Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I have heard pretty good things too, though mostly about his Ameraucanas. I like the Delaware roos he has. Wish I could find hens with better tails though. They just don't have quite the tail black I need. My hens look much like his, though the few pullets I have right now are an improvement over their mothers at least. I think he has some nice stock

 

[speckledhen]

Will told someone once that he got his original Delawares from Ideal Poultry and some hatchery in Alabama years ago. I believe he told popcornpuppy that, if my memory serves. Of course, he's been doing this for years and years and I think he's improved them greatly.


Still no pips in my Del eggs.

They could very well be a day late after the slow start the broody got when she was learning the ropes, but I really hope to see a pip sometime today. The feed store had only 3 week old Silkies and Japanese bantams, and though she is expecting a shipment the second week of December, it will be too late to find a few buddies for my Dellie babies.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I would believe that. About a decade or more ago you probably could have gotten at least halfway decent Delaware's from hatchery stock. Too bad you can't come close now because of all the Colombian Rock blood mixed in. It's so hard to know which ones to halfway trust, so I have sworn off hatchery stock for anything other than layers. Actually I have yet to even order anything from hatchery stock other than my ducks I had last year came from TSC's bin. The others I have now are from a breeder.

 

[adubsroit]

Quote:
I would believe that. About a decade or more ago you probably could have gotten at least halfway decent Delaware's from hatchery stock. Too bad you can't come close now because of all the Colombian Rock blood mixed in. It's so hard to know which ones to halfway trust, so I have sworn off hatchery stock for anything other than layers. Actually I have yet to even order anything from hatchery stock other than my ducks I had last year came from TSC's bin. The others I have now are from a breeder.

I think with a little/ or a lot of work, depending on the original stock, you can develop some pretty nice stock out of hatchery birds. I know with Chanteclers particularly the Buff variety a lot of people are starting out with hatchery stock and working up from there. There are some very nice flocks that only a few years ago were started off of hatchery birds. Still I think buying from a breeder is the best option when available. I don't see anything wrong with buying from a breeder that may have started with hatchery birds, particularly if they have been working with them for a while and have descent birds.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I finally had some time to get some pics edited and put on photobucket, it takes me a long time to get them uploaded because I don't know jack about operating a computer (barely can type) much less anything complicated, anyhoo. Heres some pics of my last years babies all grown up now. We, my brother and I didn't end up with much to work with but I'm gonna give it a whirl starting this spring and hopefully by then have some more gals to add to my bunch to help out in my endeavours.

Alabaster (Ally)

Sylvester(Sly) he has whiter legs than Alley but bigger bodywise.

Henrietta(Henny) not much markings but still better than one of the other girls-she's solid white. Tells me the breeder had something fishy going on with her flock. Not pleased at all with our purchase. Enough already I'll breed my own flock up.

Henny again, don't have any of Penelope(Penny) as she up and died out of the blue so I'm stuck with 1 hen and 2 roos to start with, this is gonna take some time if I don't get some new recuits to help out with the program.

Some more of the boys and I need input on these guys, thanks.

Ally

Sly

Ally

This is a halfbreed Del pullet from one of these two boys one of them really put the markings on this girl, heck she's got more black than either of my Del girls ended up with so maybe that's a good sign that the boys can put better markings on their offspring than the hen has, we'll see. Her mother is a mixed breed with white feet, that's where she gets that from.

Please tell me what ya'll think for sure as I know they're not the best specimins but I gotta start somewhere. You know my brother paid good money for these as chicks and look how these hens ended up, his only hen left is darned near white also. The "so called" breeder he got them from sure seems like she needs to do some serious improving on her flock, huh. BTW its no one here in this section, I don't even think she's a member on the BYC. Just to be clear here

Talk to ya'll later on,

catdaddy

 

[kathyinmo]

catdaddy,
Ya gotta work with what ya got! I would forget about looking at color right now. Look at type. Look at the body shape of your boys. Go for the one with the most "bowl like" shape. Look at the width between the legs. (More is better). Check the tail angle, if it comes down to that. Here is a picture to compare to ....

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I would believe that. About a decade or more ago you probably could have gotten at least halfway decent Delaware's from hatchery stock. Too bad you can't come close now because of all the Colombian Rock blood mixed in. It's so hard to know which ones to halfway trust, so I have sworn off hatchery stock for anything other than layers. Actually I have yet to even order anything from hatchery stock other than my ducks I had last year came from TSC's bin. The others I have now are from a breeder.

I think with a little/ or a lot of work, depending on the original stock, you can develop some pretty nice stock out of hatchery birds. I know with Chanteclers particularly the Buff variety a lot of people are starting out with hatchery stock and working up from there. There are some very nice flocks that only a few years ago were started off of hatchery birds. Still I think buying from a breeder is the best option when available. I don't see anything wrong with buying from a breeder that may have started with hatchery birds, particularly if they have been working with them for a while and have descent birds.

I absolutely agree! I think hatchery stock is fine to start out with, it's just often a lot more work. But far be it from me to be a chicken snob

I do think what Mr. Morrow has to work with would be similar to me just hatching some of my own to work with though, as we seem to have the same flock issues. I think they would be great starter birds. He has a bit better roos than mine, so I am debating on whether or not to order a couple, not only to improve my boys, but to add new blood. Though the thought of it makes me a bit nervous...ya never know what you'll really get! Delaware's are SOOOO difficult to get right, as I have found out for myself. It's still fun though

Catdaddyfro~ I like their combs and the roos color. I agree to look at type first, but color and combs would be taken into consideration when choosing breeding stock from those boys too, as they are a good start on those two aspects. And you have the same issue with girls tail black as I have

It's hard to tell from the angles and ways the boys are standing, but they seem to be maybe a bit thin, particularly the first one. Tails are a bit high, also an issue I have. They look a little long in the neck, again maybe angle or stance. Looks like a pretty good start! Like kathy said you gotta work with what ya got! That's all any of us can do.

 

[kathyinmo]

I am soooo tired of raking leaves! We rake and burn ....
Here are some of my Delawares today. I think they are tired of the leaves, too!
Oliver on the left, Jacob on the right. The other girls were inside laying eggs for us!

 

[aveca]

Quote:
The ALBC mentioned that Mr Morrow has been working with them trying to "recharge" the breed - i think it would be a good idea - meanwhile i sent an email back to have our club site posted for others to find!

Contacted

We have a bunch of these coming next spring..Honestly striking in person...its hard to get a great pic of chickens but in person these birds are worth the price..hes been working on strenghthening the tail barring and correct color and amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. Hes a super nice person and will not be selling hatching eggs this next year but will do special order hatchs only...too much rough handeling throu shipping and too much wasted eggs..Like I said we have a boat load coming from several different sources..

One other breeder who has been champion american with his dels we have tried and tried to get ahold of but he has so many irons in the fire that hes hard to pin down..SOOOO.Im a determined one..Im going right down to his impressive stable of poultry and making my intentions known..This guy has been best in show so many times with different birds hes a master breeeder but also wins with cattle rabbits ect...and he wins all over at top shows,,,he has so many animals that he must just collapse in bed tired at night..

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Contacted

We have a bunch of these coming next spring..Honestly striking in person...its hard to get a great pic of chickens but in person these birds are worth the price..hes been working on strenghthening the tail barring and correct color and amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.

COOL! Thanks for that info! I am leaning more toward getting a few this Spring then! Guess I better order soon though huh? Whitmore does a good bit of business!

Pics are hard to get...good ones anyway.