Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[caychris]

They are still young. When they are mature, you want them to look like this post #7

Like I said on the other thread, having the SOP would help you. It lists the defects and gives you the desirable head & body traits that you should look for in your birds. Not just pretty stuff - but things that make them a more productive dual purpose fowl.
I'm not a judge, so this is JMO. All the tails look like they might be pinched, which is common in hatchery birds.
The "largest one" and "Clara" have better rounding in their breasts than the first bird photo.
The one with the top view looks decent, width wise.
They should have more yellow color in their legs, but that may come with maturity.
The wing in the last photo looks split. But, many of mine are looking like that and I was told that could change. Check it again when she is mature. The SOP shows how the wing feathers should look.
You also need to feel their keel and make sure that it is long & straight.

I plan to get the SOP it would be nice to be able to get some hands on explanation some time.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I plan to get the SOP it would be nice to be able to get some hands on explanation some time.

Isn't Debi @PetRock near you? She could show you some basics of how to go over your birds.
Go to shows and watch how the judge evaluates the birds. (Don't go inside roped off areas and don't bother them while they are judging.)
The Heirloom Expo is a good show where you can see judging done up close and ask questions. Maybe there might be a chance to handle a Delaware.

 

[har]

These girls are some that raised this year. They from a project pullet and a Delaware Roos.

Scott

 

[capayvalleychick]

These girls are some that raised this year. They from a project pullet and a Delaware Roos.

Scott

Remember not to use the R word in this section of BYC.

What project? Have you weighed them? Did you see desertmarcy has her KDels for sale? I thought that you might be interested.

 

[DuckBoy]

Hello are there pictures some where so I can see what the Del standards are thank you.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Hello are there pictures some where so I can see what the Del standards are thank you.

From page 1 of this thread ...

Well - here is what we are all looking for Please enter my order for one Cock and five Hens from the above. LOL I look at these every time I think we have a nice SOP Delaware and it brings me back to reality LOL

 

[DuckBoy]

Hello where are you from in maryland I grew up there?

 

[CountryLife4Me]

Hello everyone! I am not a chicken breeder (yet) so I hope you don't mind me asking this here, but I figured I needed to go to the experts! I recently got a Delaware hen from a local breeder. When I got her, she looked dirty (like she'd been taking a dirt bath recently). Anyway, in all the pictures that I've seen of Delawares, they look crisp white (with black markings of course), but my hen looks more cream colored. She does take a LOT of dirt baths, so I don't know if that is why she doesn't look pure white or if maybe she isn't a true Delaware. She looks especially creamy/yellowish next to my White Orpington. I took a few pictures of her this afternoon (although it's still hard to tell what I'm talking about). If you would be so kind, please tell me what you think. Thank you!

 

[desertmarcy]

Hello everyone! I am not a chicken breeder (yet) so I hope you don't mind me asking this here, but I figured I needed to go to the experts! I recently got a Delaware hen from a local breeder. When I got her, she looked dirty (like she'd been taking a dirt bath recently). Anyway, in all the pictures that I've seen of Delawares, they look crisp white (with black markings of course), but my hen looks more cream colored. She does take a LOT of dirt baths, so I don't know if that is why she doesn't look pure white or if maybe she isn't a true Delaware. She looks especially creamy/yellowish next to my White Orpington. I took a few pictures of her this afternoon (although it's still hard to tell what I'm talking about). If you would be so kind, please tell me what you think. Thank you!

You could give her a bath and see how she looks afterwards, then you will know if she is just dirty from dust bathing. Some white birds do yellow from sun exposure, that could be what is causing the off color.

 

[finnfur]

You could give her a bath and see how she looks afterwards, then you will know if she is just dirty from dust bathing. Some white birds do yellow from sun exposure, that could be what is causing the off color.

Yes its true- My #2 cock was separated from the flock out of sun for two months and the off color almost went away . He still had a ting of tan when we put him back out but most was gone. However the #1 Cock does not tan as much in the sun. So I think some are more prone to the discolor than others.
So it may be a combination of things . All of our free range have some because they also dust bath in the red clay.