Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[TimG]

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This is backwards from my way of thinking (not meaning that I am right), but I would think to work on desired traits first and only once they have been achieved worry about the SOP. (Understanding that desired traits and SOP often are in agreement.)

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One might also ask: why cull less than perfect chickens when they are so endangered? Better a few imperfect examples than one perfect example. (Of course, no one will ever achieve perfection.)

I'm not suggesting ignoring the SOP. Suppose I have six roosters and will only be keeping one. I would look at the traits that are most important to me. When the decision is close, I would look to SOP traits that I was not initially considering.

 

[Cetawin]

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I agree 100% with you TimG...that is my case here. I have 2 Isaac babies because they are Isaac babies, my pets and my DH really likes the breed. I love their personality and temperment so there is no need for me to cull as I have either 2 pullets or a pair (one could still be a roo).

Now if I were going to an all Delaware flock or breeders, then I would concern myself more with the SOP than currently.

 

[speckledhen]

All this is good discussion, but let's not forget the subject of the thread's originator, folks. Hopefully, someone else has pictures of their Dels to post? Would love to see them!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Good point Tim.
This is my reasoning (and I am not saying I am right, just right for me) It is easy to aim for SOP because the negative issues are pretty obvious.
Egg production, hardiness, not so easy. It will take longer to see if it applies to that bird.
Being that these are Delawares and I think the SOP demands a certain body type, I think the "meat" part of that will naturally happen when breeding for the SOP body type.
And Delawares are well known for their egg production and hardiness. So I am just making an educated guess that when mine obtain a SOP appearance they will still have retained the great egg, meat and hardiness factors that are unique to this breed.
Then I will cull out those who don't qualify and work towards better.

If I should find that both are not possible, I would have to opt for a less than perfect high producing Del.

 

[kathyinmo]

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One might also ask: why cull less than perfect chickens when they are so endangered? Better a few imperfect examples than one perfect example. (Of course, no one will ever achieve perfection.)

I'm not suggesting ignoring the SOP. Suppose I have six roosters and will only be keeping one. I would look at the traits that are most important to me. When the decision is close, I would look to SOP traits that I was not initially considering.

I understand that feeling as well. Of course I do realize perfection is a continued work in process. Still, I plan to cull heavily to reach my goal.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

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Yes Speckled Hen, you are right. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

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Not me.

 

[TimG]

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I think we are in basic agreement! I think there are some traits that go towards productivity (like body type) and others that are primarily cosmetic (like number of comb points). I would put a priority on productivity traits (even if those traits are not contained in the SOP) rather than cosmetic traits.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I have a quick question and then I am grounding myself from BYC until I get my work done LOL

Concerning my little chicks that are about 3 weeks old:

Does anyone know if the amount of coloring they have will indicate whether they are male or female or does that not make a difference?

I have about a 60/40 split on coloring. Some are much darker than the others and I only see one that has a rooish comb so far.

I am anxious because I only have one pullet and I really want to think that a few of these are girls.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have a question about yellowing. I was told, by a silkie breeder, that the sun causes yellowing. Is it true that if they (Delawares) are kept out of the sun they would not yellow? Just wondering .....

Oh, and here is a photo of my Delawares! LOL