Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kstaven]

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Pullets turned out fine and I hope this new blood addition builds on that base.

Only thing I often get accused of is being too ruthless in my culling practice. Maybe try to practice a little more restraint this time?

I don't think anyone can be too ruthless in their culling.

Walt

Overall I would agree. The funny part about it is, the last person who made the comment about being to ruthless was a show judge.

 

[speckledhen]

Isaac has the white sickles, too, even before the molt, he had one, now has two. I want to pluck them so badly, LOL. I need new pictures of him.

 

[fowlman01]

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I don't think anyone can be too ruthless in their culling.

Walt

Overall I would agree. The funny part about it is, the last person who made the comment about being to ruthless was a show judge.

I am an APA/ABA judge......so there you go. Just another case of different opinions.

Walt

 

[pinkchick]

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Oooh, she has nice roosters... I've got 5 of them and a couple will be the daddies of my chicks next year...

She has some very good roosters. If they are anything like hers, you would never have any trouble selling the extras.

Walt

Hi Walt! Hope you are doing great! Kathy does have very nice roosters. She sent me some hatching eggs last October and I hatched 6 boys and 10 girls....I started culling the roosters pretty early on for obvious faults, but let me tell you they were pretty minor in the grand scheme of things...and culled a couple of the pullets for the same reason and a couple birds had curled toes (I attribute the curled toes to my incubation methods...not to Kathy's birds) and culled a couple for too light of leg color...when all was said and done, I had culled down to 3 roosters and 5 pullets. A month ago I culled 2 of the 3 roosters and kept the best boy..based on personality, his demeanor with the ladies, his comb, leg color, eye color and plumage. Overall I am very happy with him....the only thing I would change about him is his size. The girls are actually a tad bigger than he is, but I know at 7 mos. he is still maturing, so we will see. If not...heck I got's lots'O little cockerels to choose from.

Thanks for the compliments on the girls friends. I sure do love them. Got my DH and my nephew hooked on them too....currently working on getting one of my nephew's coworkers addicted to them as well.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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Both are very nice looking.

 

[kstaven]

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Overall I would agree. The funny part about it is, the last person who made the comment about being to ruthless was a show judge.

I am an APA/ABA judge......so there you go. Just another case of different opinions.

Walt

I knew that already. That is why I mentioned it.

 

[PepsNick]

Well, more photos of a pullet.

Pullet #2... I think that she is looking nice, except for the "streaky" hackles. Her tail is not like that, sorry, her main tail feathers became loose and fell out. They are growing back white with a little black in them... Shoot. Aren't they odd looking now? However, she is only 14 weeks old, so nothing can definitely be said yet. Her comb is five pointed.

 

[Laney]

Hello Everyone, Long time no see.

It has been the WORST year. I haven't bred a single chick since I have been gone. We have lost my Grandfather, my Dad, and my Uncle. I have been away from my farm more often than I have been here over the last year supporting my Brother and Sister through my Father's illness and my Mom and Aunt with my Grandfather.

It's now time to move on.

I hope everyone else has had a better time of it than I have.

So...on to the Dellie pictures! I am ready to start breeding and have to isolate my choice of hen. I had some accidental breeding happen last summer. One of my Silver Phoenix Hens gathered up a bunch of mixed breed eggs and had herself some fun. As a result of that I actually ended up with a Sport Delaware. (One of SpeckledHen's Barred Rock Roosters, and a New Hampshire Red Hen). She is on the small side, but her coloring is spectacular. Do I breed her? HMMMMM. I'm wondering if I breed for size this time, and then indroduce her to improve color in F2???

So, here are some pics...

This is Rooster 1. I'm sorry about his tail, but he got into an argument with a nonsense.....

This is Rooster 2. He has a full tail to show. He also has a smoother transition from chest to thigh. However, he isn't quite as wide in the chest as #1.

This is the sport - cross of Barred Rock Roo with New Hampshire Red Hen. In the second image the Sport is on the Right, and one of my other Dellie Hens is on the left in front. The sport cross is small. Though she is only about 6 months old she is just a bit larger than a banty. (About 4lbs I would say)

Hen 1. Her tail is pinched...that I know. Coloring and comb are good, as is her size compared to others. I have some very light hens.

Hen 2. Her tail is not pinched. Coloring is not as good. Comb is a bit floppy. She is a bit larger and more filled out.

I have other Dellie Hens, but these are the two I was able to get pictures of today. They are all of similar quality. Some better in color, some in type.

The sport is just a gorgeous bird, but smaller than I would like. I'm considering breeding it to my rooster to see what pops out. Opinions on who you would mix? I also would like to buy two more lines over the next few years so I can start to spiral breed.

I have missed you all.

Laney

 

[PepsNick]

Hi Laney. So sorry about your family tragedies!

From what I can tell I like your Dels. Roo #2 does seem to have a "big 'ol white sickle feather", though. Pluck it! I can't tell if rooster #1 has an extra point on his comb.

I do like the shape of all of them. Yeah, pullet #1's tail is badly pinched, and could use more black, but she looks nice. Barring in the hackles could improve, too, I think. Maybe darken? I think they look okay. Pullet #2... No tail black, but she has nice shape. Her comb is funny.

Nick

 

[Zanna]

Hi everyone! New to Delawares, I have 5, 4 1/2 month old pullets, also, 6 roos and 6 pullets that are 2 months old. It is possible that the older pullets (from a different breeder than the youngsters) have some light Brahma in them (I culled all the roos just in case). Could someone explain to me what Columbian hackles are and possibly post a close up pic.? I originally bought the first group with the intent of crossing the hens to my NH roo to make sexlinks but have absolutely fallen in love with the friendliness/boldness of this breed so may keep a roo from the second group if I have one worthy, time will tell.