getting to a delaware

[seriousbill]

Quote:

Actually, the Delaware is a separate breed, which was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1952. They originated from the cross cited in Wikipedia, but that cross won't get you a "Delaware." Tim's formula might lead you to a bird with the Delaware color pattern, but as others are discussing--it's not quite the same thing, especially if you regard chicken breeds like you would dog breeds. There are dog breeds that were originally developed from crossing two other breeds, like the Pomeranian deriving from Spitz types, etc. But crossing two Spitz types NOW won't get you a Pomeranian, even if the dog looks a lot like one.

 

[TimG]

I thought the Delaware originated from "sports" (in a Barred Rock rooster and New Hampshire hen cross). To get to duplicate the process, wouldn't you have to cross a lot of Barred Rocks and New Hampshires hoping to produce a few of these silver sports and then breed those silver sports?

Yes, I'm sure there are other ways to produce a chicken that looks like a Delaware (and that unlike other animals like dogs, it is the appearance rather than the pedigree that is important).

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Yes, the breed originated from "sports." The first generation cross doesn't usually produce a barred silver columbian, but apparently, George Ellis got a few from that cross back in the 40's.

It is the appearance that makes the breed, but most people still make a distinction between a bird that is bred from pure stock and one that's created from scratch, at least to the degree that it's possible to make those distinctions. The dog analogy still works pretty well for those who don't realize that the Delaware is not a first-generation cross and hasn't been for decades.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I'm glad to hear so many in depth responses. This has been very informative and the exact type of info that I was looking for.
I am not looking to breed so I can sell them, every bird in our flock is ours and will stay that way.
I guess it all started a few weeks ago when my hubby and I were discussing what to add to our flock. I wanted White rocks or Delawares, he wanted Leghorns. He won, because I chose what we got the last time, so it was his turn. I was looking for a white heavy breed, and he wanted heavy egg production.
So we started talking and wondered if the chickens we had could give us what I wanted, without having to buy more.

 

[tadkerson]

Quote:
Wouldn't this cross normally produce barred offspring? How many black F1s might one expect?

Bill,

You are correct. All of the F1 will be barred black. Sorry left out the barred. I was in a hurry. Had to be in court today. I am serving jury duty. I will be back again tomorrow to finish the trial. I did not get out of the court house until 7:00.

Speckled Hen,

No the offspring should always be silver,barred and columbian restricted. There is a chance that they may carry recessive white. I have had recessive white and lavender show up in my birds.

Tim

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Hi popcornpuppy
In 1940 George Ellis developed the Delaware breed by crossing Barred Plymouth Rock roosters with New Hampshire hens. Normally the cross resulted in barred females and either black or red males, but sometimes it happened to produce some sports, or birds with a distinctive and different color than was normal. The sports was mostly white, with black barring on the hackle, tail and wings. But the production of such sports was inconsistent, however one of George Ellis's sports, a rooster he named Superman was an exceptional specimen, and when George Ellis began breeding Superman to New Hampshire hens the cross stabilized with the sport's coloring, and the foundation of the Delaware breed was established.

I hope this helps.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[speckledhen]

Tim, lavender?? Wow, bet that was interesting. Any pictures you could send me of those? I'd love to see that if you captured it for posterity.

 

[walkswithdog]

Post lavender pics if you got them Tim, we all want to see weirdness when it crops up...

 

[tadkerson]

Quote:
Cynthia,

I was excited when I saw the bird also but I lost the bird to a dog. If I ever get another lavender to segregate I will put it into a secure pen.

The bird flew over the fence into the yard. The dog ran off with my bird before I could do anything.

I could use another lavender bird for a project I am working on at this time. I will have to use blue.

Tim

 

[DuckBoy]

Tim,

I am also taking on this project can you please messege me in detail. I am staring from scatch with a barred roo and hew hamp hens thanks Cory