Anyone Here Have Delawares From Hoover's Hatchery?

[AUChickenGal]

Just curious to see if anyone has photos of adult Delawares from Hoover's Hatchery stock. They only have one poor-quality photo on their website. I ordered two Delaware chicks from them in April. One died shortly after arriving, but the other is doing well. In fact, she's HUGE compared to her flockmates - not quite "did they accidentally send me a CornishX?" huge, but darn close. I'm wondering if I have a little mutant (just joking - mostly!) on my hands, or if all the Hoover's Delawares are this big/fast growing. The last Delaware I had came from Meyer, and I don't remember her being anywhere near this large.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hencraze24]

Delawares are meat birds-how much does she weigh?
Ours weighs half a pound more than average.
Also, are you positive its a hen?

 

[AUChickenGal]

I’m not sure on her weight. Mostly, what I’ve noticed is how much larger her breast muscles are than her contemporaries.

As to sex, these chicks will be five weeks old tomorrow, so it’s a bit early to be sure. She hasn’t given me any reason to suspect that she’s actually an accidental cockerel yet. In the head-on photo below, her comb and wattles do look a bit pink, but I’d just chased her down for the photo. Could go either way, I think?

In the group photo, she’s standing with two Salmon Faverolles, a Speckled Sussex, an Easter Egger, and a Production Red. All hatched April 15/16.

 

[Relleoms]

This is my Hoover’s Delaware at 14 weeks. She’s average size compared to the rest of my girls.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Looks like the barring is just coming in at the neck.....Delaware.
My deleware is McMurray stock but is considerably larger than the other birds from the same order this year. As noted above they are bred ad dual purpose so are a bigger bird

 

[Ra_]

A line that I'm developing looks just like the Delaware.
Instead of crossing Barred Rock with New Hampshire, I used the massive Dixie Rainbow.

 

[WhoDatChick]

A line that I'm developing looks just like the Delaware.
Instead of crossing Barred Rock with New Hampshire, I used the massive Dixie Rainbow.

View attachment 1804298

That’s beautiful...

 

[Aunna]

I have two Hoover’s Delawares, they seem around the same size as my Brahmas.

This is my strongly suspected cockerel, Waffles who was hatched toward the end of March. He doesn’t seem freakishly large, but considerably more broad chested than our leghorn of the same age.

 

[AUChickenGal]

Thanks to everyone who has shared pictures! My girl is now 8 weeks old and definitely a Delaware pullet. She still dwarfs her hatch mates. I’m very happy with how she’s turning out.

@Ra_ that bird is gorgeous! What generation are you on with your project?

 

[Ra_]

@Ra_ that bird is gorgeous! What generation are you on with your project?

Thanks. The first of five hatches of second generation Rainbow Rock turned 4 months old yesterday. I'm going to have to create a second paddock for Speckles and his white hens because Blackfoot has banished him and taken his girls.