Delaware standards and culling question

[retiredwithchicks]

OK, just returned from coop and observing my Delaware 5 month olds. I have one big boy and 3 good size girls. One of the ladies has very light barring and one has more pronounced barring on the hackles. Which should I keep for breeding and which do I cull?

These are just hatchery birds and I want to obtain eggs from a good breeder to improve the birds ASAP but haven't had much luck in getting any yet. I am just getting into this breeding thing and am really enjoying the hobby. I am leaning lots from this post segment and thanks to all.

 

[walkswithdog]

With that small a group, unless a hen also has green legs and a very narrow body at POL (point of lay) I wouldn't cull from your group.

I'd hatch like a madman when they laid and cull the NEXT group hard at POL or if you can afford it grow them for six or seven months.

The more you hatch, the better chance you'll get some improvement in some on their parents, and then sort them for the best among them - sell or cull the parents and go onward and upward.

Though a couple of these hens are possible culls I wanted to start with eight hens so they stayed. I'll sort the next group produced by these and cull them and any poor progeny. Adding in good blood when I can.

And onward and upward.

Good luck, with those small numbers you need every hen and every egg you can get to move up.

 

[retiredwithchicks]

Thanks for the suggestion. The roo is big and looks good (compared to pictures I found), has the 5 points, etc. The ladies could be much better or at least one of the three could. I'll do as you say and hopefully I can get some better stock to work in the group from other breeders soon.