Breeding Delawares to the Standard of Perfection

[Zanna]

Looking at the pics again and just to add to my above post......... Balance and symmetry. Something just looks off to me about my pullet with the more jutted looking chest, she looks like she could just tip forward and fall onto it. The other pullet is just pleasing to my eye.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Looking at the pics again and just to add to my above post......... Balance and symmetry. Something just looks off to me about my pullet with the more jutted looking chest, she looks like she could just tip forward and fall onto it. The other pullet is just pleasing to my eye.

Agreed. The one with the higher-looking wings looks a little too front-heavy ... at least in that photo.

The one Kim said she culled for funny keel looks to have really nice feather quality.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

 

[caychris]

Kim do you have any info on the age of the birds to determine how quickly they achieved their weights. And are they free ranging with supplemental feed etc.

Just trying to understand how you got such big beautiful birds. We know nutrition is a key factor in full development too.

 

[gjensen]

I'm confused on which have the best topline. George said something a while back about not choosing long backs. Yes, I have the Standard but still not sure. The old Schilling art example has a slightly different topline than the Jacky example.

I'm really sorry about your male. I hope someone can find you another.

The caution against the length was a reference to guarding against the Rock type. You would not want excessively short birds either. They are not NHs. Does that make any sense?

Longer, taller frames require more time for developing. The frame comes first, and the flesh follows.

Schilling, had a better eye and understanding of the Delaware.

Get familiar with the Standard for the Rock and NH. Note the similarities, and subtle differences. You might notice how close the Standard is for both the NH and Delaware. The description is nearly identical less a few details.

Maybe that would be a good discussion. The language used in the Standard, and how it compares to the two parent breeds.

How the birds were used, and what made them suitable for this purpose is helpful in "seeing" it.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

 The caution against the length was a reference to guarding against the Rock type. You would not want excessively short birds either. They are not NHs. Does that make any sense?

 Longer, taller frames require more time for developing. The frame comes first, and the flesh follows.

 Schilling, had a better eye and understanding of the Delaware.

 Get familiar with the Standard for the Rock and NH. Note the similarities, and subtle differences. You might notice how close the Standard is for both the NH and Delaware. The description is nearly identical less a few details.

 Maybe that would be a good discussion. The language used in the Standard, and how it compares to the two parent breeds.

 How the birds were used, and what made them suitable for this purpose is helpful in "seeing" it.

Now that I have the standard and can see how birds can be grouped by silhouette & description, I do sometimes wonder why bother with some of the different breeds.

It seems the color of feathers, skin & feet ... tailored for the broiler market ... are what "justifies" creating the Delaware from the two parent breeds.

 

[gjensen]

Now that I have the standard and can see how birds can be grouped by silhouette & description, I do sometimes wonder why bother with some of the different breeds.

It seems the color of feathers, skin & feet ... tailored for the broiler market ... are what "justifies" creating the Delaware from the two parent breeds.

The NH/Barred Rock was a popular cross at the time. The "original" Delaware was intended to be a male line to cross with NH females. It was intended for a broiler cross with practical considerations. White feathers. The decision and desire to make it a breed came later. Originally it was a matter of chance.

 

[finnfur]

Some finalist pullets. Feel free to discuss them. Click on the photos to make them full size. These are 5th generation recreated Delawares, so the color is not correct, yet. Do any have what would be considered a cushion?


G13- 6lb 11oz


G16- 5lb 11oz - wing looks slipped here, but I didn't notice it when handling her.


O42- 6lb 3oz


G74- 5lb 12oz - This one was culled for a dip in the keel.


G1- 5lb 13oz


G18- 5lb 13oz


G3- 6lb 2oz


G7- 6lbs 6oz


R73 - 6lbs 1 oz

OK Kim -disclaimer - it is very hard to critique a chicken with one pic as you know hands on works best-
I am looking at these with the Shilling drawing side by side - as Bob said once he thought that looked more like the real bird than the new cartoons LOL
That drawing is a direct side view - your pics are a standing up looking down angle.
I think this group look better than my current F5s except a couple. I seem to have many with a back that narrows at back end with to much tail angle .
Maybe my Cock #2 will produce different results - don't know.
My notes ;
G13 - Nice heavy bird maybe a little to much cushion just before tail- like shape - good hackle marking
G16- seems to have a arch/short back not flat - wing problem
O42- like the head and tail - maybe could be flatter between
G74-To bad about keel but like her color
G1 - Bad pose hard to judge-maybe light in breast ?
G18-arch in back ? could be pose again
G3- looks long - good weight
G7-nice wide- flat back- tail should angle up some-nice head - do I see some black bled thru above wing/back ?
R73- back looks wide and flat- tail good- may be angle makes her look long ? lota fluff on bottom going to be a broody LOL

Remember I'm not a professional but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn express once.
This is still the best looking line of Delawares - bar none

 

[capayvalleychick]

I'd like to choose birds with a symmetrical sweep in their back instead of a check mark type sweep (where the break happens closer to the neck, for example).

This is what I've been trying to describe. Thanks for putting into words that make sense!

 

[capayvalleychick]

I would be concerned with the underline on many of these pullets. This is just my opinion and I am learning too but I am not seeing the nice bowl shape and the backs do look too long with a slight cushion. I have one F-5 pullet that looks like many of yours. The keel bone looks like it is jutting out of her and the underline is too straight rather than bowl.

You are right. It is accentuated a bit, because their crops are full of oats that I threw down to catch them and keep them happy in the cage, but that's no excuse. I wonder if the breast could still fill in to be rounder as they mature or this is it?

 

[capayvalleychick]

Kim do you have any info on the age of the birds to determine how quickly they achieved their weights. And are they free ranging with supplemental feed etc.

Just trying to understand how you got such big beautiful birds. We know nutrition is a key factor in full development too.

This group was hatched between March 23 and May. I have records of their rate of growth. They do day range. Their diet is just commercial chicken feed - nothing special. Sometimes they get some whole oats.

Their size is not due to any special feed, or else all my chickens would be large, which is not the case. What you are seeing is the result of starting with good stock and selecting according to the SOP. Genetics and selection - not diet- is the reason they are as nice as they look.