Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[capayvalleychick]

I have one Delaware, about 12 weeks, She looks big size wise but she's really skinny. I don't think worms, none of her clutch mates are skinny.

Delawares are large birds, do the develop like Jersey Giants, skeletal cage then they fill out?

Some of mine are like you describe and take time to fill out. Most Delawares these days are no where near the size that they should be, so they stay skinny. You have to find a good line and work on improving them to get close to the standard for the breed.

I have too many Delaware chickens and need to process some for eating. They are 5-6 months. I want to keep the best for eggs and production of meat birds. I will be culling a rooster and several hens. My question is, what should I look for in desirable body type characteristics for the ones I keep.

Thanks, in advance, for any help that is offered in making these decisions.

A standard of perfection is the guide for choosing desirable traits in Delawares. Breeding to standard is breeding for utility. http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/store.htm

Here are some other helpful links for improving productivity: http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/chicken-manual

 

[mstarr]

Some of mine are like you describe and take time to fill out. Most Delawares these days are no where near the size that they should be, so they stay skinny. You have to find a good line and work on improving them to get close to the standard for the breed.

A standard of perfection is the guide for choosing desirable traits in Delawares. Breeding to standard is breeding for utility. http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/store.htm

Here are some other helpful links for improving productivity: http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/chicken-manual

The livestock conservancy link is an excellent resource and handy to access. Thanks for sharing!

 

[caychris]

Ive noticed quite a variation in the Delawares I got from the hatchery. Some have some good traits but none of them have many.
One of mine is fairly good sized they are about 7 months old or so now. I think one of them as a good tail (not pinched)
I know one of my smaller ones is my best egg layer though. I've considered getting a breeder cockerel and seeing if some of these traits can be improved on with the birds I have this next year.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Ive noticed quite a variation in the Delawares I got from the hatchery. Some have some good traits but none of them have many.
One of mine is fairly good sized they are about 7 months old or so now. I think one of them as a good tail (not pinched)
I know one of my smaller ones is my best egg layer though. I've considered getting a breeder cockerel and seeing if some of these traits can be improved on with the birds I have this next year.

I have seen a couple hatchery Delawares that were decent enough to work with, but that's an exception rather than the norm. If you have one with a wide, tepee tail, hang onto her.

 

[speckledhen]

I have one cockerel out of my aging Delaware rooster and last remaining hen. She was known for producing sons with too dark hackles, but I was shocked when this egg was even fertile, considering Isaac hasn't had great fertility in the last couple of years, maybe difficulty mating due to his arthritis in his right hock joint. He and Georgie will turn 6 years old in February.

My question is this: would you include little 6 week Asa here in a good Delaware breeding program? I realize that the back and upper wing smut clears as they get older, having raised up many of these over the years, however, his hackles are not barred but streaky. I've never seen streaky hackles become barred. He has a wide body and fabulous leg color, as this line does, but these hackles, sheesh. Let's hope these pics don't disappear on us like some are doing right now.




This pullet on the left below is not Delaware, but came from two barred parents who were each 1/2 Delaware.

 

[finnfur]

I have one cockerel out of my aging Delaware rooster and last remaining hen. She was known for producing sons with too dark hackles, but I was shocked when this egg was even fertile, considering Isaac hasn't had great fertility in the last couple of years, maybe difficulty mating due to his arthritis in his right hock joint. He and Georgie will turn 6 years old in February.

My question is this: would you include little 6 week Asa here in a good Delaware breeding program? I realize that the back and upper wing smut clears as they get older, having raised up many of these over the years, however, his hackles are not barred but streaky. I've never seen streaky hackles become barred. He has a wide body and fabulous leg color, as this line does, but these hackles, sheesh. Let's hope these pics don't disappear on us like some are doing right now.




This pullet on the left below is not Delaware, but came from two barred parents who were each 1/2 Delaware.

Well as many posts as I have read from SpeckledHen me replying would be like the novice giving the expert opinioned advise. LOL
But to answer the question I would wait till maturity and take a second look . I might use him to correct a wing problem we are having on the Cocks.
Glad to see you joining us over here - we need all the help we can get.
Ol Isaac never gives up does he ?

 

[speckledhen]

Well as many posts as I have read from SpeckledHen me replying would be like the novice giving the expert opinioned advise. LOL
But to answer the question I would wait till maturity and take a second look . I might use him to correct a wing problem we are having on the Cocks.
Glad to see you joining us over here - we need all the help we can get.
Ol Isaac never gives up does he ?

Oh, puleeeze, I'm no expert. I need input like everyone else, even if just to see sometimes if I'm thinking right on a particular aspect of this stuff. The reason I'm asking is really that I have someone who was interested in him and I don't know what to tell him about those hackles-I've never seen streaky become barred, but with the way these boys color up, I guess it could happen. If someone else has had that experience, would like to hear it. This person who is interested in taking Asa does need leg color correction in his flock and this line has fabulous leg color, as you can see.

Isaac will turn 6 in February, along with Georgie, so this may be the last chick from them. That sweet old Ike has figured out how to breed his hens even missing two toe ends and with serious arthritis. He keeps at least one foot on the ground and gets it done. He's a treasure! I love that big guy, easygoing as any rooster on the planet, but ready to defend those hens if need be. Have to do another "spur-ectomy" on him so he doesn't trip over them again. One goes straight out and one is curved but they need shortening from time to time.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

He is adorable. He is sporting a lot of comb already, and still has baby fuzz. I'd feel mean giving him a job at his age. It is exciting given all the particulars of the situation, no?

With my first year's hatchings of Delawares (completely different line), I am seeing a lot of color changes over time. A lot. I'm wishing for a time machine so I can take a peek at what they'll eventually look like (that would probably save me a lot of feed, for one thing).

I think it is just too early for your little guy. Please keep us posted.

(This is about the age when my Delaware cockerels are starting to sport some red in their combs ... you can also see my line is still a work in progress ... lots of black going on there. But they are nice and round. Too bad they don't like to be squeezed.)

 

[speckledhen]

They certainly are chunky, all right!

My friend says he wants to take the little guy anyway and see what happens with him so it's all good, but I was really curious if anyone had seen hackle streaks subside/molt out and turn into proper barring. Seeing as how Georgie is the only Delaware hen I have now, not much choice, I had to take a chance on her progeny, knowing the risks of getting a dwarf or a male who is too dark. But, dang, I'm proud of that leg color! And I like that this line does not tend to yellow at all. Ike is still glowing white (unless he takes a dirt bath in this red Georgia clay).

This will be my last pure Delaware. Georgie has quit laying again and at her age, you never know if they'll ever start back again or when I'll lose Isaac or he'll lose interest or fertility.

 

[finnfur]

They certainly are chunky, all right!

My friend says he wants to take the little guy anyway and see what happens with him so it's all good, but I was really curious if anyone had seen hackle streaks subside/molt out and turn into proper barring. Seeing as how Georgie is the only Delaware hen I have now, not much choice, I had to take a chance on her progeny, knowing the risks of getting a dwarf or a male who is too dark. But, dang, I'm proud of that leg color! And I like that this line does not tend to yellow at all. Ike is still glowing white (unless he takes a dirt bath in this red Georgia clay).

This will be my last pure Delaware. Georgie has quit laying again and at her age, you never know if they'll ever start back again or when I'll lose Isaac or he'll lose interest or fertility.

Yes we have seen some green leg in the Kathy creation but they mostly disappear with age - But they got the chunky shape and size to them. A little brassiness on some but it seems to be sun related .