Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[kstaven]

Cute comics. Brought in a delaware from Ontario to breed to my hens this year. Not really happy with any of the results.

 

[speckledhen]

My remaining two Delaware hens are going on 3 years old and post-molt, they haven't gotten back in all their tail black yet. Ellie's hackles are streakier than they used to be, but heck, a month ago, I thought she was dying of some reproductive malfunction and she's even laying again, so I'm not complaining!

Here is Georgie, who loves to flirt with the Blue Orp rooster, the hussy--see her by his pen? She tried to run, but I caught her on camera! She hasn't started laying again as she's still growing her tail feathers back, but I expect she will soon.

Here is Ellie, who has the best of the Dellie personality without the super irritating, trip-hazard part like her sis, Georgie. She was so thin at one point, you could cut meat with her keel bone, but she's chunked up nicely now, I think. Those tail feathers take so darn long to get back at the end of the molt, it seems:

Isaac, also trying to finish growing his tail feathers back in:

 

[kstaven]

I'll have to post pics of what happened this season. There is a red color bleed on all the progeny by the time they hit 5 - 6 months old.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
I sure hope I can help you out with a good male (or females) some day. These are some chicks I have growing out in my project pen. (Note- project. Parents are not Delawares

)

I videoed one pen of F2s. Anyway, it's not so good, but you can sorta see.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
That's awful, Kurtis! Never had that on any chicks out of these lines. Should never be red on a Del. A breeder once told me that it was the result of someone using production reds in the lines like hatcheries have done, but I can't confirm that.


That project is coming right along, Kathy!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
That's awful, Kurtis! Never had that on any chicks out of these lines. Should never be red on a Del. A breeder once told me that it was the result of someone using production reds in the lines like hatcheries have done, but I can't confirm that.


That project is coming right along, Kathy!

I am guessing I will have red bleed through for a few generations. I rather expect it, actually.

I am just so happy to not have pinched tails! YAY, progress!

 

[speckledhen]

Well, you have a project going on, Kathy. Kurtis's weren't a project. It's different with yours, but eventually, you'll be rid of that as much progress as you've made already! I wasn't referring to yours, of course.

 

[kathyinmo]

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I sure hope so. Tim told me to expect it for a while. Just have to cull for it, later on.

 

[speckledhen]

Your project birds are looking really great to me, Kathy. I admire you for taking it on, I really do! When you're a big success, the entire breed will benefit from it tremendously.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Thank you! I sure hope this all works out. I have great fun with it, and am so anxious to see the next generation. Out of 200 F2s hatched, I have only 2 or 3 females to use for the F3s. I may need to hatch more F2s.