Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

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She does that every single time I let them out to free range. One day, she was grooming him through the fence (and he was soaking it up, too) until Dusty stepped in and told her to get her beak off her man, LOL.

 

[DelDels]

Hi Everyone,
I've been reading this thread and BYC for ever it seems. My name is Bea Campbell and I live in Delaware about 20 miles from where the Delawares were created. I have a small flock of them that I have been working with for 4 years. I have learned so much from all of you that I wanted to say THANK YOU. I also feel like I almost know a lot of you. Kudos to Kathy in Mo., Speckled Hen and MANY others for the work you have done on behalf of this wonderful breed.

I began keeping chickens with some hatchery Buff Orpingtons. Then I purchased a trio of hatchery Delawares because of their meat and flavor reputation. Not long after, I decided to sell the Orpingtons and raise Delawares as their personality and egg production was so superior to the hatchery Orpingtons I had. Later I found that this was probably a plot hatched by the Delwares but by then it was too late. The following year I purchased some hatching eggs from a fellow in Va. who had Janet's (can't recall her last name) superior stock. Only two cockerals hatched but one of those I named Chunk was just what I needed.

Chunk's son Lewes (I enjoy naming some of them after local towns) is my current rooster. I'll be posting some pictures when I am allowed. I've been hatching and culling hard and learning a lot. I'm still building the barn(body) but the paint has improved somewhat on it own. Even though I have a long way to go I am encourged by seeing steady progress.

You would think that there would be some nice Delawares locally but that is not so. When I mention Delaware chickens everyone around here thinks I am talking about the Delaware Blue's which are game birds. I've given away three groups of chicks and sold others to try to get them going again around here. Slowly but surely local interest and knowlege of the breed seems to be picking up.


Watching and reading all the threads on the German New Hampshires has me thinking that I'd like some of those beauties too. I Love the heritage breeds and the quality dual purpose chickens that our ancestors created.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Quote:
Cool

, Well first and foremost

and to the Delaware thread DelDells

And I like the way you worded your last sentence in your post, you hit the nail on the head. That's exactly the way the "heritage breeds" should be interpreted(too me that is).

Jeff

 

[DelDels]

That has got to be the nicest welcome I've ever received on any forum Catdaddyfro. Thank You! Glad to see that I'm among like thinking folks.

 

[kathyinmo]

Welcome Bea!
Nice to have another Delaware lover aboard!

 

[Goose and Fig]

Yes- welcome! Glad to see somebody else noticed those German New Hampshires too-

 

[DelDels]

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Thank You Happy Mtn and Kathy for the warm welcomes. Yes I hope I'm not to late to get some NH chicks or eggs from Kathy or her fellow breeders this spring. Hint, hint.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Thank You Happy Mtn and Kathy for the warm welcomes. Yes I hope I'm not to late to get some NH chicks or eggs from Kathy or her fellow breeders this spring. Hint, hint.

A few of us are working together, to (hopefully) ensure that all who want them will have them available.

 

[speckledhen]

Welcome, Bea! You must be talking about Janet Holtman. She talked me into real Delawares after I had a bad experience with hatchery Dels and I've never regretted it. Glad to have you with the rest of the Dellie slaves!

 

[Barred Rocker]

Hi Bea, I raise Delawares also. My wifes mom lives in Delaware. Nice to have you onboard.