Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[cubalaya]

Quote:
good questions. would like to hear an answer from the actual breeders.

 

[joletabey]

Kim, several of us are involved in "Project Delaware", having been supplied with F1's from excellent BR and NH stock. I have 9 I am growing out at this time. I also have seen the gorgeous Del hen Doug Akers had at Ohio Nationals who was the result of a cross between a BR and NH. He would not sell her to me, so I suspect he is going to keep breeding. There are pictures of her either on this thread or the Delaware Dilemma thread, if you look back into November's posts.

I do not have all the answers on the breeders, I know only a few things. Paul Harter's stock is partly from a woman in Mo who had very old lines, and I believe some of the Braden stock is from that same woman. I would have to look in my notes, which are buried somewhere; her first name was Colleen, her last name eludes me at the moment. I believe Janet at one point in time had stock that traced back to some of the original birds, but I do not know if that is still true. It has been very difficult to find old breeders. Most of the ones I have met do not breed Dels anymore.

I personally think a lot of breeders get frustrated with the inconsistencies. They will get 4th generation birds who throw a red feather or something like that and it frustrates them. I am not sure if it is the same with chickens as it is with horses, where you can get throwbacks as far as the 6th generation, but if it is, then you have to fight through the problems, and keep working at it. Crossing the BR and NH now is acceptable, from what I have been told, since if a bird from that cross looks like a Del, walks like a Del, talks like a Del, it is a Del.

Or so a reputable judge said.

 

[La Mike]

 

[Stevenson]

I went out to check on my chickens this morning and one of my Delaware roosters (pretty sure anyway) was making his first attempt at rooing! At what age do they typically crow? These are 9 weeks old today! I assumed they would have to be older than this.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
My one and only delaware roo that I raised from a chick to adult - -- did not crow until 20 weeks

I have a bunch of delaware chicks right now and am waiting to see when I hear the first crow . .. I sure hope it is 20 weeks again

 

[joletabey]

Shoot, I wish they all WOULD wait for 20 weeks, I think I have heard the Great Kazoo chorus by about 12 weeks...? I know it was well before my girls started laying, and I had a pullet lay at 17.5 weeks. I can't remember for sure, but I do know it was before 20.

Kim, referring to your questions again, there is a good history on the Delaware web site. And believe me, if we knew who all the great old breeders were, we would tell! We have all been wondering where they are hiding out.

 

[cubalaya]

well, one breeder answered.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I do not consider myself "a breeder." To me, that distinguishing title goes to folks who work for years and years on their stock. I am nothing more than a beginner, trying to learn the art.

 

[kathyinmo]

A rather timely event has happened here! I gave a few of my Paul Harter Delaware chicks to a local 4H boy. I told him if they turned out to be males, he could bring them back. He brought back 2 of them today. GUESS WHAT ! ! ! THEY HAVE YELLOW LEGS! I asked the specifics. He feeds Purina Flock Raiser, and his birds are inside. Mine are always outside, and are fed Purina Game Bird Chow.

Purina Flock Raiser does not contain Tagetes. I really thought that was the reason for Michael's yellow legs. (Well, I do still believe it DOES increase the brightness). This all leads me to believe that the sun bleaches out the yellow leg coloring. What do you all think?

Look at this picture of the legs............. SAME flock, different accommodations. Below that is Michael's photo (birds kept inside and also fed with feed containing tagetes).

 

[crazyhen]

I guess the next question would be what kind of tagettes do you feed the chicks. I would love to grow some. I know they are a type of marigold but which one. There are loads of different kinds out there. They are all tagettes.

Gloria Jean