Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[capayvalleychick]

Maybe that would be a good discussion. The language used in the Standard, and how it compares to the two parent breeds.

I like this idea.

 

[capayvalleychick]

OK Kim -disclaimer - it is very hard to critique a chicken with one pic as you know hands on works best-
I am looking at these with the Shilling drawing side by side - as Bob said once he thought that looked more like the real bird than the new cartoons LOL
That drawing is a direct side view - your pics are a standing up looking down angle.
I think this group look better than my current F5s except a couple. I seem to have many with a back that narrows at back end with to much tail angle .
Maybe my Cock #2 will produce different results - don't know.
My notes ;
G13 - Nice heavy bird maybe a little to much cushion just before tail- like shape - good hackle marking
G16- seems to have a arch/short back not flat - wing problem
O42- like the head and tail - maybe could be flatter between
G74-To bad about keel but like her color
G1 - Bad pose hard to judge-maybe light in breast ?
G18-arch in back ? could be pose again
G3- looks long - good weight
G7-nice wide- flat back- tail should angle up some-nice head - do I see some black bled thru above wing/back ?
R73- back looks wide and flat- tail good- may be angle makes her look long ? lota fluff on bottom going to be a broody LOL

Remember I'm not a professional but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn express once.
This is still the best looking line of Delawares - bar none

I appreciate everyone's discussion on this! I agonize over selection and it helps to have people to talk with.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

You are right. It is accentuated a bit, because their crops are full of oats that I threw down to catch them and keep them happy in the cage, but that's no excuse. I wonder if the breast could still fill in to be rounder as they mature or this is it?

Food Babies! You should see me after I eat. (I was wondering how much of their front-ends was a recent meal.)

Annnnnnnnnddddddd ... we found a broody hatchery/mutt hen on a big clutch of eggs hunkered down in a corner of the house formed by the kitchen wing and master suite wing this morning.

that I don't have any decent Delaware eggs to give her yet. We're going to set her up in a Broody Box tonight. Le Sigh. Team Freedom Mutt is taking an early lead this year, same as last. We're talking about locking the hatchery birds in the coop until noon every day for a week or so. They've been hiding their eggs, the little stinkers.

I did have two 3-egg days from the Delaware pen. Three perfect little infertile eggs (48-54 grams) with tough pullet shells. Not sure why infertile.

Though PapaDel is keeping track of 40-ish females, so ... I made quiche.

PapaDel got his spurs off last night. I have delegated this task due to FAINTING. Couldn't figure out what was up with that until I remembered: I faint at the sight of blood from a living creature. I'm a wiz at evisceration if the bird is dead, otherwise I'd be useless around here.

 

[caychris]

This group was hatched between March 23 and May. I have records of their rate of growth. They do day range. Their diet is just commercial chicken feed - nothing special. Sometimes they get some whole oats.

Their size is not due to any special feed, or else all my chickens would be large, which is not the case. What you are seeing is the result of starting with good stock and selecting according to the SOP. Genetics and selection - not diet- is the reason they are as nice as they look.

Thanks I was just wondering if you were doing anything particular to help the genetics reach their full potential. Some people swear by a particular feeding method in order to ensure the young birds are getting all they need. Its good to know you are getting good results without having to go the extra mile with them.

 

[finnfur]

I did have two 3-egg days from the Delaware pen. Three perfect little infertile eggs (48-54 grams) with tough pullet shells. Not sure why infertile.

Though PapaDel is keeping track of 40-ish females, so ... I made quiche.

PapaDel got his spurs off last night. I have delegated this task due to FAINTING. Couldn't figure out what was up with that until I remembered: I faint at the sight of blood from a living creature. I'm a wiz at evisceration if the bird is dead, otherwise I'd be useless around here.

You might need to give Papa Del some help LOL
But I assure you spur removal won't slow him down .
Within two days after spur removal all hens had reddish brown spots on there backs.
I have one pullet that insists on laying just in side the coop door or out side at the feeder ?
So I put the cast iron pot with the oyster shells in it just inside the door to discourage laying there - so guess what

 

[finnfur]

I appreciate everyone's discussion on this! I agonize over selection and it helps to have people to talk with.

I understand- having the same problem LOL
I wonder if something like this would help us - its for plymouth rock but what are the differences in what we are looking for ?
How about some expert opins here:


I have been looking for # 4 to breed and should be looking for #1 - I have no idea where I got this but found it informative
wish I had a clear copy

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

You might need to give Papa Del some help LOL But I assure you spur removal won't slow him down . Within two days after spur removal all hens had reddish brown spots on there backs. I have one pullet that insists on laying just in side the coop door or out side at the feeder ? So I put the cast iron pot with the oyster shells in it just inside the door to discourage laying there - so guess what

Ha! That hen has your number! Someone somewhere is fainting over using such a great pot for the birds I found a pot like that in the barn and now use it as my bread pot (no-knead artisan bread).

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I understand- having the same problem LOL
I wonder if something like this would help us - its for plymouth rock but what are the differences in what we are looking for ?
How about some expert opins here:


I have been looking for # 4 to breed and should be looking for #1 - I have no idea where I got this but found it informative
wish I had a clear copy

All you had to do was ask google.

Then find page 135.

Test at breakfast tomorrow.

https://archive.org/details/plymouthrockstan00amerrich


Though that link is being weird. This one might work better?

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ncs1.ark:/13960/t2w382d8j;view=1up;seq=5

 

[finnfur]

All you had to do was ask google.

Then find page 135.

Test at breakfast tomorrow.

https://archive.org/details/plymouthrockstan00amerrich


Though that link is being weird. This one might work better?

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ncs1.ark:/13960/t2w382d8j;view=1up;seq=5

Well aint you the cats meow lOL !
Ok read page 135 and ready for test
However we need to know if the specks for the Rock are same as for Del - awaiting for some expert opin

Not sure the is better the book used was yellow

 

[Zanna]

Someone somewhere is fainting over using such a great pot for the birds I found a pot like that in the barn and now use it as my bread pot (no-knead artisan bread).

Tee hee!!! My husband just rescued (stole) a rusty one from the neighbors yard, cured it with peanut oil, made a loaf of no-knead artisan bread and gave it back to him. The pot just appeared back in our shop. I think he wants a re-fill