Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[speckledhen]

Quote: Ain't that the truth? To do them right, you'd have to have a male line and a female line and that wasn't in the cards for me so had to do the best I could with one line.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I would keep him and see how he looked after Juvie molt then reasess.

I agree, especially since this is kind of a special one for you.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree, especially since this is kind of a special one for you.

Thank you, yes he's a special little guy because I won't have any other Delawares after Georgie and Isaac pass, so I guess I'm asking more for my customer who was thinking of taking him. There are some other issues going on in the background that may determine whether he stays here or goes, but I wanted some other breeders' opinions on whether there's something to work with as far as SOP Delawares. He's surely an adventurous little critter, already acting like a flock guardian in miniature. I'm having a good time watching him grow. Haven't had a pure Delaware chick around here in quite some time and they are special, aren't they?

 

[speckledhen]

He's 8 weeks old now, seems to be getting even darker, though his tail barring is showing up at last. He's certainly a chunky thing compared to the Rock cockerel with him.

 

[capayvalleychick]

He's marked almost like mine from Kathy's line.

 

[speckledhen]

He's marked almost like mine from Kathy's line.

That's what I was thinking. And he isn't at all, not remotely, related. I remember that Georgie's sons were always a bit too dark, but he is over the top dark from what I remember those to be.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

The color of my cockerels seems to be changing a lot between ages of 4 & 6 moths. From what I remember of their sire (this is my first batch of chicks), he also lightened up some more in the spring. Mind you my birds still seem to have a lot of extra black. But now the overall impression of looking at the flock from a distance is that they are "white birds," not barred birds.

 

[speckledhen]

The color of my cockerels seems to be changing a lot between ages of 4 & 6 moths. From what I remember of their sire (this is my first batch of chicks), he also lightened up some more in the spring. Mind you my birds still seem to have a lot of extra black. But now the overall impression of looking at the flock from a distance is that they are "white birds," not barred birds.

I just noticed that some of Asa's tail feathers are coming in solid black, not all, but some-took long enough for them to show up, for goodness sake. No explanation other than Georgie threw all her paint at her only son in years, LOL. She throws dark sons and with Isaac, who veers toward the darker barred tail, I guess it all combined to make this guy just way too dark for a good Dellie breeder. I don't see him changing to the point of barred hackles and fully barred tail. He would not be my pick for a good Delaware project. If the tail feathers were properly barred, I might say differently, but these are just not correct at all. In the past, I've never seen one like this hatch here, but then, I rarely used Georgie's eggs after discovering her dwarf gene.

I emailed his future owner, letting him know my opinion, plus sending along these new photos from today. And what's up with the lack of comb points? Usually, they have five beautiful points or even a sixth, but three? I know that's not paramount, but it's odd, never saw one like that, either. I guess he's "special" all-round. On the upside, he has gorgeous yellow legs, nice chunky type and great wing carriage, plus a scintillating personality.
Thanks to my hubby, who helped by holding the little whirlwind.









ETA: The customer decided, after my own honest assessment and his knowledge of the breed, that Asa was not going to help him move forward in his SOP program. Much as I don't need him here, either, he will just have to stay for the time being. He's a great little guy so far and I'm enjoying watching him grow up.

 

[caychris]

Ok showing my noviceness here is there a significant difference between Columbian Rocks and Delawares. From what Ive read they are not always as white.

 

[speckledhen]

Ok showing my noviceness here is there a significant difference between Columbian Rocks and Delawares. From what Ive read they are not always as white.

Not sure what you mean by "not always as white". Columbian Rocks have solid black hackles and tails. Delawares have barred hackles, not solid black, in both sexes. The roosters have barred tails and the hens have tail black, i.e., black tail feathers edged in white. The body type is similar since Delawares have a Plymouth Rock heritage along with their New Hampshire one. That's the basic difference, the solid vs barred areas of the body.