Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[Mr King]

I know what you mean. I have my grow out run filled with sand, but we got a pretty good bit of rain last week and my chics are dirty as well. How did you make out down there with the tropical storm?? Hope all is well ... you guys probably appreciated the rain. We thought we would of gotten more off of it then we did ... but only got a few sprinkles and a little bit of wind gusts.

Tropical storm was more to the north but we still had alot of water all weekend some areas got flooded and water went inside houses. Where I live is at higher level that most other places but still needed to level area where my chickens are

 

[Mr King]

This is 1 lb 10 oz
Those weights were yesterday before they ate.

This is 1lb 8oz

 

[timbowsr]

Here are my current weights ...

Pullets:
Y1 - 9.4 Weeks - 2.62 lbs
B1 - 9.4 Weeks - 2.73 lbs
B2 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.09 lbs
B3 - 8.3 Weeks - 1.88 lbs
B7 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.14 lbs
B9 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.18 lbs
B10 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.39 lbs
B11 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.17 lbs
B12 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.35 lbs

Cockerels:
B4 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.72 lbs
B6 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.59 lbs
B8 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.83 lbs

Y1 & B1 are from Julie's stock and the rest are from a local breeder. They all seem nice and healthy. Any advice on judging the keels?

 

[Mr King]

Here are my current weights ...

Pullets:
Y1 - 9.4 Weeks - 2.62 lbs
B1 - 9.4 Weeks - 2.73 lbs
B2 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.09 lbs
B3 - 8.3 Weeks - 1.88 lbs
B7 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.14 lbs
B9 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.18 lbs
B10 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.39 lbs
B11 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.17 lbs
B12 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.35 lbs

Cockerels:
B4 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.72 lbs
B6 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.59 lbs
B8 - 8.3 Weeks - 2.83 lbs

Y1 & B1 are from Julie's stock and the rest are from a local breeder. They all seem nice and healthy. Any advice on judging the keels?

Sounds good.!

 

[timbowsr]

According to the standard ....

Standard Weights:
"Cock....8 1/2 lbs, Hen....6 1/2 lbs, cockerel.... 7 1/2 lbs, pullet.... 5 1/2 lbs"

I got this from the Delaware Poultry Club standard's page. At what age should we see these weights?

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

According to the standard ....

Standard Weights:
"Cock....8 1/2 lbs, Hen....6 1/2 lbs, cockerel.... 7 1/2 lbs, pullet.... 5 1/2 lbs"

I got this from the Delaware Poultry Club standard's page. At what age should we see these weights?

Great question.

I know last year's pullets have recently really bulked up ... they should all be a year old by now as last year's hatches ranged from about April Fools Day to mid July.

 

[timbowsr]

I just started with chickens last year so I haven't got a ton of experience with any breed, but hopefully someone who's been raising Delawares or is in the know can clue us in. I'm not focusing just on weight and size ( although it may look like it judging from my previous posts ), I'm looking at other things as well. I culled two cockerels and two pullets last week for some obvious faults. I'm keeping notes and records on all of my birds so that next year I have some comparisons I can make. I didn't have a lot of confidence in the scales I was using and lucked out at a local auction last weekend and got a really nice set and can lay down some numbers I feel good about. I had to go out of town for my job and just returned today but will probably be weighing this evening ( along with some rabbits ). Hopefully will get some new pics and be able to post a few here.

Another question I have is ... I hear a lot about the depth of a chicken. Can someone explain this a little bit for me?

BTW ... is everyone's chickens slowing/slowed down on their laying. I noticed mine are down to about 20% of what they were laying. I've been saying and believe it's just the heat. It's been miserable down here in SW Louisiana!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Depth is measured roughly from a point between the shoulder blades to a the lower chest/keel ... from the side. Using your hands gives a better measure as some birds are fluffy. Like measuring the radius of a circle.

This video shows how to assess a bird. YouTube, "How To Breed a Better Chicken." It co-stars a couple Delaware cockerels.

 

[caychris]

laying is down a bit for me. Birds all seem healthy and active. May worm them soon though. Just have to find time to weigh them and dose them.

 

[finnfur]

laying is down a bit for me. Birds all seem healthy and active. May worm them soon though. Just have to find time to weigh them and dose them.

Our production has been down last three weeks - see lotsa feathers also.- its been hot and humid here.