Delaware Gang @ 5 Weeks Old (newest Pics #96/ 9 Wks Old)

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Quote:
Hi Speckledhen
I would like to see pictures of the Delaware breed that was taken in the 50' to see what they looked like when they were admitted into the Standard. If the Delaware hens did have the irregular black and white barring in the tail coverts and does not have it now I am to the conclusion that the barring in the hen tail coverts was lost when the original Delaware breed was lost. I hope I am wrong as I am still going to breed the Delawares and breed them as close to the Standard as possible. I think the breeder and the hatchery Delawares are of the same breed. The breeder Delaware is just a breed that has been breed year after year to meet a Standard.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[lovemychix]

Love them.

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Hi Speckledhen
I would like to see pictures of the Delaware breed that was taken in the 50' to see what they looked like when they were admitted into the Standard. If the Delaware hens did have the irregular black and white barring in the tail coverts and does not have it now I am to the conclusion that the barring in the hen tail coverts was lost when the original Delaware breed was lost. I hope I am wrong as I am still going to breed the Delawares and breed them as close to the Standard as possible. I think the breeder and the hatchery Delawares are of the same breed. The breeder Delaware is just a breed that has been breed year after year to meet a Standard.

TNpoultrybreeder

I've seen females with markings in the coverts. I own one, but the markings aren't of the best quality. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.

In the meantime, I don't think that the breeder and hatchery Delawares are the same, TNpoultrybreeder. A few breeders were working with the old lines before and after hatcheries started offering Delawares. I've watched over the years as hatchery after hatchery phased out their Columbian Rocks one year, and began offering Delawares the next year or the year after. I've seen hatchery birds with red streaks and no barring. I've been shocked at what hatcheries were willing to call a "Delaware." And while some breeders' birds are nothing to write home about, I've seldom had my jaw drop when looking at their birds. I'm not saying all hatchery birds are that bad, but I've seen some doozies.

Okay, I found a snap of her. I have others with streaks in the coverts, but she's the only one with actual barring:

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Hi Seriousbill
To start off I want to say that is a very nice hen. I am very happy to see a hen out there that still has a trace amount of barring in its tail coverts. But do you not believe a breeder could take hatchery stock Delawares and selective breed them year after year and have breeder Delawares. I do believe that as I have seen it done on the Delaware breed and many other breeds. There are many breeders that started with hatchery stock and now have near perfect birds. I know it will be more challenging starting off with hatchery stock but years later the reward will be greater to knowing that I was the breeder of my birds.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

so cute

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Thanks for the compliment.

Yes, you could selectively breed year after year and end up with better birds; with enough years, I suppose you might even get birds you could show. And, after all, some hatchery stock is better than others. But, I'm not sure why anyone trying to breed to the standard would want to put in all those extra years. To me, it would make more sense to start out with the best birds I could find, because it's going to be hard enough to breed good birds even with the best stock you can get. Buying from a breeder will not start you out with show winners in this breed, which is a very difficult breed (I once read an article that claimed that, because of the color gradient associated with Columbian and barring, the only way to breed show winning Delawares is to use a system of double mating), so there will be plenty of room for improvement even if you start out with birds from a breeder. But, at least you'd have some of the basics covered. But if you feel the reward will be greater breeding hatchery stock, then that's the way you should go.

 

[speckledhen]

I believe you can start at any point you like. I do not have years and years to cull heavily to the standard, or rather, I do not want to start a lifelong project at this point in my life. Even starting with eggs from a great quality flock will yield spectacular results only on occasion. As Janet said, this is a difficult breed to "get right". With my Barred Rocks, it would be a long road unless I acquired some better breeding stockat the outset. My BRs from hatchery stock ancestry are better than their parents and grandparents, but they are a long way from even Step One, which to me, would be to acquire hatching eggs from a breeder of high quality BRs. I may not breed Delawares forever; I'm going to take it year by year and in time I may go another direction. If, at that point, I decide to liquidate some stock, I hope to have a quality bird to pass on to someone else who will continue the program I started here with these great birds.
No one is saying you cannot start at whatever point you wish with your Delawares. I wish you much success! We'd love for you to chronicle your progress here on BYC. It's terrific that you have the interest in this breed that you do.
BTW, at least a couple of my pullets here do have the trace barring in the coverts. Dont have a good picture that shows it, however, at this time.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, two of my 8-wk-old cockerels started crowing this morning. I love when they start tuning up!

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Hi Seriousbill & Speckledhen
Like with all the rarest breeds of poultry there biggest downfall is to little quality blood. In the years to come I am going to try to breed a quality Delaware. In doing this my Delaware blood lines will be separate and later on Seriousbill if you are willing to sale me eggs or chicks I will have Delawares of "quality" freash blood to introduce into my breeding stock. Seriousbill you do have the best Delaware breeding stock that I have seen and a great deal of knowledge on the Delaware breed. Speckledhen you have a very nice looking young flock of Delaware and I like the pictures that you post on them as they grow. I will post info. and pictures of the Delawares I get and any advice on selecting which ones to keep would be greatly appreciated.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you for the compliment, though I can't take credit for their quality just yet. Please do post pictures of yours as they grow. I think I can speak for Janet as well and say that we would like to watch their progress. Hopefully, more people such as yourself will take a serious interest in this great breed in the future.