saving endangered Delawares, a moral question

[lotzahenz]

I vote for Patience, my leastest virtue. When the weather cools off a bit, there should be lots of eggs available. Hatching is great way to get what you want, and you won't be sorry in the end with subpar birds. I'd keep the Leghorns until the new birds get to laying age, which at this point will be late next Spring most likely. Good Luck, you'll LOVE hatching your own babies, so eggciting. HenZ

 

[nicalandia]

hey why don´t you try and re create them?...look at it this way..today delawares are a few and will most likely experience inbreeding Depression in the future...here in this link it shows how the Delaware were first created, http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Dels/Hoffmann.html the cool thing is its withing everybodys reach to do so...

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I have 5 Delawares currently 12 weeks old from Whitmore Farms. This Farm/Hatchery was very pleasant and easy to deal with, and I have been very pleased with the birds. They are healthy and mostly big bodied, and yellow legged, but do not have the 5 points on the comb. That is what Whitmore advertised them as, breeding for dual-purpose (reasonable eggs and early meat) as opposed feather-perfection. I need to post some pictures to get advice as to whether the feathering is close to APA or not.

The family likes the Delawares and we will be looking for additional stock.

Delawares are very popular here, please be patient, it may be best to wait for spring and get good birds rather than rush and get poor birds. It can be difficult to improve from poor birds.

I have heard that as hatcheries go, Sand Hill Preservation has the best/closest to APA definition Delawares. (from Speckledhen)

I am going to an APA poultry show to learn more about the breed and see what is available in the Wisconsin area.

Good Luck helping make "true" Delawares popular and abundant!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I would not go the "re-creating" route myself. Delawares are not THAT rare. I think you will find them available in the spring.

 

[nicalandia]

but it will give them some extra genetic boost for the long road..

 

[greathorse]

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