Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[caychris]

Thanks chris... great info..

Of course above all the birds can really throw a monkey wrench into even the best laid plans.
No matter what you do good records are the most important thing.

One of the things that I think gets over looked when comparing studies etc. Is how the study is conducted and what the study is trying to tell us and ultimately comparing the study to what we are trying to do. There have been several attempts to study the differences between pasture raised birds and barn raised birds and most of them have difficulties getting information to compare because the method are so different. Your birds will be raised your way the only true way to know if you are making progress is comparing year over year of carefully bred birds.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think "Standard" breeding selection itself should improve laying ... if good laying is indeed related to good type. So there's that.

Then, if it makes sense that if you want to improve egg size, you hatch from larger eggs.

If you want to improve winter laying, you maybe hatch eggs in the winter, or snag birds from the nests in winter and mark them so you can be sure to breed from them in spring.

And so on.

But you balance that against your other breeding goals. Hatcheries are already selecting for early laying and lots of eggs, I'd think, but at the cost of some other important stuff.

 

[Rod-T]

I think "Standard" breeding selection itself should improve laying ... if good laying is indeed related to good type. So there's that.

Then, if it makes sense that if you want to improve egg size, you hatch from larger eggs.

If you want to improve winter laying, you maybe hatch eggs in the winter, or snag birds from the nests in winter and mark them so you can be sure to breed from them in spring.

And so on.

But you balance that against your other breeding goals. Hatcheries are already selecting for early laying and lots of eggs, I'd think, but at the cost of some other important stuff.

That makes sense... I can't wait to get started... my last 3 were born in February .. so I won't be able to breed until this fall..

 

[Rod-T]

Of course above all the birds can really throw a monkey wrench into even the best laid plans. 
No matter what you do good records are the most important thing. 

One of the things that I think gets over looked when comparing studies etc. Is how the study is conducted and what the study is trying to tell us and ultimately comparing the study to what we are trying to do. There have been several attempts to study the differences between pasture raised birds and barn raised birds and most of them have difficulties getting information to compare because the method are so different. Your birds will be raised your way the only true way to know if you are making progress is comparing year over year of carefully bred birds.

Do you weigh your chicks weekly chris?

 

[finnfur]

But you balance that against your other breeding goals. Hatcheries are already selecting for early laying and lots of eggs, I'd think, but at the cost of some other important stuff.

Yes - like meat and they have lost the dual purpose bird it was created to be - actually it was created for meat and the eggs are a by product.
Rod is just as well off with hatchery stock if eggs are the main goal IMHO

 

[Rod-T]

Yes - like meat and they have lost the dual purpose bird it was created to be - actually it was created for meat and the eggs are a by product.
Rod is just as well off with hatchery stock if eggs are the main goal IMHO

No eggs aren't my main goal.. just the records think got me thinking how everyone tries to Improve there production yearly. . I'm just trying to learn. How everyone manages there flock. . I want the real delawares. . But I think the sop calls for good production too..

 

[Rod-T]

Am I on the wrong thread to Learn about breeding delawares? If so I'm sorry meant no offense. . I was really just curious about managing practices

 

[caychris]

Am I on the wrong thread to Learn about breeding delawares? If so I'm sorry meant no offense. . I was really just curious about managing practices

Yes you are in the right thread. To some extent in order to breed well you need to select good layers. You can't breed forward an amazing bird that lays no eggs

 

[caychris]

Do you weigh your chicks weekly chris?

Yeah I do after they start getting difficult to wrangle I switch to monthly but weekly in early development lets me spot trends and things. I don't weigh right at hatch I just pick a day within their first week and weigh the same group that same day each week. I compare weight gain week to week as a percentage and also track feathering.


Its kind of fun to watch which chicks will grow the most as a percentage week to week.

 

[Rod-T]

Yeah I do after they start getting difficult to wrangle I switch to monthly but weekly in early development lets me spot trends and things. I don't weigh right at hatch I just pick a day within their first week and weigh the same group that same day each week. I compare weight gain week to week as a percentage and also track feathering. 


Its kind of fun to watch which chicks will grow the most as a percentage week to week.

At first I was thinking that was a little often..
But it make sense. . After some years you will be able to look back at old records .. and see if your improving .. that's great advice thank you