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

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Quote:
Hi ajablu
If you dont care for me asking have you ever seen Meyer Hatchery stock.
TNpoultrybreeder

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks for the compliments, though all I can personally take credit for is hatching them and their health since. Perhaps some day, I can, though. You know, I'm sure I've seen Meyer's stock, but I can't recall. I've been told by people in the know that the best ones that come from a hatchery of any sort are probably the Sandhill ones. Mine are not from a hatchery but a serious breeder of quality Delawares that come from Meier lines, McDaniel lines and elsewhere. Hopefully, smaller hatcheries would pay more attention to the conformation, leg color, etc than any of the large ones that breed only for egg production.

 

[Raven1]

My birds came from Ideal and they actually look pretty good I have 4 pullets and the markings aren't too bad and they are growing fairly quickly

 

[speckledhen]

I saw some from Ideal at the feedstore. If yours are good, you're lucky, but these were crappy. Most of them have awful markings, leaner body than they should, bad wing carriage, bad leg color, etc.

 

[speckledhen]

More pics @ 8 Wks old. Again, what I think is cool about this breed is that the markings evolve, though you get a sense of the ones who will be marked best early one. The excess markings, or "smut" will clear out gradually. Here is one of the best cockerels of the four I have left to choose from--not all cockerels are as heavily marked as this handsome guy. If the pics are too large, refresh your page and they'll resize. These are 8 weeks old now:

A different cockerel:

Here are some pullets:

And this is Ellie, the only one I've named so far, my largest pullet:

 

[shortcake1806]

Cyn, they're looking really nice. Ellie is your special chick right?

 

[speckledhen]

Ellie is one who was injured a few weeks ago and scared us to death! Thought she had internal injuries and her cornea was scraped. She's fabulous now, though! The one I think you're talking about, was that the one I originally marked to keep an eye on, that we all thought was a pullet? It turned out to be a slow developing cockerel and I didn't keep him. (There was one that had both myself and my DH fooled till after we were putting the extras in the crate for walkswithdog to take home!) He wasn't bad at all, but I have set aside four cockerels to grow out further that I believe are the very best of the original nine. Two pullets have very distinct markings and three others are more delicately marked, though I'm seeing the hackle color coming in more now. Ellie has the best tail black of the five pullets, IMO.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

great progress and info, please keep the post going, I for one am watching in the wings. (no pun intended lol)

 

[speckledhen]

Will do!

 

[newbiecaroline]

I bought MM dels last year and day old chicks were biting me.
I was glad they were meant for the freezer.
However a friend convinced me to hang onto some and I'm glad I did.
The roo is now a sweetheart and I'm glad...he's huge!
The hens are still a bit pecky but it may be curiousity and staying very busy!
Their chicks I hatched are colouring nicely too!
Thanks for the thread..I have some chicks to compare to your pics.