Good girl, Phoebe!
Isaac & Delaware Girls @ 18 Weeks( first chick! PIC)
- Thread starter speckledhen
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
Here are pics of Georgie, Ellie and Phoebe:
Georgie (left) Ellie (right)
Phoebe, who has laid two perfect eggs for me:
And Isaac (hanging his wings down to cool off). He's a sweetie so far.
Georgie (left) Ellie (right)
Phoebe, who has laid two perfect eggs for me:
And Isaac (hanging his wings down to cool off). He's a sweetie so far.
Omg! He looks huge!
- Thread starter
- #24
He is a very big boy now. Pictures just don't do him justice.
Hi speckledhen
Isaac is a very nice looking cockerel. After the first years molt do you think his tail feathers will show more barring. If Maxie hackle & tail show no more indications of barring after the first years molt will she be in the breeding pen. Georgie has a hackle that looks to have vertical black markings like that of the columbian pattern. I will soon be looking my Delaware flock over very hard and looking for the best of mine for the breeding pens. I know you have a very small flock and sometimes you just have to breed with what you have as I may be in the same boat by the end of the culling of mine.
TNpoultrybreeder
Isaac is a very nice looking cockerel. After the first years molt do you think his tail feathers will show more barring. If Maxie hackle & tail show no more indications of barring after the first years molt will she be in the breeding pen. Georgie has a hackle that looks to have vertical black markings like that of the columbian pattern. I will soon be looking my Delaware flock over very hard and looking for the best of mine for the breeding pens. I know you have a very small flock and sometimes you just have to breed with what you have as I may be in the same boat by the end of the culling of mine.
TNpoultrybreeder
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Quote:
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
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- Thread starter
- #27
Isaac has barring in all his tail feathers--you can't see it in some of the pictures, depending on the light, but it's there, though very dark. Guess I'd have to take a picture of the tail in the right light to really show it well.
Georgie and Ellie in the top photo have excellent tail black and good hackle color. The fourth girl is not pictured-not sure where she was at that moment I took these. She has the lightest markings of the bunch, but a beautiful, straight comb and good body type. My older hen has all the "right stuff", though her comb is not great. She is staying for all of her wonderful traits for quite awhile. Eventually, one day, I may rotate her out into the laying flock, but not until I have another pullet who beats her in all departments. That will be awhile.
Breeding these is almost like a chess match sometimes, getting all the pieces in the right place at the same time, figuring which move to make and when to make it, which pieces to sacrifice. Takes time and thought and sometimes ages to get to checkmate (the perfect Delaware).
Georgie and Ellie in the top photo have excellent tail black and good hackle color. The fourth girl is not pictured-not sure where she was at that moment I took these. She has the lightest markings of the bunch, but a beautiful, straight comb and good body type. My older hen has all the "right stuff", though her comb is not great. She is staying for all of her wonderful traits for quite awhile. Eventually, one day, I may rotate her out into the laying flock, but not until I have another pullet who beats her in all departments. That will be awhile.
Breeding these is almost like a chess match sometimes, getting all the pieces in the right place at the same time, figuring which move to make and when to make it, which pieces to sacrifice. Takes time and thought and sometimes ages to get to checkmate (the perfect Delaware).
Quote:
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
Hi Seriousbill
I guess you can take ones that are overly dominant in areas and cross them with ones that lack the same markings and hope for something in the middle. To me the best birds are from parent stock that has there Standard markings. Is George the father of Isaac they show the same tail coloring. You ask is the barring smeared and irregular ? In the Delaware the barring is irregular. You ask does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey ? Pete is not as dark as the Standard calls for but I think he is one of the nicest Delaware males I have seen. Leg color is something that I think in some chicks changes as the chicks grow. If my chicks was hatched with muddy greensish legs that would have been bad but they were very yellow and turn a greenish yellow at about three week old. Each week there legs get more yellow and I am sure there very yellow legs will return in a few weeks. If you cull and breed on all the points you posted above I would love to see more pictures of your Delawares as they should be very close to the Standard.
TNpoultrybreeder
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
Hi Seriousbill
I guess you can take ones that are overly dominant in areas and cross them with ones that lack the same markings and hope for something in the middle. To me the best birds are from parent stock that has there Standard markings. Is George the father of Isaac they show the same tail coloring. You ask is the barring smeared and irregular ? In the Delaware the barring is irregular. You ask does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey ? Pete is not as dark as the Standard calls for but I think he is one of the nicest Delaware males I have seen. Leg color is something that I think in some chicks changes as the chicks grow. If my chicks was hatched with muddy greensish legs that would have been bad but they were very yellow and turn a greenish yellow at about three week old. Each week there legs get more yellow and I am sure there very yellow legs will return in a few weeks. If you cull and breed on all the points you posted above I would love to see more pictures of your Delawares as they should be very close to the Standard.
TNpoultrybreeder
Last edited:
Quote:
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
Hi Seriousbill
I guess you can take ones that are overly dominant in areas and cross them with ones that lack the same markings and hope for something in the middle. To me the best birds are from parent stock that has there Standard markings. Is George the father of Isaac they show the same tail coloring. You ask is the barring smeared and irregular ? In the Delaware the barring is irregular. You ask does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey ? Pete is not as dark as the Standard calls for but I think he is one of the nicest Delaware males I have seen. Leg color is something that I think in some chicks changes as the chicks grow. If my chicks was hatched with muddy greensish legs that would have been bad but they were very yellow and turn a greenish yellow at about three week old. Each week there legs get more yellow and I am sure there very yellow legs will return in a few weeks. If you cull and breed on all the points you posted above I would love to see more pictures of your Delawares as they should be very close to the Standard.
TNpoultrybreeder
TN, the barring is "irregular" as in not a straight line at all points-- at some, it has a chevron shape, but that doesn't mean jagged, crooked lines--if you look at the standard illustration you can see that it should have a lot of precision at the edges. Are you referring to the Pete I culled a few years ago? I forgot I still had his pic up on the Del board, LOL. Pete was far inferior to George in just about every way, and I've had several experienced breeders and a poultry judge or two tell me so. Now, I know people have their own opinions and tastes as far as chickens go, but I go by what the experienced breeders and the folks judging the shows tell me
I'm very well aware that leg color changes, and I'm very well aware that green-legged chicks hatch with yellow legs that go green and then pale yellow as they grow. But, I suppose this is all pretty new to you. I am culling and breeding to the points listed above. I've never claimed my birds were anything but a work in progress; however, I can tell you this--as with any destination, you need to know how to get there. There are some things that I've learned the hard way that I try to pass along to others. Of course, they can take it or leave it, just as they like.
Hi TN,
As you may know, the standard calls for the black bars in a male Delaware's tale to be dominant over the white. Granted, Ike's black bars may be a little overly dominant, but he has great precision in his markings, fantastic contrast, and he'll throw females with good tail color. It's always easier to get the black out than in. There is supposed to be no barring in the main tail feathers of a female Delaware--there may only be a "slight indication" of barring in the coverts. Their main tail feathers should be black with just a bit of white lacing on the edges. As far as the hackle barring in the females--well, I think you'll find that it's hard to get both good tail color and good hackle barring in the girls, and Georgie's hackle barring is fairly typical of what you can expect from some of your well colored Delaware gals. I've been doing this for a few years, so I've seen these patterns a lot. The first thing that I look for when culling is body type--the bird should be heavy and deep-bodied and have a broad chest--like Isaac's. Then, issues of coloring come up. The main things with coloring are 1) does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey? 2) Are the markings reasonably precise, especially in the males--in other words, is the barring smeared and irregular? Or does it form a more geometrical pattern? 3) Do the females have good black in the tail? 3) How is the contrast between the clean white body color (no smut) and the hackle and tail color? There should be notable contrast 4) Do the birds have "rich yellow" legs or are they a muddy greenish color that fades to a pale yellow, and so on.
Hi Seriousbill
I guess you can take ones that are overly dominant in areas and cross them with ones that lack the same markings and hope for something in the middle. To me the best birds are from parent stock that has there Standard markings. Is George the father of Isaac they show the same tail coloring. You ask is the barring smeared and irregular ? In the Delaware the barring is irregular. You ask does the bird have black markings and not a muddy grey ? Pete is not as dark as the Standard calls for but I think he is one of the nicest Delaware males I have seen. Leg color is something that I think in some chicks changes as the chicks grow. If my chicks was hatched with muddy greensish legs that would have been bad but they were very yellow and turn a greenish yellow at about three week old. Each week there legs get more yellow and I am sure there very yellow legs will return in a few weeks. If you cull and breed on all the points you posted above I would love to see more pictures of your Delawares as they should be very close to the Standard.
TNpoultrybreeder
TN, the barring is "irregular" as in not a straight line at all points-- at some, it has a chevron shape, but that doesn't mean jagged, crooked lines--if you look at the standard illustration you can see that it should have a lot of precision at the edges. Are you referring to the Pete I culled a few years ago? I forgot I still had his pic up on the Del board, LOL. Pete was far inferior to George in just about every way, and I've had several experienced breeders and a poultry judge or two tell me so. Now, I know people have their own opinions and tastes as far as chickens go, but I go by what the experienced breeders and the folks judging the shows tell me
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