Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[rancher hicks]

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I thought you were getting out of Dels? Doesn't look it to me.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, I am, Tim. All these will be sold. I can only use one hen now since Georgie is throwing too many chicks with hock issues so no more hatching Dellies (except that there is one egg in the bator, though I don't think it will make it--looks like I accidentally set a double yolker and only one is alive, but not near large enough for 14 days old)

 

[cubalaya]

hey speckled hen, didn't joletabe's (beth)delawares come from yours? why are you getting out of dels? would you say these are some of the best heritage dels in the country? i know that whitmore started with hatchery dels but his breeding program (albc) seems to be working. i was wondering if his birds would cross well with yours.

 

[reereechickens]

Hi! I'm new to this thread! Here is a pic of my Delaware roo. I have 2 roos and I had to separate them because of the fighting. I'm going to have them processed but I may keep one for future breeding! They are very friendly to me but pretty rough on my hens!:lol

https://picasaweb.google.com/115061901817646758618/20110224#5577448642107418786

 

[kathyinmo]

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How many hens do you have? I really enjoy my Delawares, and find them very friendly, too. Thanks for sharing your picture with us!

 

[speckledhen]

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Yes, most of them did come out of my Isaac and his girls. Though there are faults to be sure, I've had two breeders tell me that Isaac was one of the best in the country and that's not bragging since all I did was hatch and pick him as my keeper from 15 other cockerels in two batches. I can tell you all his faults, but he has much more right than wrong, in addition to having a spectacular temperament. So, I wasn't responsible for making the cross that produced Ike. Isaac came from Janet Holtman's later stock and hers came from Meier, McDaniel and others. She isn't currently breeding them, though a family member of hers has her birds and is keeping them for her till she can pick up the torch again.

Breeding Dels was sort of a whim for me. Janet wanted to convince me that all Dels weren't like the awful hatchery version I had originally-mean and flighty. She helped me learn what to look for and what a good Delaware should look like, along with others who helped educate me on the breed. I'm generally not a fan of white birds, personally, and to really do this breed justice, I need to keep only Delawares and I just don't have the right set up or inclination to do that. So, I helped get up interest in them here on BYC and others are rediscovering how great they are. My mission was accomplished!

As to whether this line would cross with Will's lines, only doing it will show how successful it would be.

 

[cubalaya]

thanks for answering my questions

 

[Goose and Fig]

This is my big guy:

He's 6 or 7 months old. Big sweetheart. Still haven't found him any heritage Del girls. I guess people are stingy with them. He's got 2 blue barred del x rocks that I might hatch some eggs from. I wonder if I could get a delaware-looking bird with blue instead of black?

 

[speckledhen]

I wonder if I could get a delaware-looking bird with blue instead of black?

That would be awesome and I bet you'd have some high bid auctions from those eggs! Isaac is such a sweet, friendly guy. He seems fairly attached to me and I just love having a rooster who will trot alongside me everywhere I go or will come running from anywhere he happens to be when I call. And he really loves his chest-rubs.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I got an email from someone who wants to buy some of my Delawares. She said that her daughter would like to start showing.
Do you all think my Delawares are close enough to the standard to sell chicks or eggs out of them? Their pics are way back on page 953.
I will refer this person to the club breeders but was wondering how bad/good the stock I have is. I can take constructive criticism.

Thanks,
Kim