Bresse, vs Delaware vs ???

[Egghead_Jr]

Don't get me wrong about other dual purpose birds. I keep two breeds. They can get fair weights by 14 weeks. 3.5 lbs dress weight is nice but the carcass of say Rock are long and lanky. It grows the skeleton then starts to fill it. Not as much meat nor as pretty of a carcass as Dele, NH or Buckeye which will flesh more in breast and be more compact. They'll have some breast meat compared to the ultra thin Rock breast at broiler age.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks @Egghead_Jr great information.

Shows how bad my memory is.

 

[Burdi]

I am incubating Bielefelder eggs from a breeder currently. Will add Bresse as a second dual purpose most likely. Delawares, Light Sussex, and other light or buff colored varieties that I have yet to discover are still in the running.

Finding a breeder that will share eggs from a stable line with the features desired will drive my variety decision. No way I will start with hatchery stock or otherwise create my own line. That would require more space, time and energy than I want to give. Will also keep some colorful layers and an eye candy roo or 2 for shear enjoyment.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Shallow gene pools shouldn't scare anyone in and of itself, provided what's there has been well-tended. All you need is to track down ONE line of whatever breed you're interested in that is performing as you want it to, or close to it. I've seen a lot of trash Bresse flaunted around, and I've seen a lot of trash Delawares all over the place, but I KNOW there are some really impressive examples of each as well. IMO there's possibly just as few quality gene pools of Dels in the US as Bresse.

Finding a breeder that will share eggs from a stable line with the features desired will drive my variety decision.

THIS is all you need to keep in mind. I have been impressed by RIR, RIW, Buckeyes, Rocks of various varieties, Sussex, Marans, and many many more but those impressive individuals that would meet my needs and expectations are few and far between—in some case truly being maintained by only one breeder.

 

[Burdi]

Hopefully I will find what I seek. Patience is not one of my virtues.

 

[Pinckney]

Maybe try going backwards? Who sells processed birds, which breed, and do they sell eggs/chicks/adults. I found someone a few states away that sells what I want that she’s worked on. My timing was off this year but I’m laser focused on getting some of her stock.
If you look at whose birds win at shows most likely they won’t meet your performance goals.

 

[RMShort]

Does anyone have contact information for a good breeder of Delaware stock? It doesn't appear that Kathy in MO is replying on this forum.