Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Barred Rocker]

Yes, in fact, many Delaware pullets have barring in the tail until they get to around 13 weeks old. I had one with perfect barring at that age, then she molted them all out, had a white tail, then got her really nice tail black.

This was a pullet around that age:

Wow, I learn something everyday. It;'s funny how some will be obvious in a few weeks while others will keep you guessing several weeks later. I know you're supposed to be able to tell the sex of delawares at a day old buy comparing wing feathers. I tried this year but I just can't make out the difference.
cubalay, I've got the same issue with my Del rooster. He'll fight though the fence wire at my New Hampshire roo until he bloody's himself up good.

 

[speckledhen]

Here is that same pullet whose barred tail I posted above in the next two stages of her tail development:



Then, her tail black slowly came in about 15-16 weeks of age and she ended up like this-I haven't had her for ages, sold her as a layer along with her mother:

 

[tigercreek]

every time i let my delaware rooster free range with his hens, he tries to fight with my penned cubalaya cocks. while he is 2 to 3 pounds bigger than them, he seems to get all the damage.

question: can a delaware pullet have barred tail feathers? in a perfect tee pee?

My Delaware is a big boy too. Out weights my splash Plymouth Rock by 3 or 4 pounds. I thought the rock was a woose but he leaves the Del with a bloody nose every time they manage to get together!

 

[capayvalleychick]

My Braden Dels are 20 weeks old. Not as good as I had hoped and I'm not sure if I have something worth working with. None really have a true bowl shape or are as wide as I would like. I have 5 cockerels to choose from. This is Red1. I have been thinking that he was the best, but have found some defects. I think he may have crooked legs, which I didn't really notice until I took these pics, or his legs may be too close together.

With Delawares, since good breeding stock is difficult to find, is it ok to use birds that have DQs? I think every one of my cockerels has some type of DQ. I think this guy might be duck footed.

I haven't handled these much lately, it was a warm day, and he got very stressed when we put him in the hanging cone to weigh him. He's holding his wings out and panting, which isn't usual, in these shots. He also would not stand still. The scale said 6.5 lbs. He does have the biggest comb, but it has too many points. His head is wide. Tell me what you all think.




Thanks for any comments. I don't mind the truth.

Kim

 

[jeremy]

Kim, he has a nice open tail and his color seems to be decent but the feet thing worries me. I've never seen anything like that before, do you know what causes it? I personally don't think I would use him for breeding due to that and his chest being shallow.

Do you have pictures of your other males?

 

[speckledhen]

I agree with Jeremy. I would not use him, mainly due to his really shallow cut-in chest, but the legs are definitely not right at all, either. Are the other males that badly shaped?

 

[DelDels]

I am really interested in these Cappy Valley as I have 28 Braden chicks that are 3 weeks old.

The cockerel seems too long in back and neck. Also as Speckled Hen said he is very shallow in the chest. This is not a bird I would want, and that is even if he were not pigeon toed.

Please show pics of the others if you can. Thanks, Bea

 

[capayvalleychick]

I don't know what caused his leg issues. I am going to take pics of the other males. They all seem to have more of an inverted triangle shape, rather than bowl shape.
At what age should you start seeing the broad, deep chest?
Bea, the SOP says "moderately long" back. This guy's back is too long? I do see the neck as too long.
Thanks,
Kim

 

[DelDels]

I don't know what caused his leg issues. I am going to take pics of the other males. They all seem to have more of an inverted triangle shape, rather than bowl shape.
At what age should you start seeing the broad, deep chest?
Bea, the SOP says "moderately long" back. This guy's back is too long? I do see the neck as too long.
Thanks,
Kim

If you look at the picture in the APA Standard the back is much shorter. Now it may be that since your bird is too shallow in chest it makes him seem longer in back than it is. I don't know.
Also I don't know how long it takes for this particular line of birds to fill out. My ten week old cockerels from another line are already filled out pretty good.

I do think the weight of your bird for his age is very good.

 

[aveca]

Kim, he has a nice open tail and his color seems to be decent but the feet thing worries me. I've never seen anything like that before, do you know what causes it? I personally don't think I would use him for breeding due to that and his chest being shallow.

Do you have pictures of your other males?

looks like vitamin B2 deficiency during development but sure could be hereditary..curley toe and vit b2

http://www.worldpoultry.net/diseases/vitamin-b2-deficiency-d53.html