Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[fowlman01]

Quote:
He looks great Kathy, but his tail has problems. Too high and pinched pretty badly. Body head and neck look very good.

Walt

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I just got off the phone with my very excited and suprised mom

Today it is 37 degrees, and we have had our very first icy weather with it sleeting several hours. For those who remember, I set her up with some chickens for my 6 year old niece, and my niece told mom she could have the eggs but the chickens were hers.

So today, mom goes out and feeds them, and a very pleasant suprise awaits just inside the door, their first egg! In this weather she was thinking they wouldn't lay until Spring, but out of 5 pullets she got her first egg today

She's tickled pink! My little niece was too as she was home from school for a dental appointment

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
He looks great Kathy, but his tail has problems. Too high and pinched pretty badly. Body head and neck look very good.

Walt

Thank you, Walt! I appreciate your evaluation. I know you are busy, and I really do appreciate your time.

Cindi ....

YAY for eggs! I bet your niece is so excited, too! Is this their first chickens?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Yes kathy, these are her first chickens, and niece had to call me and tell me ALLLLL about it

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
And you know they are gonna be out there checking for eggs 10 times a day now!

 

[joletabey]

First eggs are always so exciting! Cindi, you need to get her a special little basket!

Kathy- Oliver has such a nice body - what a great start in building the barn!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

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The judge at the fair called several tails "pinched". What does that mean? Sorry, I should know, but I do not.

 

[Serrin]

Quote:
Walt, I'm wondering, how difficult is it to overcome a situation like this? Is it simply a matter of breeding a rooster like Oliver to hens that have good tail shape, but are maybe running to the light side? What would be the structure of the ideal hen to cross him with to come closer to the breed SOP?

Just humbly trying to learn here.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
The judge at the fair called several tails "pinched". What does that mean? Sorry, I should know, but I do not.

Pinched tail .... figure 5 female

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Walt, I'm wondering, how difficult is it to overcome a situation like this? Is it simply a matter of breeding a rooster like Oliver to hens that have good tail shape, but are maybe running to the light side? What would be the structure of the ideal hen to cross him with to come closer to the breed SOP?

Just humbly trying to learn here.

I would mate him to some hens that had a lower tail angle but open tail. As open as I could find. In color you would want to mate dark to light or even correct color just to see what will happen. I pretty much make my pairings by how the hens look......not by what I "think" might be in them genetically. Kathy's male is a very good bird for making good bodies. It is essential that you keep meticulous records of your matings and what the results are.

Walt