Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[joletabey]

This is daunting, to say the least. Even the earlobes? I may be in WAY over my head wanting to do this!. . . .I can see the difference between Isaac and Algernon's combs-and I can see that Delaware roosters have a longer, flatter back (is it the back?) and are not so U shaped as pictures of other breed's roosters. The hens seem to be very long and flat in the back- dang, if they were Arabian horses, I would have the conformation down better. I think I need to look at some really basic pictures of chicken confirmation. I am beginning to think I need to buy the APA SOP thingie.
Daunting, yet still fascinating. I really appreciate whoever it was (Alzheimers kicking in. . .) that started this, and to the people who have put up the pics - I am learning a LOT!!!!

And I must add, to my untrained eye, these are beautiful birds. And healthy and happy!!!!!!!

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
I think he's a good start for body type

, he's just massive. And I like his calm, I'm sitting or lying on the ground near him to take most of the photos. None of the birds were more than four feet from me, LOL and the turkeys rather closer.

Well the tail in the "ideal" Del is all barred in the roo and his is only 3/4s of them barred. Though many of the darker ones are just thickly and darkly barred, not solid.

His head has good shape, he carries his wings right, his eyes are the right color, his earlobes aren't too huge and his wattles aren't grainy or over long. Even his tail angle is pretty good, though we will see when it finishes coming in.

All in all he's a good start - thanks again. And many of the girls are suited to him. Let's hope the next generation of girls is even better...

 

[speckledhen]

delawaregirl got more than she bargained for when she opened up the thread for pics-hope she doesn't mind! Really, I was hoping more folks I know breed them would post pics so we're just gabbing while waiting, I guess.
I dont think Isaac has one solid black tail feather; every one is barred, just very dark. I think he'll hold up against most males of the breed, his age, pretty well.

 

[walkswithdog]

I wish the folks with more experience would weigh in... but we can gab til they get here...

Middle Delaware is Flash my favorite hen

This is Dash, dash is dirty, dash can get into more trouble than any six hens.

 

[chickinlickin]

Quote:
Thanks for posting these...what a nice bunch of birds!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I'm just getting started with this breed, and working with what I have available (a.k.a. been given)

I started with a hen and a roo, but neither were very good representations of the breed. The rooster broke his leg jumping from a roost, and had to be put down.

BUT... we are overwintering a rooster that won first place at the Fair, with the promise that we can keep all the chicks we hatch from his pairing with my Galena.

In the meantime, someone hatched a bunch of Delawares from Whitmore Farms, and managed to hatch 6 roos and one hen. She picked the best roo and swapped him for a trio of silkies. I think I got the better end of that deal!
This is Dexter (Dex for short), and he's about 5-6 months old (I'd have to check what she told me). I'm curious to hear critiques on him, so I know better what to work on with his babies.

Thank you!

Here's the best "chest shot" I could get of him!

This is my hen, Galena (thank you Joan & Toni!) and the previous (now gone) boy, Giovanni.

 

[delawaregirl09]

I know I got more than I bargained for, but I love it!!!! I'm about to upload some of my flock, they are FILTHY. They dont even look like Delawares because of this Oklahoma clay and molt and rooster love. BUT! I will upload soooooooon!!!!

OH! And I love the pics. I havent seen an "ugly" bird and I know I wont. Mrs. AK Bird Brain, That rooster is really close to greatness 9 (at least to me) It looks like his only fault is the comb, which isnt even that bad!

ETS: And Giovanni is one HANDSOME boy!

 

[catdaddyfro]

Boy ' here lately everytime I log on and go to this thread it just gets better and better. AWESOM pics. I won't some Dellies bad, can't wait to get started on my flock don't know when it'll happen but I hope its sooner rather than later. I've been thinking on this breed for my breeding flock for some time now and the more of this I see the more I won't. It's terrible to be an addict.
Keep this going its a hoot.

 

[Lizzy_Lane_Farm]

"Lizzy, the artist's rendering of the standard is actually a much stockier bird than most hatchery Dels. Note the extremely deep chest, especially. The first time I saw that picture, it was what surprised me, that they are supposed to be such a big, broad bird, since all I had seen were narrow, badly colored hatchery birds till that point."

I can't understand what you are saying about wide/deep and narrow, my trouble is I look at the Ideal girls I have and can't "see" either way as to how they compair either to the drawing or the photos here. Do you mean deep as in long from the bottom of the neck down to the bottom of the chest before it rolls into the top of the legs? or do you mean from the bottom on the neck all the way to the legs including the "swoop" to the legs?



Would any one like to give me their opinion on these 3....

This first one is from Sweetcakes and she (I think) is the heavier of all of them..

This Ideal girl I don't know about....

This next one is one of the Ideal girls that I think meets the deep body...

I am going to take your advise on correct body type first, all these girls will stay with us over the winter for their eggs (if they ever start laying) but come spring I will be ordering more hatching eggs, and keeping only a few of the better ones. I also am going to look for a rooster, but haven't thought much about that yet until I know what hens I have are then match the rooster to them....hope that's the way to go about it....

I may be wrong about them all! What does any one thing?

Wish I could keep all of them but, I only have one coop and run, 12-15 is about all I would like.... plus I also have the Black Java but they are another whole project.


Mrs. I notice the electric fence around your coop. I assume it's to keep out larger animals such as bear, coyote or fox? Is your charger steady or pulsating current and how do you like it? We have biggest problems with a black bear, lucky the Guinea are good watch dogs, and a bit of noise with the grain lids sends it back into the woods for a few days.

All of the input and pictures are great, thank you everyone for posting them and taking the time to discuss them

and thank you Delawaregirl for starting this topic.

Karyn

 

[walkswithdog]

The really hard part of having birds from only one source is the nothing-to-compare-it-to. Makes you want to

Okay see the Barred Rock in this one? For size and width comparison. She's an adult Rock. See the kind of straight line to her sides?

This is Dash a bit fluffed out but see the curve of the outline?

This is an unnamed hatchery pullet - once again you see a sort of straight sided narrower bird.

Okay then three more birds - the first is at distance but see the broad curve of her breast coming on?

This is Caladan my last remaining PR, she was kind enough to come over for comparison. I

her but she is just hatchery stock.

See how there is no way that in ANY position she has th fullness of breast, the width curve or depth of breast of the distance one - a breeder bird.

And the last is the better hatchery girl - again a better breast than the hatchery Rocks, better width but not great, less width and curve of outline? Especially at the shoulder which affects the visual line of the breast.

Need to post this to make sure everything is in the right order so if it's labeled wrong give me a minute.