Won't you please rate my Delaware rooster?

[alicefelldown]

Quote:
These were purchased as eggs from Cindiloohoo, who has some images of parent stock here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=313851

Could you please let me know what makes them look hatchery/poor quality? Delawares are not my breed, I know next to nothing about them (hatched for a friend who left these ones behind w/ me). I'd love to learn more if you'd be willing to share. Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

Personally, I would cull both of them, from a breeding stand point at least.
Both cockerels are showing too much smuttyness on their backs and in their wings. They also have that "gray" look, where you can see black feathers underneath the white feathers covering their bodies. I've read tht this is a sign of Colombian genetics in a line and that's not something you want to pass on. Beth and Kathy have already noted on the tail angle, that may or may not correct itself with age.

You want your barring to be more even throughout their hackles and tail feathers, crisp and even is what I breed for. Similar to this, (ignore the pullet.)

They do have nice yellow legs and beaks though!

ETA: This is the same cockerel as above, even at a young age you can see how clean his hackle barring is. Waiting to cull until a bird is mature does have some benefits, but somethings are easy to identify as right or wrong at any age.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
These were purchased as eggs from Cindiloohoo, who has some images of parent stock here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=313851

Could you please let me know what makes them look hatchery/poor quality? Delawares are not my breed, I know next to nothing about them (hatched for a friend who left these ones behind w/ me). I'd love to learn more if you'd be willing to share. Thanks!

When someone takes hatchery stock & reproduces it that stock does not magically become superior to hatchery stock. The pictures you referred to are of hatchery quality Delawares.
As to a point by point critique of you birds it would really take too long. There's nothing about them that merits their reproductioin. They are simply put, soup chickens.
If you want to learn about Delawares buy an ASOP & study them.
ETA:
Many of the "breeders" on this site [many but not all lest I be flamed] are prople who have bought a handful of birds w/o bothering to learn about the breed. As a result they buy poor quality birds & reproduce them. They are not "breeders" in any real sence of the word. For example, on more than one occasion I have seen people here announce that they had just bought 6 chicks or were setting some # of eggs & they would have hatching eggs for sale in 6 months. They can not have any idea how these chicks will turn out, some of them haven't even hatched yet, but they are already planning on mating them & selling the result. That is not breeding in any real sence.

 

[alicefelldown]

Quote:
Like I said above, Delawares are not a breed I'm working with, I hatched for a friend and he left me w/ the roosters. I wanted to get an idea if I should keep feeding and housing them with a goal of getting my feet wet at a show and then selling at a meet/fair. That's all.

Thanks for your input. Let's please not turn this into a hatchery vs. backyard breeders vs 'real' breeders debate. There are plenty of those threads elsewhere and that has nothing to do with this one.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
These were purchased as eggs from Cindiloohoo, who has some images of parent stock here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=313851

Could you please let me know what makes them look hatchery/poor quality? Delawares are not my breed, I know next to nothing about them (hatched for a friend who left these ones behind w/ me). I'd love to learn more if you'd be willing to share. Thanks!

When someone takes hatchery stock & reproduces it that stock does not magically become superior to hatchery stock. The pictures you referred to are of hatchery quality Delawares.
As to a point by point critique of you birds it would really take too long. There's nothing about them that merits their reproductioin. They are simply put, soup chickens.
If you want to learn about Delawares buy an ASOP & study them.
ETA:
Many of the "breeders" on this site [many but not all lest I be flamed] are prople who have bought a handful of birds w/o bothering to learn about the breed. As a result they buy poor quality birds & reproduce them. They are not "breeders" in any real sence of the word. For example, on more than one occasion I have seen people here announce that they had just bought 6 chicks or were setting some # of eggs & they would have hatching eggs for sale in 6 months. They can not have any idea how these chicks will turn out, some of them haven't even hatched yet, but they are already planning on mating them & selling the result. That is not breeding in any real sence.

Hi Alice, one thing I did notice other than the smuttiness (some of mine had it too) is that they look like they have a yellow or "brassy" tone to them.

NYREDS:
I have a question about the yellow in the Roos. It does look like these have some discoloration. My own roos have a very yellow tinge. Are some Dels a more pure white than others?

Mine are out in the sun alot and I have given them corn. Can just a little corn do that to their color? My White Rock never turned yellow even with corn.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
Like I said above, Delawares are not a breed I'm working with, I hatched for a friend and he left me w/ the roosters. I wanted to get an idea if I should keep feeding and housing them with a goal of getting my feet wet at a show and then selling at a meet/fair. That's all.

Thanks for your input. Let's please not turn this into a hatchery vs. backyard breeders vs 'real' breeders debate. There are plenty of those threads elsewhere and that has nothing to do with this one.

You made the point that they were "non hatchery birds", I was responding to that. Regardless they are still soup chickens.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
When someone takes hatchery stock & reproduces it that stock does not magically become superior to hatchery stock. The pictures you referred to are of hatchery quality Delawares.
As to a point by point critique of you birds it would really take too long. There's nothing about them that merits their reproductioin. They are simply put, soup chickens.
If you want to learn about Delawares buy an ASOP & study them.
ETA:
Many of the "breeders" on this site [many but not all lest I be flamed] are prople who have bought a handful of birds w/o bothering to learn about the breed. As a result they buy poor quality birds & reproduce them. They are not "breeders" in any real sence of the word. For example, on more than one occasion I have seen people here announce that they had just bought 6 chicks or were setting some # of eggs & they would have hatching eggs for sale in 6 months. They can not have any idea how these chicks will turn out, some of them haven't even hatched yet, but they are already planning on mating them & selling the result. That is not breeding in any real sence.

Hi Alice, one thing I did notice other than the smuttiness (some of mine had it too) is that they look like they have a yellow or "brassy" tone to them.

NYREDS:
I have a question about the yellow in the Roos. It does look like these have some discoloration. My own roos have a very yellow tinge. Are some Dels a more pure white than others?

Mine are out in the sun alot and I have given them corn. Can just a little corn do that to their color? My White Rock never turned yellow even with corn.

I haven't bred Delawares so I'm no expert on them specifically. That said, in all varieties that are white or predominately white there are strains that tend toward yellow. It's my understanding that this can be a result of genetic factors, environmental factors or a combination of both.
A properly coloured Delaware's griund colour should be white not off white.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
What show are you thinking about going to? You should go it would be a learning experience. Not trying to push the issue but have you shown livestock before? The show world is so different from our backyards....there is much preparation put into show stock of any kind before anyone shows they should go to several and meet people having a mentor works well....I know winning wasn't the most important thing for me I did have more fun when I did win....usually after lots more hard work to get r done. 120 days of fitting before I would consider bringing a horse and for riding much longer.

 

[alicefelldown]

Quote:
I've been to the Ventura County Fair many times but I've never shown a bird. I missed the Gold Coast Feather Fanciers show last October. Planning on going to the Sept 20th (Santa Barbara), and the Oct 23-24 (GCFF Ventura).

Winning isn't important (especially w/ these birds), I just want the experience for when my other breeds are ready.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Maybe we could meet up! Really you should leave those birds home and just go to the show. Wait on your other birds to be ready and make a good first impression with them. That way you have more time to check out your competition and meet people. I can't go to Ventura that's my big fall ride can't miss all my fun.