Delawares from kathyinmo

[desertmarcy]

I am seeing a range in feathering, but I have quite a few that feathered out faster than the F4s. They are feathering just as fast, or faster than the Dorkings hatched at the same time.
In the first hatch, at 4 weeks of age, 6 were completely feathered, 8 were mostly feathered and 2 were slow to feather. This seems to be the norm in each hatch.
Here's a pullet from the first hatch at 8 weeks:

I am not happy about the slow feathering. That is not what a Delaware should be, they are supposed to be a fast maturing bird. So...is there any way to improve on the feathering? I am thinking not, in my case, if all of the offspring are slow feathering...I don't have any that are faster to breed from. Hmmmm....I'm just wondering to myself if I want to continue on with these. I already have the slooowwww feathering heritage Barred Rocks...

OK, another question. I bred one of my Delaware pullets, the one that was brassy on her back, to my Rhode Island Red for red sexlinks. The sexlinked pullets are popular around here since people in the city limits can't have male fowl. I decided to hold back a few of the male sexlinks for meat. Now I am seeing they are slow feathering. I don't have any of the pullets to compare since they were all sold. Would they be fast feathering, linked back to the father, a Rhode Island Red? I'm not sure how that all works. Because if the pullets are slow feathering as well, these Delawares are not what I want to use for sexlinks. The average backyard chicken keeper wanting birds just for eggs does not want to wait forever for their chicks to feather out, IMO.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think I counted 5 so far, plus a squashed one I removed from the nest. Still some eggs left so we are leaving them alone.

Also had a big scare today because 4 of the older chicks were missing after lunch. They'd gotten out of the run and lost in he tall grass. They are not easy to catch!

 

[finnfur]

I think I counted 5 so far, plus a squashed one I removed from the nest. Still some eggs left so we are leaving them alone.




Also had a big scare today because 4 of the older chicks were missing after lunch. They'd gotten out of the run and lost in he tall grass. They are not easy to catch!

Yes feisty little rascals aren't they ? Had another escape the brooder and fell 4' to the concrete floor. When came in it was all balled up trying to stay warm and shivering. Put it under heater
in the brooder and all seems well.

 

[newmanmichael]

So excited to finally have some of Kathy's line of Delawares thanks to @finnfur Can't wait to see these grow out, select my breeders and hatch like crazy!!! I am so excited!!! Tom it was so great to meet you and see your facilities. My wife especially was impressed with your set up and has been instructing me to be more like you!

 

[desertmarcy]

I've been thinking about these Delawares for a while, whether or not I want to continue on with them. Yesterday our caretaker told us she was leaving. Without the extra help, I'm in trouble. Especially with all the chicks I've hatched. I'm already going through a bag of feed a day just for the chicks. Need to cut back some. I decided to offer the youngest of the ones I've hatched, because they are easier to ship in numbers. They are 3-1/2 weeks old right now. I have (had?) 18 of them---took a rattlesnake out of their pen this morning that had a huge lump in his belly. I've got other chicks in that pen, not sure which one he/she ate. Didn't have the heart to make it regurgitate. Snakes gotta eat too. Here is a link to my ad:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/886512/delaware-started-chicks-kathyinmo-recreation-line-f5

 

[finnfur]

So excited to finally have some of Kathy's line of Delawares thanks to @finnfur Can't wait to see these grow out, select my breeders and hatch like crazy!!! I am so excited!!! Tom it was so great to meet you and see your facilities. My wife especially was impressed with your set up and has been instructing me to be more like you!

Well welcome aboard Grasshopper - told ya to be patient LOL . You are doing great without copying anyone .
Lets get some Kathy Dels in the show ring. Winners circle preferred.
Great meeting you both.

 

[finnfur]

I've been thinking about these Delawares for a while, whether or not I want to continue on with them. Yesterday our caretaker told us she was leaving. Without the extra help, I'm in trouble. Especially with all the chicks I've hatched. I'm already going through a bag of feed a day just for the chicks. Need to cut back some. I decided to offer the youngest of the ones I've hatched, because they are easier to ship in numbers. They are 3-1/2 weeks old right now. I have (had?) 18 of them---took a rattlesnake out of their pen this morning that had a huge lump in his belly. I've got other chicks in that pen, not sure which one he/she ate. Didn't have the heart to make it regurgitate. Snakes gotta eat too. Here is a link to my ad:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/886512/delaware-started-chicks-kathyinmo-recreation-line-f5

There was someone on the Dels to SOP thread in PA looking for quality -

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Delaware chicks and their fabulous, fierce, foster hen .

This is where the Delawares get to hang out. Those golden chains smell SO good this time of year. I could smell them in bed last night.

 

[bmvf]

Quote: That would be me. For someone new to breeding, is this line in progress something I should work with?

 

[desertmarcy]

That would be me. For someone new to breeding, is this line in progress something I should work with?

Even though I am trying to sell these...in all honesty? For someone new to breeding, if you want to breed to the SOP, I would pick an easier breed. When Bob Blosl was alive (he started the original Heritage Large Fowl thread---now closed to new posts, but well worth reading), he used to recommend new breeders start with a solid color. Get that down, learn how to look for correct type, then move on to color combinations. Now of course, not everybody follows that advice. Some people pick one of the harder ones to work with first, Black Copper Marans (that would be me

) but I'm stubborn enough to stick with it. If you do not have that stubborn tendency and determination, it is easy to get discouraged and quit after a couple of years. That's why Bob said start with solid color, and a breed that has already been worked with enough that you can find good stock already matching the SOP. White Plymouth Rocks, for instance. Some of the breeds, like the Delaware, still need a lot of work. That is a partly why I am selling my chicks. I do realize I have too much on my plate. Something has to go. If you just want to tinker around and have backyard birds you like the looks of, and aren't concerned with showing or breeding to the SOP, the none of this really matters. The Delawares can use more dedicated breeders to bring them back, no doubt. If you decide you want to help the breed, just know it is a long haul and will take many generations.