Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Serrin]

Wow! Beautiful birds Stevenson! Sometimes a video can tell you so much more about a bird than a picture can. Thanks for persevering to bring this brief glimpse of your gorgeous Del's to us!

 

[joletabey]

My Harter Dels are 6 weeks old, and leg color is a mixed bag. I read back through here and am curious, Kathy and Michael - did you get chicks from BOTH Paul's pullet line and hen line or just one or the other? I have both, and I have medium yellow legs, medium yellow legs with a greenish tinge, pale yellow legs, and pale yellow legs with a greenish tinge. Will try to get pics up.
I feed Purina Chick starter, and they are in a pen with grass, sun and shade.

I had a poultry expert from the state out here and he said the good leg color can still "come in", give it time. Kathy's info on the marigold extract is fantastic, Xanthophyll ( excuse my spelling) is the same "good thing" that helps makes the egg yolk a great golden color, so dark leafy greens like kale should help.

Overall, are you liking the little barns? I am really delighted with the roundness of mine.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Yes, I have chicks from both of his pens.

 

[Stevenson]

I really don't know which ones I got from Paul. I talked to him several times about his
delawares but never discussed him having multiple pens.

 

[joletabey]

I am just wondering if there is a difference between the two groups as far as leg color goes. I very stupidly did NOT keep mine banded so that I can tell - I did three birds from the hen line and then got distracted because it was too hard doing it alone. By the time I got DH around to help, we couldn't see the marker spots anymore.

I do have WAY too many roos this year, from my hatch, Pauls and the 4 Kathy sent me. The proportion is way too high in favor of males. One of the Del chicks Kathy sent is a giant, and just a sweetheart. He is rapidly becoming my pet, and I promised myself I would NOT do that this year!

 

[kathyinmo]

I did not keep mine separated either, Beth.

I just really think this feed thing (Michael's and mine) goes to show that it does make a difference. We have shown that, at least. I sorta wish I had not culled all the ones I have now.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Quote:
What a nice video! Charming chickens and I like your feeder.

Kim

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
What a nice video! Charming chickens and I like your feeder.

Kim

x2 You did a great job on the video, Michael!

 

[capayvalleychick]

I have some questions for those breeding Delawares and I hope this isn't offensive. I would just like to know.
Are there breeders who have lines that are purebred, going back to the original Delawares?
Do the majority of breeders have lines that are purebred like that?
Are some breeders creating new lines by breeding BPRs with NHs ?
If so, is that generally acceptable in this breed group?

If this thread is not the place to ask questions like this, let me know. I've only had this breed for a year and would like to learn more about their history, who the influential breeders are, etc.

Thanks,

Kim

 

[Stevenson]

Quote:
What a nice video! Charming chickens and I like your feeder.

Kim

Thank you! It does seem to be easier to get a better picture of the chickens with video than it does with just a couple of pictures. I think I'll continue taking video updates and posting them on youtube.