Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[walkswithdog]

The Delaware cockerals REALLY are very hard on anything less than 8 or more hens.

Algernon settled down once I had gotten him 10, his favorite is even regrowing her back feathers. Yeah the extra boys really have to be penned up in a boys pen/field or else. It's hard to raise spare cockerals in with the main group.

He was okay with six but only if he free ranged. Otherwise they all tend to fuss and fight and pick on one another. I don't even try to pen them up any more.

 

[speckledhen]

Surely, someone else has some Delawares to post pics of here on BYC!

Cher is so right about this breed--they are seriously active foragers and very energetic breeders. So far, Isaac is doing fine with his five ladies, but I want to get him 2-3 more in that coop to be sure it stays okay for them all and none are overbred.

 

[Lizzy_Lane_Farm]

Thought I would share these with you...

9 weeks old (above) the rest they are 16 weeks, taken this morning....

None have started laying yet, but by the looks of them if the day light holds out they soon will be...

They are from Ideal Poulty bought as day old chicks. They are very calm and friendly. As you can see some have more coloring around the neck than others but all have nice black tails.

 

[walkswithdog]

I love pictures of chickens laying in the sun, just makes me smile.

Some of those Ideal girls have pretty good cushion for hatchery birds - keep going!

And .. tongue in cheek to my own birds - "SEEE other people's birds stay clean and pretty - you rotten yard fowl..."

 

[joletabey]

Why, oh WHY do I keep looking at these Delawares and wanting to just snuggy up with them?
I can't wait for spring. . . . .someone talk me into thinking I should get an incubator. . . . .

 

[speckledhen]

I am seriously thinking about putting over two dozen Delaware eggs into the bator when my current hatch is finished...and I'll be auctining them all off as a group. Stay tuned!

These birds are friendly and fabulous layers as well as beautiful birds. I hope more folks will develop an interest in breeding them in the near future and not just propagating them, but trying to breed up to standard. You really have to see them in person to appreciate their size and beauty.

I know there are a couple more folks here who have them and hopefully, they'll pop in with pics for us.

 

[Lizzy_Lane_Farm]

Quote:
Can any one point us in the right direction for info on the standard for them? It must be posted here, but I didn't find it.

Thanks.

Yes, they are huge and very friendly. My 3 year old carries them around in her arms all the time and they like to ride in her wagon.

Karyn

 

[speckledhen]

No, the Standard isn't posted here, I don't think. You won't find many standards online except maybe individual breed clubs' websites because they want you to buy the book. Someone awhile back posted artist renderings of the perfect Delaware, a very stocky, broad and deep bodied bird. I can tell you they should have five, even, defined points on the comb, a 40 degree set on the tail and bright yellow legs. Just getting those few things right on one bird is a challenge, but body type is most important of all, IMO.

 

[OSUman]

Delawares are on my wish list along qith alot of othwr things

 

[delawaregirl09]

Delawares are fantastic. Like everyones been saying, they are great layers and just amazing birds. I sit with mine out in the pen for hours on end and wonder why the heck a black and white bird is so amazing lol

No, I know why.