Are Delawares really a heritage breed?

[rancher hicks]

Well of course you know I'm going to weigh in on this as Dels are my passion.

The ALBC as far as my new paperwork states that a RIR is defined by two types. One "heritage" and one "production" the same is said of the Leghorn breed.

While many may be trying to develop the breed for one thing (eggs productivity) or another (broiler), the breed is more than one or the other. As far as I understand it "type" also includes characteristics other than both eggs and meat. The type also includes personality, for lack of a better word.

This lack of personality may be why many are finding RIR's that are mean. This personality is out of type and should not be bred to anymore than things such as bad color.

Now with regards to Dels. I am looking for and breeding to not only physical type but personality type. Do my roos seem concerned for my hens, do they do the mating dance or just grab any hen who walks by and tear into her. When you feed your hens do your roos just grab the food and eat or does he call to the girls.

I have broodies that talk to the eggs as they hatch. Teach their chicks to eat. I recently had a hen who hatched and then fed her chick water from her beak. These types of things are as important to the breed as any physical characteristic IMO.

Now just as there are "production" RIR and Leghorns it seems to me there are "production" Delawares being passed off to unsuspecting chicken people. This also IMO.

As far as I'm concerned the "Breed" is heritage but evey bird may not be. It may look like a Delaware and walk like a Delaware but may not be 100% Delaware. I defer to the ALBC as they are the experts and I trust them.

Passionate about my Dels

Rancher

 

[jeremy]

Well said, rancher!

 

[33yardbirds]

Just getting back into chickens after 30 yrs paintings of Delewares really piqued my interest. Then seeing actual photos I lost interest fast. Now finding Heritage breeders who are striving to bring the black stipling to the roos and the true markings I am interesed again. I do realize that every bird will not true out. Then you have to be ready to cull those that don't show promise. As it is I had a heck of a time finding true RIR, which I have coming in the spring of 011. If I can find nice Dels I will be getting those also. The real key to the whole thing is to educate yourself and listen to people who know what they are talking about. Not to put down comm Hatcherys, but I will pay a bit more to somebody who is striving to maintain breed integrity.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I agree with you and think I have even raised the issue here in the past. I think "running around the homestead in the 1800s" is a great definition, but it is not the one used by chicken fanciers.

The bottom line is "heritage" with regards to chicken breeds doesn't mean the same thing as "heritage" would mean to a non-chicken person. It's just something that those of us new to chickens have to get used to.

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
I agree with you and think I have even raised the issue here in the past. I think "running around the homestead in the 1800s" is a great definition, but it is not the one used by chicken fanciers.

Essentially there were very few breeds "running around" way back then. That severely limits the number of breeds you can apply that definition to. Most breeds known today weren't even established (ETA- meaning they might have been here, but most breeds were still being created by crossing others at this time!) in the USA in the 1800s... just saying "in the 1800s" is entirely too vague of a statement. Do you mean at the beginning of the century, or around the turn towards the 1900s? 100 years can change things immensely.

 

[crperdue]

Since he was quoting me, I'll explain what I meant by "1800's".

- 1899 or earlier

But the year is really not the point, its the warm and fuzzy idea.

What I was trying to convey was the image that "heritage" generated
in my mind. Not a mathmatical formula based on the year of the breeds
creation but on a general idea of its past.

I guess a heritage chicken is one I would expect to see in a Norman
Rockwell painting.

 

[jeremy]

Well it just goes to show that you should never generalize!

 

[TimG]

Quote:
Hmm, I think Norman Rockwell painted mostly 20th century subjects. Too modern for my idea of "heritage"!

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I agree with you and think I have even raised the issue here in the past. I think "running around the homestead in the 1800s" is a great definition, but it is not the one used by chicken fanciers.

Essentially there were very few breeds "running around" way back then. That severely limits the number of breeds you can apply that definition to. Most breeds known today weren't even established (ETA- meaning they might have been here, but most breeds were still being created by crossing others at this time!) in the USA in the 1800s... just saying "in the 1800s" is entirely too vague of a statement. Do you mean at the beginning of the century, or around the turn towards the 1900s? 100 years can change things immensely.

It would not bother me if very few breeds qualified as "heritage". But, I'm not looking for an exact definition, I think of "heritage" as sort of fuzzy and I-know-it-when-I-see-it.

How's this for fuzzy: I think of heritage breeds as the breeds that were raised on working farms in the pre-modern era. Maybe that's pre-WWI (and maybe it's later than WWI for some of rural America). And yes, I'm aware that includes some of the 20th century!

 

[jeremy]

Clearly not everyone has the same idea of what definitions to follow and talking endlessly in circles is not going to get us to agree on anything.

I for one believe Delawares are a Heritage breed and need to efforts of fanciers and beeders alike to help replish and sustain the stock, to preserve the birds. Dels are a classic American breed and deserve to be recognized as such.

*steps off his soap box and proceeds to the door*.