Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Germaine_11.20]

Who is shortcake? I can't find her in the user's list.

 

[speckledhen]

There are very few Delaware breeders in the country, so I really dont know of any out west at all. Maybe seriousbill would? She is in Ohio herself.
rancher hicks, I understand your pain not being able to get eggs right now. I have had so many people ask me about them since they saw mine growing out, but if I committed to sending them eggs one by one, I'd have another super-long list of reservations like I did with my BBS Orps. I just can't do that again. If I do see that I am able to send eggs out again, or if the economy makes it necessary for me to earn extra money (and it's looking like it will, my property taxes almost doubled

), I'll contact you about sending some.

I only have five hens at the moment, so can't fill lots of orders anyway.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I just went out to tell Lily how lucky she is she's not getting "culled"!

As Speckled Hen explained to me, my Lily (also pictured on page 3 of this thread) has that Columbian Rock influence. She is a hatchery chick, I believe from Belt Hatchery in Fresno. Here's a picture of her from this morning:

I'm actually kind of relieved to hear about the Columbian Rock side of things because I've been wondering what I was doing wrong with Lily. She's a nice enough bird, but not really very friendly and becomes absolutely terrified and panicked when I pick her up. I think I'll just let her be from now on and not try to force the friendliness thing.

Will she be a good layer?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Speckled Hen, I would love to be on that list too. However I understand the desire to refrain from a long list and keeping track to keep everyone happy.

If you do ever find some extra eggs though please keep me in mind.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, rustyswoman, you are one of those I had in mind, too.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thank you!

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
She should lay just fine - rocks and dels are really good layers in general. Try offering her super special treats from hand a couple of times a day if you have the time - bread with yogurt on it, scrambled eggs, anything she has to come to you for. Often that will work with fussier birds. Most of my dels are more like the hop on you to see what you have (in your hair, in your pockets, in your hands) - Hi Momma kind of buggers.

 

[rancher hicks]

I just don't understand what's happening to all those roos. Is everyone hanging on to their roos? I originally intended to buy just the roo, when her hus, offered the hens too I took them.
I hatched 6 and gave them away cause I'm not set up for more but I've got my eye and a nice shed from Home Depot and I only intend to breed one or two breeds and of course Dels is one.
I don't intend to deal with hybrids as far as breeding. At my age I can't be picky.
I'll try to get some pics posted.

 

[walkswithdog]

I sold my most of my cockeral culls as mixes. Since my batch came from Cyn - who had taken her pick of the group, and the male I kept was not only the best of the remaining group but really the only one that really fit the standard, I only sold my "runner up" as a del.

I sold the others at market as mixes - they went for meat birds. Got 10 bucks they were huge but wouldn't have sold them for pure in any case. Selling to someone I know will eat them - priceless. There's a peace of mind to knowing I'm not selling to someone who will try to sell their hackneyed spavined off colored Delawares as Delawares that came from ME.

You are going to run up against the fact that the roos flesh out nice and make a good dinner. I'm more likely to eat one or freeze it than sell a cull that I've kept long enough to see it mature.

 

[McSpin]

Mine are from hatchery stock. They've really been great birds so far. These photos are when they were about 15 weeks old. They are now 22 weeks and the pullets have been laying for 2 weeks. The pullet eggs are already large and they lay every day.

The birds themselves are large, friendly, curious and great forages. The cockerel in the about photo weighs 6 pounds at 22 weeks. Body type and pattern seems to be decent enough for hatchery stock.