Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[PepsNick]

My Dels turned 7 weeks today. I really love them, and want more. More is 3-5 more. I have someone who bought their current coop, which I'm using temporarily for them growing out. In four weeks they'll just have to switch to the main coop, if the new coop isn't done by then. Should be nice for integration!

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

I think the body is real close... a little more curve on the front and we probably have a winner. You all have to remember, I'll hatch around 50 to 300 chicks this year from him and my hens. It will be the best of those I keep for the next round...

Year one (last year): Best looking birds... Closest to the color and body shape... Like I said earlier, I ended up with NO roosters out of this batch. About 500 chickens hatched and culled down or lost to predation... Was most impressed with the chick's vigor coming out of eggs and activity at birth.

Year two (this year) body type and size. Breeding for that Delaware look not color but size, shape and structure. Coloration is still important but is on the back burner and size, shape and structure will play a more important role than color. I'm also looking at rate of growth. Which chickens weigh the most at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. I will probably cull at each of those points well at least starting at 8 weeks. Continue to look for the same vigor shown last year.

Year three (next year) Breeding to rooster who comes from a known high layer flock. I'm not looking for the biggest egg as that can be a problem but rather good size egg (large as Delawares are supposed to be) but I'm looking for a hen that lays almost every day.

Year four: Coloration, this year, I'm looking for the best of the best. Which birds would win in a prize. I'm going to judge the birds and cull according to which fit each of the descriptions I've been working toward each year. I will be hatching HUGE numbers this year and will probably only work with this breed.

Year Five: Another huge hatch year and will be checking to see if I'm getting the same results as in year 4...

I will continue each year with the same routine.

This is the plan. I had given up on being able to pursue my process as I had not had luck with finding a rooster until Scott the owner of the bird in the picture told me he had one he'd sell. So, that is why I posted him.

I appreciate all your input.

 

[kathyinmo]

My question to you, Dave, is this .... Do you find that crossing lines (strains) presents new problems at all? I have read so much about breeding that my eyes are crossed. One thing I read over and over again is that crossing lines, more often than not, brings out more problems than sticking within the same strain. You mentioned hybrid vigor. That is, of course, a bonus to all this. What other things have you noticed?

By the way, I was gonna comment on your post about hatching early. I do not believe that hatching a couple days early has anything to do with hybrid vigor, but is more likely an issue with incubation temperature.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

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I just noticed that these chicks hatch early and the others even set on the same day don't. It is odd cause I haven't see anything like this before. The other part of vigor is that last year the Delaware eggs I hatched from a local farmer were vigorous and this year the chicks from the girls I held back have the same quality. The vigor isn't so much about hatching early as the quick drying off (faster than other chicks) and then literally jumping out of the incubator tray. Another thing I haven't seen in other chicks...

I agree about the crossing lines and I will try to minimize that after next year. I am not looking to perfect the coloration this or next year but to increase body size and laying. I will become a closed flock after the 3rd year if all goes as planned... As of now, I want as much good stuff in my stock as I can find. So I've got some of your birds and I plan to get this rooster from down south. I also plan to get some of Peter's birds and see if they are laying as well as he'd hoped they would. (His website or at least I read somewhere this is what he was breeding toward.)

Got to start somewhere and since I don't have room to hatch and grow 1000 chicks, I have to try to do as best as I can.

I love talking chickens... Thanks everyone.

 

[countrychickengirl]

I posted this in the ordinances section, but wanted to give y'all a heads up as well since my chickens are wonderful Dels!!

Hi everyone!! After a long 6 months of back and forth with Winder City Council, it looks like we have an end in sight. The council has drafted a proposal that would allow hens within the city limits!!! They will be bringing this proposal to the public during a public forum on TUESDAY, MARCH 22 at 6 PM at the COMMUNITY CENTER located at 113 E. Athens Street, Winder, GA, 30680 (770) 867-9011

We would like for as many of you to come and support us as we try to add another city to the growing list of "chicken friendly" places in GA!

Thank you so much for your support - we appreciate all of your efforts!

 

[math ace]

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NICE JOB - - I really can not understand ordinances that prohibit chickens

I am so glad there are folks out there trying to change things.. . . .

 

[speckledhen]

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Good for you, Lisa!

 

[PepsNick]

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Brilliant! Best of luck to you on this journey, and I am supporting this!

 

[jenanneray]

Here's some better pictures of the roo and one of the hens. Let me know what everyone thinks!

Mr. Roo... still wouldn't stand quite like I wanted him, but atleast he's not crowing here.

hen:

 

[har]

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I really really like that hen. You could ship her to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!