LacyBlues OMG you are going to raise Delaware to eat? Bet you fall in love with them first. They are the most amazing, active, nosey, friendly, funny and just a hoot!
Ike is so handsome BUT not as handsome as my Suedenator, my big blue love, the blue tank and stud-Muffin on the GA mountains is....
Well... yes? I don't like the cornish cross and these guys were (before the cx) the meat bird of choice from what I understand. A lot slower growing and should taste better too.
I plan to keep one male and probably 3 females for next year. I got 19 males and 8 girls out of my 27 birds received! Gads!
I do really like them. There is only one rooster that I feel I need to watch. He wasn't an issue at all until the first time I picked him up. Now, if I pick up one of the girls, his expression changes. So I watch him. I have the girls separated because one of the boys got pretty rowdy with one of the girls and bit a chunk out of the back of her head. I'm sure it was just hormones.
Kathy,
Please post some of your new birds they are so broad and pretty. No they never get to big for me to use them as they were intended as broilers. I know you mentioned yours might be getting to heavy. That is impossible as far as I am concerned. gloria jean
I saw your posts and ran outside to grab some pictures.....
My F3s are still just chicks. I have about a hundred growing out. Many begin with smut on them, but it usually clears up. All I have in Delawares now are my own creations. Here are some of the chicks today. Mind you, it got up to 106 here - hotter than heck!
I'll tell you a few things I have learned. Many times we have heard, "Oh, that's that Columbian influence from the hatcheries." I no longer believe that as the reason for the less than desirable barring on the hackles. It is a natural occurrence from this breeding combination. I expected it in the F2s, and more in some of the F3s too. Down the line I will cull for it, I expect. Maybe sooner, rather than later. Out of 100 or so chicks I have, I expect to keep about a dozen. We'll see.
Another trait I don't like is that some have brown noses...... brown on the beak. I am thinking this will clear up, also. I know one of the F2s had it, and no longer does. Another, "we'll see."
Size wise - I have not weighed them, but am quite sure I am over standard. That's okay. I'll take that. I do not like the puny little Dels I have seen. I despise pinched tails. YUK. I also want width ..... width between the legs. This assures there is room in there for organs and egg production and such. The SOP says, "Legs set well apart."
Recently I viewed some photos of Dels with a "cushion," and discussed that with Walt. That is something I will watch for, too. Don't want that. SOP says, "BACK: Moderately long, nearly horizontal, broad its entire length, forming a gradual concave sweep from saddle to tail." No cushion.
I am loving the breasts I am seeing...... so far anyway. SOP says, "BREAST: Deep, full, broad and well-rounded." I dislike those flat chested looking birds.
Kathy, I have to agree with you that it's just way too easy to say, "Oh, that's the Columbian influence" when the hackles are not as "right" as they should be. I know that my line has none of that, but on occasion, Georgie, who is darker in the hackles than Ellie, will throw a very dark hackled male, not good for breeding, but still, no Columbian blood in there. They didn't come out of hatchery birds-they came from older and respected Delaware lines, still in need of improvement, to be sure, but not with Columbian Rock blood. So, I do agree with you there 100%!
When you have a hatchery Delaware, more than likely, it is CR influence, because they certainly did introduce CRs into the mix when the numbers were way down and didn't cull out the way they should have. Welp Hatchery used to have an online ad that said "Delaware/Columbian Rock".
Well, I just think the "Columbian" looking hackles are gonna be a natural occurring thing, from time to time. Since it was, "expected" (per my genetics experts) in my F2s, I think it will just naturally pop up from time to time . I am guessing it is in every Delaware's background somewhere. I will attempt to breed it out, but I don't really think I can. Just because it doesn't show up, doesn't mean it's not there. Ya know what I mean?
Delawares are a hard breed to work with. Too much barring, too little barring, too dark, too light, etc.... lots of "paint," to look at after the barn is built.
Cyn...I agree you have two awesome boys and I have two also...and funny...I have several awesome ones growing out. I warn you...I may remove the head of the bully cochanver...he flew and bounced off Cheyenne's forehead. Although she said she is not sure if he flew at her or if she bent into his path...so he has one more chance. He jumps at you and bites and flies into walls when you reach for him so it does not look good for him. He is to fast and too good a flyer to rehome if he flies for faces.
No room for spazzo males, no matter what breed they are! That boy may have to go. Gideon isn't too bad now, but still, not the calm boy I need him to be. His daddy makes him super jumpy, too. Gideon thinks he's being stalked (and he may be right, LOL) so he runs all over the place making this disturbed sound when Ike walks in his direction.
Kathy, I agree that not every Delaware is a good example for the best breeder, just like in every breed. Doesn't mean there is CR blood in the lines at all. They just have some minor faults from time to time, some major faults on occasion, and you work with them like you'd work with any other breed, just with some added difficulty, being Delawares.
I will be keeping some pullets from PH, about six. Probably not any roos since I have George and Nick. I've places to keep them separate. I also have grow out coop so I will be keeping more Del chicks.
Kathy I do like the width on your girls. My Nick is wide but not as tall as Uncle George. Nick does have smut I can see underneath, but I'm fairly sure he has no hatchery blood.
As for pinched tails I've got those for sure in the PH line and mine too. Something to be worked on.
I'm pretty much tired of breeding anything, period. And tired of life in general, I guess. The humid weather is making me crabby and I want to let loose with my very unpopular opinions on so many things, like the Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, both of which I am firmly against. See? I could name a few more things that I am "anti-", but I'm sure some of the usual suspects would find SDWD and start the task of getting the thread closed down. I need fall weather NOW, before I say something that someone else will regret.
Just felt the need to vent. Wish we could vent this humidity!!!
Emily is broody for the 6th time. I think I'll give her eggs in the broody pen, which is sure to speed up the process of breaking her up. She never goes to 21 days.
Moved Aimee, Carly and the five 5 week old chicks into the bantam coop today. Should be some nifty fireworks in there at roost time.
