the cart before the horse! I have just always liked long range plans, and everything packed weeks in advance!

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Over what mountain? haha How are you raising birds in Oakland? Yes, I am in Santa Rosa. "The Chosen spot" according to Luther Burbank.

Mountain, hill, it's all pretty much the same.

I'm from a pretty flat part of TX so anything bigger than a bump is considered a mountain to me!

I was fortunate enough to stumble across a decent sized plot of property within the city limits, we purchased last year and now I actually have room to expand my flock(s)!

Question for you Walt- how often to you see Delawares represented at shows in or around the Bay Area?

ETA: Beth, I think we share similar thoughts when it comes to planning ahead. I feel like it's necessary to keep the "bigger picture" in mind when you begin breeding for selectivity. I wouldn't want to keep a group of girls that were nice and chunky only to throw out some that had (near) perfect markings because they were a bit underweight. Am I making sense or am I rambling?

ETA (again!): However I would select a larger, more filled out pullet over one that is obviously lanky or gangly any day!

There are just so many factors though that can come into play. Is the lanky pullet just slow to mature? Or is she lower in the pecking order, not allowing her to get to the feed as much as the higher ranking girls? Ya know? (Rambling, must go back to work!)

 

[joletabey]

I know- I keep two feeders in the Del pen so the hens on the bottom can get enough feed- mine looked better before they started laying, though. I am not sure what to do to try to plump them up again. They get all the feed they want, flock block to scratch at, protein treats several times a week - anyone have suggestions, or do I have to try to remember what they looked like before the heat of the summer and all the laying thinned them down? There are no worms in their poop, and no lice or mites on anyone, and believe me, after what happened to Desiree, I am on a constant watch.

 

[speckledhen]

I don't think Janet was using a double mating system due to her space restrictions and of course, her breeding program is on hold at the moment anyway due to her move closer to her job. I don't know who uses the double mating. It's hard enough just to find Delaware breeders, period, and I'm not sure how they handle their breeding programs.

Mine lose weight when they molt, Beth, always. It gets worse as they get older, seems to me.

 

[aveca]

Yep the foundation has to be correct or the building will fall down. That said the deleware is very specific color pattern. and the perfect bird hasnt been hatched so Im told . a few very close but no perfections which we are all striving for. I did see a bhrama (sp ) that won BOS every show he was at considered best in US.

If you open your color SOP, turn to deleware look carefully at the picture, the barring , even the B&W standard will help...Then turn 2 more pages and look at plymouth/columbian when you cross them you get something inbetween some barring some striaght green sheen which is a requirement of coumbian and light sussex.

not a big deal we just move on and evolve.

Green is not always a base color in black but required of both sussex and columbians, Purple can crop up as well which is a fault or supposed to be in sussex , columbian, and even the dark black birds like Australorps you see purple shades thou a fault.

This last summer I read a lecture given in harrisburg about correct birds and thier breeding and how it is no easy feat...from straight combs to the art of color.
I had what I purchased as an australorps cockeral, he had all of the right stuff, thoub a little leghorn looking, white soles on the feet a requirement, white skin no blk or spots on skin correct green sheen in feathers no purpleing thought I can work with this, super nice comb ect...and guess what... first batch of eggs I showed you in previous post..yellow , more like cream yellow on soles of feet skin a cream yellow to me says jersey giant...so offered him for sale and made clear that this might be a cross.

I read that whole thread. I dont think that anyone meant to be insulting, just a do things right was what I got out of it. sometimes people are passionate , and a lover of the breed and fear of loosing them .they are still on the critical list and the reason is just that, there are lots of australorps, and lots of delewares but are they really jersey giants? and columbians? Maybe we just need to take a hard look, deleware is an important american breed , we need to get it right.. look at the big shows , see whos winning in american - dels, seek them out, buy some great birds, or hatching eggs enjoy this important journey and please dont cross them back onto columbians or light sussex it only sets the whole thing back.. get some hatching eggs and go to work.. I know this is america and we want everything instant but think a couple years down the road to a great success.. And I hope you acheive it, I know you can.

I was told by a big breeder that True delewares in thier experience and using correct birds from different scources that the true delewares tend to go infertile earlier than other breeds so he liked to set them in the breeding sheds quite young and after 3 or 4 years he took them out on the show circut..the crosses will always keep thier fertility longer sue to longer gene pool, del gene pool is quite limited probable cause. He got many years of fun showing roosters . So maybe a tip from him, breed them straight off then retire-show and enjoy. the hens do better in fertility dept. He also said dont get jumpy with a baby with greyish tail after they loose those babies the darker tail barring follows.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Beth, if you DO see worms in their poop it is later on, and a heavy load by then. I wormed everyone today with Ivermectin pour on.

I have noticed the same as you, that my layers looked much better before than they do now. The younger ones look fine (just at point of lay), but I was wondering about the older gals. I have tried everything I know .... vitamins, extra protein, probiotics, etc... what next? Why aren't they as plump looking as they were?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I'm gone a few days and you folks start another thread without me

Walt! I take it your NOT such a newbie

Watchin' and learnin' Don't mind me....just keep on talking about Del's

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

Great post thank you!

 

[joletabey]

Kathy- with the Ivermectin pour on, how much do you use and is there a time period where you don't use the eggs? I think I am going to go ahead and worm them. Can I worm the chicks - they are 7 weeks old. I have googled worming on here till my fingers ache and can't get settled on what to use or what to do.

Aveca, is that your roo?