Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kduncan51]

I have a newbie question...I read that if a person puts a red or brown rooster over a white or silver hen (given that the hen's genotype as well as phenotype is silver or white), the resulting chicks will have the sex-link colors. Is that true always? If it is, how is a Delaware only silver? Seems the hens should be orangey and the roos should be silver. (Silver =black and white)

 

[speckledhen]

I have not joined the Delaware club since I am not really breeding them. I'm keeping Isaac because you couldn't ask for a better rooster and he's my buddy. I have only two Del hens left after losing Maxie to a reproductive issue so I'm hardly a breeder. I just wanted to be part of drumming up renewed interest in the breed here on BYC and I think I've managed to hook a few folks on these fabulous birds and others are picking up the torch now.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

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I have plans for some sex links out of my layer quality Dels by putting a RIR roo in there and collecting/hatching from the Del's for sex-linked offspring. I can't think of an instance where it is not true, but I am just learning genetics myself. Hope that somewhat answers your question

 

[Cindiloohoo]

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I was sorry to hear about Maxie, Cyn

You should join us just for fun though

 

[pinkchick]

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Have you joined the new Delaware club yet? http://www.delawarepoultryclub.org It's FREE right now

On another note...my jealousy of fluffy butts pictured above (Horizon Son!)is OVER

I have some myself now! They are hatching as I type

YAY!! BABIES!! They are SOOO cute and peepin their little heads off! Pics to come, when they are done and dry. Probably tomorrow

Come on Delawares! Congrats!

Everyone should have Delawares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No doubts about it!

 

[pinkchick]

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Congratulations! More Dels! Wooooooowhoooooo!

 

[kduncan51]

Kind of answers my question. I am thinking it through, and have lots of questions. I suppose teh first generation of origional Dels were (or are) sex link? Then when they are bred like to like they would produce the silver only since the silver is dominate? So I would assume that the silver is set enough in the Dels to get sex link from puting a RIR over the Del hens?

 

[kduncan51]

Another question---I ordered two Dels in my mix from McMurray. One has lots of black striping and is showing black barring on her new wing feathers. The other hardly has any black on her and is very tiny. Is this normal? The pics I have seen of the Del chicks were big yellow fluff balls.

 

[kathyinmo]

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That is exactly how it happened here at my place, too! DH really had little interest in chickens, in the beginning. After all, we just got them, "for eggs!"

I am so glad to hear you are enjoying them!


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I was on the phone a couple weeks ago, talking to Rick Hare in NY. He is an APA judge and a brilliant breeder. His stock has won numerous awards all over the US. I was inquiring about purchasing a trio of Silver Laced Wyandottes. His first question to me was, "Do you want breeders or show stock." He went on to tell me about the huge difference in the choice. Your breeders are not going to look like show stock!

 

[speckledhen]

That is very interesting, Kathy! I think that is very telling.


kduncan, the original Delawares were a "mutation" of sorts, an unexpected result out of that first stock. The intention was not to breed a white bird with barred hackles and tail. They just took it from there and decided to reproduce the result as I understand it.

They get their color over time, to answer your question. And hatchery Delawares are not usually as large as the ones breeders have been working on for years. You can't really tell what a Delaware will look like till they are about mating age. Some females are very slow to get their tail black and may even begin with barred tails, but that molts out and the black feathers come in.