Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kathyinmo]

Thanks again, Walt. All information is welcomed and I am grateful for your help.

I found this information when I googled pinched tail.

http://yellowhousefarmnh.com/content/2823 -- Starting a Heritage Chicken Flock ....

pinching toward the tail, which, from above, looks like a well defined triangle coming to a point at the tail. This is not conducive to "dual purpose" egg-production.

a hen with a pinched tail but perfect comb is poison to the homesteading flock. On the farm, a hen with a lop-sided comb who looks to have a promising career in laying and the production of well-proportioned chicks is far superior to a nice hair-do on a shotty body.


Though this is about a Dorking .... I find myself much more aware of my birds stance and width between the legs:
(from the above link
Be aware of stance. A dorking needs a wide stance. Their appearence should lean towards that of the cowboy after a day of straddling a horse. Legs that are too close together or, God forbid, knock-kneed, are horrendous for the nobility and integrity of a good Dorking. Remember that the crowning glory of the Dorking is its breast meat. Narrow, pinched, thin breasts squeezed between closely fitted legs are of no value no matter how pretty or evenly colored that breast may be.

 

[joletabey]

I always think of a pinched tail as one that looks like you grabbed it in one hand and squeezed it together. And it looks as if there are not too many feathers back there, at least on hens.

 

[kathyinmo]

I am finding that the SOP is of more importance than just the look of a bird. It seems to me that it (maybe indirectly at times) is also about the production of the bird, as well, (on at least some of the areas). For example, the wider the stance the more room there is for the bird's insides.....

 

[joletabey]

I believe that, too, Kathy, after reading it with more understanding than I had when I first bought the dang thing. The SOP for most breeds describes physiques that seem to lend themselves to whatever the bird is supposed to do - that is putting it simplistically, but so far it seems the dual purpose breeds, like our Dels, are to have that broad, wide, well rounded look. Sturdy - you can SEE they have something on their bones, you can SEE that they could have room for eggs.

You know how they used to call broad hipped women "baby factories"? Sort of the same thing?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, then I guess I'm a baby factory, cuz this girl has hips! Delivered a 9 lb 9 oz baby to prove it!

Glad they came in handy for something!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Right now I'm looking to breed to the weight. My Dels are great layers so I think I'm ok there I think. Do you have a system for measueing weights and production? Have you found information on how to measure these two things?

Now I did notice you had posted for a meeting? I did join the club that was posted but the password and id don't work for the site you gave.

Thanks Tim

 

[HorizonSon]

My four week old chickies just experienced their first "mealworm mayhem" this afternoon:

Here are a few up on the myrtlewood roost, taking a break from the fun and games:

I hope you enjoy!

 

[Inkheart]

Quote:
Top pic is a "flurry" of excitement - great pic - do you raise the mealworms yourself? Been thinking about doing that for over the winter cause my chickens LOVE their bugs and moles and creepy crawly things

 

[HorizonSon]

This Monday I received my order of 1000 medium, 5000 large and 1000 jumbo mealworms. Some are for this winter; the rest are for cultivation for future winters

 

[Inkheart]

Quote:
Where did you order these from in that high amounts?