Seriousbill- your Delawares are awesome!!! pics added

[klf73]

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can you tell me what differentiates the cockerals from the pullets with that?

 

[seriousbill]

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can you tell me what differentiates the cockerals from the pullets with that?

Sure.

The males tend to have noticeable or fairly heavy markings on the shoulder while the pullets have only markings on the neck or very light markings on the shoulder. Here's a pic made up by a breeder I know that might help:

 

[klf73]

great! thank you for the pics

 

[rancher hicks]

So I got three pullets from Ideal. I don't want to buy more but I might want a roo. Can I contact the club? Will they put me in touch w/ someone who can supply me with a roo?
How true to breed are the ones I got? They're friendly enough and I don't intend to junk them, but they're supposed to be rare or whatever. Certainly doesn't sound it to me, or any of the other so-called very rare and rare breeds, I've read about.

I want to get birds that have the brooding still in them like they used to. Not just Delawares either.

 

[speckledhen]

I would not consider Ideal's Delawares rare. I've seen them at the local feedstore. Seem to have Columbian Rock blood in them. The ones that are rare are the ones who do not come from the big hatcheries, the ones with whom you can trace lineage back to the original lines. Those are the critically endangered ones. Seems that most hatchery Dels have "diluted" bloodlines, meaning that if they breed in Rock blood, they are not the original breed that is endangered.
The ones that Janet and I have come from very broody lines, I'm told, a real plus for me, too.

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

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Hi rancher hicks
You can go to Feather Site and on the Delaware page there is a Delaware Club of America. I join the couple a few days ago but I have not heard anything from them yet.

Tnpoultrybreeder

 

[McSpin]

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Yes, and if you do, let us know one way or the other. This is interesting. An interesting possibility...

I think I will call. Does anyone know if this kind of information is readily given? The hatchery I got them from is Welp.

 

[klf73]

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Yes, and if you do, let us know one way or the other. This is interesting. An interesting possibility...

I think I will call. Does anyone know if this kind of information is readily given? The hatchery I got them from is Welp.

I am still confused about one thing.....what makes you think they feather sexed them and not vent sexed? I don't see why they wouldn't tell you how they sex them...

 

[speckledhen]

I dont see why they wouldn't tell you how they sex them; of course, you may get hold of someone who has no idea what you're talking about, but all you can do is ask! Let us know what they say.

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Yes, and if you do, let us know one way or the other. This is interesting. An interesting possibility...

I think I will call. Does anyone know if this kind of information is readily given? The hatchery I got them from is Welp.

I'd think they'd tell you, if, as Cyn says, the person you contact knows.

One thing about it is that, if they have bred in slow-feathering, it might improve the barring of their cockerels. My understanding is that slow feathering goes hand in hand with better barring. But, on the other hand, I've seen fast feathering breeder birds with good barring, so I don't know what other factors might be involved.