too much barring for a Delaware?

[init4eggs]

This is a picture of one of my Delaware roos chicks(6wks old). Is this much barring normal for Delawares or is this a sign of some other breed in the mix.

I have a few like others like this and they seem to be among the largest males in the bunch. The pullet next to him is one of the smaller of the bunch.

 

[Mahonri]

He's probably a mix, that's a bit much barring for a Dellie.

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

I would hang on to him for a wile longer as they look to still has a lot of growing and feather changing that will most likely take place. If you dont care for me asking were did they come from.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[seriousbill]

Those markings are fairly typical of a juvenile Delaware. The color pattern will change drastically as he molts and grows in his adult plumage. You cannot judge a Delaware by his juvenile color pattern. If he still has too much smut on his body when he's 5 months old, then you can make a judgement.

 

[speckledhen]

No, he is not too heavily marked. The ones who are heavily marked can turn out to be your best ones. That is very normal for a Delaware youngster, trust me. Janet is right. Actually, I look for that in a Del cockerel now. The smut will probably clear out, but if he has almost no markings, he may not be marked well later, is the way I look at it. Delawares are one of those breeds whose markings evolve, not like a Buff Orpington or other similar colors.

These pics are the same Del cockerel that I did cull for a comb flaw, but you can see how the color changed drastically. The last two pics show 15 weeks and 22 weeks, and he was culled soon after that, so I don't have any later pictures of this particular guy to show the final result. His wing carriage was good--in the last pic, he was being flirty with me, bad boy, which explains the dropped wing, LOL.

 

[init4eggs]

TNpoultrybreeder

I got my bird from MM. I went with them as sandhill did not have bird this year and I would have to wait for later in the year for chicks from some of the others hatcheries.

I have quite a range of sizes, shapes and coloring. I ordered 10 males and 15 females in hope of getting a few close to standard I could work with.

I had one die after a few days(may have been smothered) and one that is very runty and not feathering(down is growing longer). The runt seems to be holding his? own, but I think there might be something wrong with it. The other seem very lively.

My chicks seemed sort of nervous in the beginning but seem to be getting more calm now that they have more room. The male in the picture and a couple of the other like him are quite friendly.

My top concern now is how to thin the males down as they are starting to size each other up and sparring. I was worried about the heavy barred ones as they are the largest and friendliest.

 

[TNpoultrybreeder]

Hi initforeggs
Thank you for reply. I have 25 Delaware chicks from Meyer Hatchery that should be here mid May. When I was a kid my dad had Delawares that were very nice looking. I plan to start breeding the Delawares and hope to have a very nice looking flock in a few years.

TNpoultrybreeder

 

[init4eggs]

Speckledhen and Seriousbill,

I guess I need to be more patient. I hope to get a few as good as your second string.

I have to admit watching both your posts regarding Delawares gives me both concern and hope for my hatchery bird. Every time I see bad things regarding the hatchery Delaware I get concern I might have that problem, but then you give me hope.

At this point I am telling myself, chicken are like people in that they don't get to pick where they are born and no matter which side of the tracks there start does not gaurantee where you finish.

Thanks for your comments and insight.