Delawares...

[fla_native]

We plan on acquiring several Delawares chicks around Jan/Feb.
Our question is, where is the best place to get them?
We arent concerned with "show" birds but we do want birds that are real Delawares....proper coloring, size etc...
Any ideas?

 

[speckledhen]

The very best hatchery type place would be Sandhill Preservation, IMO. Forget most of the big ones. I have been raising a nice flock from a breeder who has stock from other long-time breeders and there is a definite difference in them and most of the hatchery birds I've seen.

This breed is a challenging one to breed spectacular examples. So much culling goes into it, but guess it's not very different from any other one that is endangered and has lots of bad hatchery examples floating around. Even starting from excellent stock, you have to cull for type extensively.

 

[fla_native]

Thanks SO much!
We are working with black Jersey Giants right now, so we figured Delawares would be a good addition. We are also going to start with some Chocolate Turkeys at about the same time, alot of the old american breeds really need some help!

 

[speckledhen]

Good luck with your projects! I love the Dels. Had some hatchery stock previously and they were a mean, flighty bunch. These are very different.

 

[HBuehler]

We have several Delaware's none have been from the hatchery though.All are so easy to live with..but even my hatchery birds of other breeds are nice..or they don't stay! I'm still looking for more as well so I can add a new gene pool in hopes of bettering my flock.
They are also a delicious dinner so my birds that don't make it to my breeders can still go to the layer pasture and the roos to the dinner table so we plan to raise many of them for our meat birds as well.