Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[McSpin]

Quote:
I've also got a couple Cuckoo Marans cockerels the exact same age and he dwarfs the marans. I've also got a few very chunky BLR Wyandotte cockerels that are even older and he makes them look small. I never expected them to get this large, this fast. I'm curious as heck to see how big they'll eventually get.

 

[joletabey]

I wonder what happens if the Dels we have all exceed the 8.5 pound weight the SOP lists. . . .at lest I am remembering it as 8.5, I could be wrong - maybe the new one will take changes like that into account - can you HAVE a Roo that is too big and would be faulted? Not that I want to show, but I am curious.

 

[McSpin]

Quote:
I got mine from Welp in NM, but since they ship out of two locations you might have to ask specifically for those in NM and then hope they haven't changed suppliers. These really are nice birds, with fast growth, lots of large eggs, great personalities and pretty good type.

 

[McSpin]

Quote:
From what I understand, their is no deduction for the 1st pound over and then 2 points off for each additional pound over that. I'm not too concerned with it, since I got mine for the dual purpose aspect, not for showing.

 

[joletabey]

Same here - I actually am wondering if I could ever eat one. . .especially if its one I raised myself!!!!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I had to eat one that was starting to pester the eldest son while he was doing the chores. He was very tasty. Not much breast meat at 18 weeks, but extremely dark and well developed thighs and legs.

Our Delawares seem to crave clover and grass. This morning I was shucking corn for the birds and the two Delaware pullets just ate grass at my feet. The others gobble the scratch. Strange but appreciated, as grass is cheap.

 

[joletabey]

JoAnn - that is good, as I have plenty of grass! I read some website where the couple had Delawares and said the meat was wonderful- so that's 2 positives. I still am not sure I could do it- maybe if the DH took over the extra cockerals somewhere out of my sight????? Nah, I think I will just give them all to Laney!

 

[Laney]

LOL... you look at me like I can do the deed. OH no. When my daughter, who refuses to eat anything we have raised leaves the house, any birds we raise to eat are going to a pro. I live with the Horror of those I HAVE to cull. I'm not doing any voluntarily. My way of dealing with the whole "culling" for breed standard will be just not incubating or allowing to brood any eggs I haven't specifically chosen the breeding pair for. That's why I bought the extra coops. So I can put breeding pairs in there.

I'll sell the non-starters to others who can either do the deed or want them for other reasons.

Laney

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
From what I understand, their is no deduction for the 1st pound over and then 2 points off for each additional pound over that. I'm not too concerned with it, since I got mine for the dual purpose aspect, not for showing.

Are you serious? I can't believe they would fault a bird because it is too big! So they are supposed to be exactly 8.5 lbs? That just seems wrong. Not you, the rule.

 

[speckledhen]

The weights are a general guideline. Since body type meeting the standard is the goal, they don't want them way too puny-small or way oversized, which essentially changes their type or indicates an overweight and less than healthy bird. At least that's my slant on it.