Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[bt2000]

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That is exactly how I intend on approaching Dels. Get the utility back before I start worrying about anything else. On top of the SOP I'm also going to be looking at what was historically considered what they should be at 12 - 16 weeks as far as growth rate/weight.

 

[bt2000]

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You're getting 5.4 lbs dressed at 8 weeks?.. did I read that right? please clarify that.

 

[Lotsapaints]

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You're getting 5.4 lbs dressed at 8 weeks?.. did I read that right? please clarify that.

No that was the biggest one hatched 1/1/11 the smallest was 2.4 @ 14 weeks I think processing them@ 8 weeks would be for stir fry and I have a friend who does them that young for soup or chicken and rice.....someday when all of my Dels make the SOP weight I might be waiting a little longer to cull but many of the old time breeders don't wait forever to cull......as I keep records of my weights I'll know even sooner who will make it @ 16 weeks....

 

[bt2000]

Lotsapaints,

So on average, what are you getting on roos @ 16 weeks?.. live or dressed?

Thanks

 

[Lotsapaints]

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I don't have any yet this year of the pure Dels I did the Delaware cock over New Hampshire hens a very nice cross the 2 hens I'm keeping are nice and long backed low tail wide and going to be bigger than the NH mothers. I'm planning on some test matings from the 3 Delaware hens I kept to breed and the 2 crosses planning on hatching all I can in January of 2012. The line I have lays great just the hens were a little on the small side with the usual faults I kept the biggest ones with the least faults to use for my seed stock and I didn't want to set pullet eggs for my stock so I'm waiting.....learning what I should set by my testing

 

[cubalaya]

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cornish crosses are ready in 49 days. when i decided to get delawares it was because they are fast growers but at a more natural pace than the cornishx. i would think you could butcher by 16 weeks. i have australorps ready to butcher at 16 to 20 weeks. if its about color couldnt you breed for big, fast growing, fast feathering and be able to cull sooner?

 

[X2Farm]

Question... wouldn't overall feather quality suffer with picking the faster feathering birds? From what I've read, the slower feathering is one of the qualities that helps better overall feather quality in the birds.

 

[kathyinmo]

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cornish crosses are ready in 49 days. when i decided to get delawares it was because they are fast growers but at a more natural pace than the cornishx. i would think you could butcher by 16 weeks. i have australorps ready to butcher at 16 to 20 weeks. if its about color couldnt you breed for big, fast growing, fast feathering and be able to cull sooner?

Yes, I understand ..... I raised Cornish X and processed them at 10 and 11 weeks (not 49 days), and they were perfect (for me).

I am saying, I do not believe a 12 week old Delaware is worth processing..... TO ME. If I am going to the trouble of butchering, I want a larger bird. This is just my opinion.

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I have often wondered about this, too! I would love to know the answer to this.

 

[bt2000]

One look at how and why the Delaware came about will give anyone the answer to what they "should be".

They were derived out of and for the broiler market. Which means (fast growing, fast feathering, good weight gain at early ages ).

On top of that, they were also very good layers and early maturing. Which also meant breading and raising to market weights, were more cost efficient and productive.

They took the qualities of their parent stock and made it better.

The birds remained healthy and vigorous, which also meant they made a great "backyard" duel purpose bird.

That isn't my opinion. That is what brought about the Delawares creation.

Now do I want birds that look good on top of that, sure I do. As do many on here who raise them for "looking good".

But I also chose this breed because of what it's supposed to be able to offer beyond just "looking good".

And that is my opinion.

 

[X2Farm]

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Likewise for me

Its just a matter of finding the balance, in my opinion. That is the tough thing to do. A bird that grows and matures somewhat quickly, but also has the proper qualities that make it a good dual purpose fowl.

I'm thinking, since I'll be running several different bloodlines on the property, not only will it give me a chance to see many different qualities thrown, it'll also allow me to take slightly different tweaks with each line. All for the same goal, but slightly different paths. I can only hope it works well