Are Delewares the same as Columbian Rocks?

[clayhill]

I know to some this may seem silly, but I've got 14 BRs and have decided to build a new coop and start on a few Columbian Rocks.
I've not found a supplier for CRs or eggs. Ideal sent me a email stating that they were the same bird as Deleware and another website listed them as the same. Is this true? Show sited list them as a completely different breed. Anyone got the real scoop?

 

[tadkerson]

Delaware and columbian rocks are genetically the same with the exception that the delaware has the barring gene.. Show quality birds most likely have a different body type. The individuals on this forum that show rocks or delaware may want to comment on the body type.

I would say utility birds are the same with the barring in the delaware.

Tim

 

[scgamecock]

Columbian is a feather pattern and the Delaware has a very similar one but the black won't be as pronounced.They are different birds although the Delaware has Barred Rock in it's background.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I thought the three breeds that looked similar are Light Sussex, Delaware and Columbian Wyandotte...(?)

 

[shelleyb1969]

The Delaware was the "original" meat bird. It was originally created by a broiler cross, therefore it matures very quickly. Any of your plymouth rock varieties are considered dual purpose, but are better with egg production than meat.

 

[NYREDS]

While I wouldn't claim to be a genetics expert of any sort I must note that the feather patterns of the 2 breeds in question are quite different. Body type differs as well.

 

[patandchickens]

I wouldn't think a Columbian Wyandotte would be confuseable (is that a word) with the others, because of the comb.

When you say "same" do you mean in general color/pattern, or in all color/pattern details plus body type, or genetically (i.e. whether there are separate lines)? I would think a big hatchery like Ideal would be talking about just the first thing, whereas the other two are legitimate issues in many other contexts. Just depends what you want.

Pat

 

[clayhill]

Soooo, if they are different breeds, where can I find Columbian Plymouth Rocks! I have found no one, with the exception of Rochester in Canada, that deals with CRs.

 

[patandchickens]

you need a private breeder, not a hatchery, I think.

good luck,

Pat

 

[seriousbill]

Delawares and Columbian Rocks are, as others have pointed out, different breeds. To the untrained eye, though, the nuances of body shape, comb size, tail angle, etc are generally lost, and I think most people would be hard pressed to see much of a difference in two birds that are white with black tails

. A breeder or showman, however, can see it at a glance.

When Delawares started showing up at most hatcheries across the country, one thing that happened simultaneously is that the hatcheries tended to stop offering Columbian Rocks. Interestingly, and probably not by mere coincidence, some hatchery Dels look a lot like Col Rocks, with heavy neck lacing, small combs, little to no barring, etc. It's not hard to do the math on that one, lol. Nowadays it's nearly impossible to get an actual Col Rock from a hatchery. Private breeders are the only source, and I only know of a few of those.