Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[timbowsr]

Sorry to hear that Mr King. We had purchased a dozen and Julie was kind enough to send extras. There was shipping damage so we ended up with 11. I had built a DYI incubator and didn't want to use these for a test run so we put them in my nephew's who has had a good track record with his Little Giant. Well, somewhere along the way the incubator's thermostat malfunctioned and the eggs set in 104 degree temps for 18 days. I was lucky that I had the two chicks hatch out that did. They're almost 4 weeks old now and are towering over the other 12 I purchased locally who are about a week behind them. On a side note ... I've now done three successive hatches from my homemade incubator with 87%, 93% and 89% hatch rate ... woohoo! Good luck with yours as well ... keep me informed on how they're doing.

 

[Mr King]

Sorry to hear that Mr King. We had purchased a dozen and Julie was kind enough to send extras. There was shipping damage so we ended up with 11. I had built a DYI incubator and didn't want to use these for a test run so we put them in my nephew's who has had a good track record with his Little Giant. Well, somewhere along the way the incubator's thermostat malfunctioned and the eggs set in 104 degree temps for 18 days. I was lucky that I had the two chicks hatch out that did. They're almost 4 weeks old now and are towering over the other 12 I purchased locally who are about a week behind them. On a side note ... I've now done three successive hatches from my homemade incubator with 87%, 93% and 89% hatch rate ... woohoo! Good luck with yours as well ... keep me informed on how they're doing.

Yes she's very kind. Beside the eggs i order some baby chicks from her as well 25 but i stayed with 10 (since i had the ones from the eggs) and a friend of mine the other 15, but now after the storm i have 3 from the eggs and all 10 I got as babychicks. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mr King]

My older ones are 3 1/2 weeks and the little ones 1 1/2 week.

 

[timbowsr]

I am not going to beat him up. You will figure out much along the way.

Your comments on the wings is probably lazy wings and is heritable. You would have to open the wings up to see if they have split wings. Some cockerels have it and grow out of it. It has to be dealt with at some point.

The bird does have a shallow keel, and lacks a well rounded breast. Some would call that a "cut-off chest". He is shallow, and without depth.

There are other things, but there are two points to consider.

So ... what I gather is I should be looking for something broader across the back, and wider from front to back? I really appreciate your opinion and guidance.

Mr King ... of course these are young but here's a couple pics of my two NC chicks. I'm new to all this, but we tried to feather sex them at about 3 to 4 days old and I think I have a pullet and a cockerel.

pullet

cockerel

the whole team

 

[Mr King]

So ... what I gather is I should be looking for something broader across the back, and wider from front to back? I really appreciate your opinion and guidance. Mr King ... of course these are young but here's a couple pics of my two NC chicks. I'm new to all this, but we tried to feather sex them at about 3 to 4 days old and I think I have a pullet and a cockerel. pullet cockerel the whole team [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR]

Thanks for sharing pics.I'm also new with delaware breed but I'm learning thanks to all this people sharing info.

 

[ijon]

Try eight acres farm

 

[timbowsr]

Well, we tried a test batch of mutts from this cockerel just to be sure he wasn't shooting blanks. They were all fertile and hatched about two weeks ago. But we found that about 80% of the chicks that hatched had the same wing problem. I'm ditching him! Which is a shame. He's a good rooster and takes care of his girls! He was one of my first chickens I ever had and we have affectionately called him Hoppy ( because of a foot injury that he overcame when just a few weeks old ) and bragged on him ( regardless of rather he deserved it or not ) ... but if I am serious about trying to breed a strong, healthy, standards based Delaware I just can't justify passing his genes on.

So ... does anyone know of a breeder that would be willing to sell a few cockerels? I had contacted Cobb Creek a while back before I purchased eggs from Julie and may contact them again to see if they have any available. They're not but about six hours away from where I'm at.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Well, we tried a test batch of mutts from this cockerel just to be sure he wasn't shooting blanks. They were all fertile and hatched about two weeks ago. But we found that about 80% of the chicks that hatched had the same wing problem. I'm ditching him! Which is a shame. He's a good rooster and takes care of his girls! He was one of my first chickens I ever had and we have affectionately called him Hoppy ( because of a foot injury that he overcame when just a few weeks old ) and bragged on him ( regardless of rather he deserved it or not ) ... but if I am serious about trying to breed a strong, healthy, standards based Delaware I just can't justify passing his genes on.

So ... does anyone know of a breeder that would be willing to sell a few cockerels? I had contacted Cobb Creek a while back before I purchased eggs from Julie and may contact them again to see if they have any available. They're not but about six hours away from where I'm at.

That sounds like a difficult but wise decision.

I hope you do find a cockerel/cock (or chicks or eggs) so you can keep working with the Delawares.

 

[timbowsr]

That sounds like a difficult but wise decision.

I hope you do find a cockerel/cock (or chicks or eggs) so you can keep working with the Delawares.

Thanks Leslie. I do have a 4 week old cockerel I hatched that I hope will turn out ok. You know the story ... hurry up and wait. I would feel better if I had a couple more to choose from.

 

[maddiespoppa]

Try eight acres farm

I think Luanne is still shipping hatching eggs but not chicks at the moment due to the heat here in North Florida right now.