Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Lotsapaints]

Jared77 that's my goal I want my Dellies to be good eating at 16 weeks that's why I was so delighted to find another breeder doing just that now they are at 20 weeks right where I would want to process them but I want a fryer/roaster. I agree butchering birds helps me choose what I want to keep. What has happened is many hatcheries produced them for eggs and looks so many of them are just weedy looking and not just Delawares same thing with all the heritage breeds. It goes back to type first then all the SOP things with color and comb etc...You need a good foundation it seems that we have plenty o people really trying to breed good birds there is just a learning curve that we're going through because there have not been many breeders of these birds for years and we don't seem to have any old time breeders around to help us out.....

 

[kathyinmo]

I find this subject very interesting. I don't think anyone would be offended at all.

I guess I should weigh my birds. That is one thing I have not done. I do like (personal choice here) meatier or heavier type.

However, I will stick to the Cornish X for my freezer .... 8 - 10 weeks and I'm done with tender juicy meat! YAY! This is just personal preference.

 

[Jared77]

http://albc-usa.org/documents/ALBCchicken_assessment-1.pdf

Thats the best template your going to find for selection for breeding stock I've found yet. Its simple and outlines everything you need and what to look for.

I don't take issue with the CRX, there is nothing wrong with raising them either if you want a bird you can keep and pop in the freezer fast. But there is a growing number of folks who want a sustainable flock of dual purpose legitimate meat birds myself included. I've seen WAAAAY too many threads asking about what breeds that are really dual purpose and not "well they used to be at one time" or "back in early America......." when you start researching breeds. The Delaware was one breed that kept coming up (the other was the Buckeye) but when you look for good meat line Delaware foundation stock its like trying to find who killed JFK. And with the dedication that obviously the Delaware folks have, why not work to produce that kind of bird so more folks WANT to keep the breed you love so much, and its numbers grow so it doesn't dwell in obscurity like the Chantecler, or any of the other "forgotten breeds"?

 

[PacsMan]

Ok,
So I haven't even lurked here in weeks and week....
But, thought I'd post a picture that my wife painted me for my birthday.

"Who you call'n chicken!?"

 

[Lotsapaints]

What a wonderful birthday present...makes a great avatar too

 

[joletabey]

Oh, she is GOOD!!! And it's a Delaware on the left!!!!

 

[PacsMan]

Quote:
~Almost~ the right markings and good waddle (only 5 points!), plus a yellow beak!

(grin)

 

[speckledhen]

Love the painting!

 

[Bassleg]

Very nice painting!!!

 

[Jared77]

Too cool!!! Your wife's got a real talent!