My Delaware Boys (link to pics) at 14 weeks

[TimG]

I've created a BYC page with pictures of three of my almost 14 week old Delaware cockerels.

EDIT: This page has been deleted to make room for more images.

 

[seriousbill]

Tim, they're not bad, but they are fairly slender in build, even for 14-week olds. I'd like to see deeper bodies and broader chests. They have good color, though, and especially nice shank color.

 

[speckledhen]

Excellent shank color on those. I agree with Janet about them being a bit on the narrow side, but that's the only obvious negative I see at the moment. Take more pics at 18-19 weeks for us.

 

[TimG]

I'm glad you both think they are on the narrow side. That's my feeling, too. But, as you know, I tend to look at things from a meat/size perspective and they are/were housed with meat birds, so I thought my impression may have been biased.

 

[seriousbill]

I think you're right on the money, Tim.

 

[TimG]

FWIW, I printed pictures of the three I took pictures of last night and took them to the chicken run so I could be sure of capturing #4 today. I got some pictures and posted them to the end of the paged linked in the first post.

I also thought to weigh this one, he came in a just about 3 1/2 pounds (14 weeks).

 

[seriousbill]

Ok, Tim, I just randomly picked up a 7-week-old cockerel from the yard and weighed him. He's not the biggest, not the smallest. He weighed 2.32 pounds according to my Accutron digital.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
That would seem to confirm that my guys are behind a bit on the growth curve. Thanks.

 

[walkswithdog]

Or for a comparison to my hatchery pullets, my smallest hatchery pullet is 14 weeks and 2.6 pounds this morning, if that helps.

 

[TimG]

My Delawares are now 19 weeks old. Unfortunately a family of foxes has reduced my number to two and did not leave behind what I consider to be the best of the males. I'm not sure whether I will breed these (probably not), but they're no good for the table and the cockerel is very well behaved, so with increased security on my part they should be safe for quite a while.

They are still on the small side. Especially note how close set the cockerel's legs are. This guy just doesn't scream out, or really even whisper, "meat bird".