Delawares from kathyinmo

[finnfur]

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My flock of delawares Their beautiful.!

How long you had them ? they look healthy

 

[ChickenBoy1999]

How long you had them  ? they look healthy

tuRnIng SIx Months tomor

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

The 9 cockerels I'll be evaluating soon. These are just preliminary photos to give me a bit more focus when I really give them a good once over and try to get good photos to get your advice.

This one is probably about the widest of the group. He is also obviously one of the best dust bathers. Annnnnnnnnnd ... It looks like the bottom feather on that wing is in the wrong spot. :/

This one looks to be the lightest color wise. Light hackles, but the usual bits of black in odd places. I think he's one of the youngest of the group, so might change more. He wouldn't stop preening for a better photo.

This guy has lots of black. I think he is also the one that hikes his wings up to look like football shoulder pads.

This one doesn't look too bad from this angle. I hope he looks okay from the top and back and feels solid.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Forgot to ask: in a perfect world ... how many cockerels should I keep from this generation? I started with a trio. I have these 9 cockerels and a few more coming along that I'll compare to the best of these to cull down to just what I should keep for breeding and backups from this generation.

 

[finnfur]

Forgot to ask: in a perfect world ... how many cockerels should I keep from this generation? I started with a trio. I have these 9 cockerels and a few more coming along that I'll compare to the best of these to cull down to just what I should keep for breeding and backups from this generation.

Don't know - I guess it depends on what you are trying to improve/correct ? The combs say they are still young and may change some. 2nd pic closest is good type but don't like tail and he has wings I am trying to eliminate . Last pic is what I am looking for in wing improvement and would probably take a chance . Out of seven this year I don't have one with good wings .
Zanna said she eliminated it but haven't heard how yet .
Keep in mind these are picture comments and you need hans on to make selection depending on what improvements you are trying to carry forward

This is just opinion

 

[rancher hicks]

Forgot to ask: in a perfect world ... how many cockerels should I keep from this generation? I started with a trio. I have these 9 cockerels and a few more coming along that I'll compare to the best of these to cull down to just what I should keep for breeding and backups from this generation.

In my opinion as many as you can afford.

The math I've read on the plymouth rock thread is 1 out of 10.

In your case I'd keep at least the two best, perhaps three. I learned the hard way to do this.

I don't intend to part with any roosters under 1 year at least. I want to make sure they're hearty. Some problems show up while they're young, so I figure a year or even two is a good indicator. If any get sick in that time they're history.

Again that's just my opinion.

 

[Zanna]

Don't know - I guess it depends on what you are trying to improve/correct ? The combs say they are still young and may change some. 2nd pic closest is good type but don't like tail and he has wings I am trying to eliminate . Last pic is what I am looking for in wing improvement and would probably take a chance . Out of seven this year I don't have one with good wings .
Zanna said she eliminated it but haven't heard how yet .

Oh dear, I have not eliminated it, just culled all of this years hatch that had it. Fortunately I have some with good wings to breed forward. I would guess it is still hiding though and will take many years of culling the offenders before we can completely get rid of it.

 

[capayvalleychick]

This one is probably about the widest of the group. He is also obviously one of the best dust bathers. Annnnnnnnnnd ... It looks like the bottom feather on that wing is in the wrong spot.

This guy has lots of black. I think he is also the one that hikes his wings up to look like football shoulder pads.



This one doesn't look too bad from this angle. I hope he looks okay from the top and back and feels solid.

Really nice width on these. Very rich yellow legs, also, which mine are missing. So, I may need one from you. My best and several, like Tom's, still have the incorrect looking wings. I like the one in the last photo, the best.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Forgot to ask: in a perfect world ... how many cockerels should I keep from this generation? I started with a trio. I have these 9 cockerels and a few more coming along that I'll compare to the best of these to cull down to just what I should keep for breeding and backups from this generation.

Four. You may only use two, but you always need back ups just in case. And one always gets killed or dies.

Last year, I saved 4 males. Sold one to a friend because she really needed him. Another was killed by a predator. So, I ended up with two.

 

[Zanna]

Leslie, I am keeping 10 for now but I am lucky that I have the other property for growing out the boys. Am going to give them till Feb/March then reasess type/colour and count wing feathers when I am sure they are fully grown in. Keep as many as you can whose wings look good at this point. If you are not sure but have the room, keep him. JMO