Answer to the Delaware Dilemma

[joletabey]

Jeremy, look at the second picture I posted above- Lizzie has some of those, too, and you can see them in that picture. Or at least I think that is what you are talking about.

Walt, is there any way a hen like the above can be useful for breeding at all IF she has good body type? Since the tail and hackles are so black, if bred to a good roo, might it help her pullet offspring? Or is this something to be avoided at all costs.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Then he needs to share them with us!

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
If it is under 9 months old, I would wait and see what happens. I would have to see the pics before I could give an opinion.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
I would save every good bodied/type bird I had in the beginning. Then I would put the dark colored ones with the light colored birds of the opposite sex. Until you get a flock with decent numbers you can't cull as ruthlessly as later on. (Cynthia mentioned this the other day). You have to use what you have or introduce some new birds. If I were you I would be looking for a good bodied male, if I am remembering your situation correctly. Your females seem to only need some work on the tails. Remember...we are not doing color quite yet. (other than trying light with dark birds).

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Then he needs to share them with us!

I think he sold out of them, but I will try to find out who got them.

w.

 

[speckledhen]

Jeremy, one of my girls has one or two stray dark feathers, but generally, they are pretty clean in their white areas, other than that stupid Georgia clay, LOL. The smut is something that sometimes can take a long time to molt out as they mature, as Walt mentioned when he said "nine months" earlier. I'm pretty pleased with mine generally in that regard, compared to others I've seen. And mine don't seem to be yellowing like others, either, though they may as they get older. Isaac and my remaining three Del hens will be two years old in February.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

fowlman01 - where are you that you are going to visit Mr. Urch? I was not aware he had Delawares. I had been somewhat planning a drive to see him as he has Buckeyes, Ameraucanas and Welsummers (mine need improvement), but if he has Dels as well I may need to get another incubator!

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
I am in CA, but I see him at least twice a year. He and I are on the Board of Directors of the APA. I have known him for over 30 years. Unfortunately he no longer raises Dels.
Duane is a very good breeder of chickens. He has supplied exhibition stock to some of the famous show winners for many years now. His specialty is heritage/rare breeds and he breeds them true to the SOP.

Walt

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Yup, that's what I'm talking about! I'll try to get a couple of pictures when I get home.
Quasi is getting so big, she's laying now!

Quote:
Then he needs to share them with us!

I second that motion!

Quote:
If it is under 9 months old, I would wait and see what happens. I would have to see the pics before I could give an opinion.

Walt

She just reached POL, the pullet in question is about 5 months old, born on the 1st of April.
I will take some pictures this afternoon when I get home.

Quote:
LOL! Why is it that the Delawares insist on getting the most dirty out of ALL of my birds? I feel your pain Cyn.
I haven't noticed any yellow color on Stewart or Quasi yet, however my older hatchery girls look like their hackles are made out of straw!

 

[joletabey]

JoAnne- I don't think he does Dels anymore- they are not listed in his ads.

Walt, I know we aren't doing color, and working on body first, but I thought since my girls are pretty good bodied, that I would try her with my light male, which is what you said about light to dark. Just to see if it did change the color- then I would know for the future. Sort of an experiment within an experiment, if that makes sense?
I am going to add some stock this spring and see what I get. Just wanted to know if I could keep her in the loop, or if I needed to put her in a layers pen forever.