Are you looking for a new breed of chicken you can grow in your backyard? If yes, continue to read this blog and be amazed by this Delaware chicken guide!
This guide will comprise the history of Delaware chicken and its characteristics. This blog will also include their lifespan and egg-laying and meat-production tendencies. Also, we will answer essential questions about Delaware and give you the advantages and disadvantages of raising one.
In the end, we want to convince you why Delaware chickens are excellent breeds and should be added to your flock!
What is a Delaware chicken?
To start off, let us understand what a Delaware chicken is and its history. Delaware is a heritage chicken– a crossbreed of the New Hampshire hen and Plymouth Rock rooster. The production of Delaware chicken started in 1940, and initially, it was called Indian Rivers. However, some flaws were seen in the initial production.
By this time, Mr. George Ellis initiated the enhancement of this breed for further use in broiler chicken production. He then renamed this Delaware chicken, which is named after its place of origin, the Delmarva Peninsula.
The rapid growth of Delaware chicken was evident as it was considered one of the major broilers. In fact, in 1952, it achieved the American Standard of Perfection recognition, which implies that Delaware chickens are excellent breeds.
Unfortunately, Delaware didn’t maintain its stature. A new breed called Cornish-cross replaced Delaware in the chicken industry. This sudden change took its toll on the population of Delaware chickens.
| Place of Origin | United States |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Color | White |
| Comb type | Single |
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 6-8 lbs |
| Lifespan | 5-8 years |
| Hardiness | Hardy |
| Egg Production | High |
What are the characteristics of a Delaware chicken?
Like any other breed of chicken, Delaware has its own, which makes them recognizable. Delaware chickens’ physical and behavioral traits are also vital to understand if you are planning to raise this breed.
Physical characteristics
First of all, let us debunk the belief that Delaware chickens have Columbian patterns in their feathers. Their fathers are only barred in black, not fully colored with black. The neck and tail parts have black spots as well.
These dark spots complement their white feathers very well. But take note that there are also Delaware chickens who are pure-white skin. The same colors also appear in Delaware chicks.
Delaware chickens have long and broad bodies. Their legs are strong compared to other breeds, and it doesn’t have feathers. Skin appears to be yellow.
Their beaks are sharp and also yellow. Meanwhile, their combs are red, as well as their earlobes and wattle.
Regards size, the approximate weight of a rooster is 3.9 kilograms, while a hen is typically around 2.9 kilograms. Smaller versions of Bantam Delaware chickens are also available. Typically, a Bantam hen is 28 oz and 32 oz for roosters.
Behavioral characteristics
The behavioral aspects of a Delaware chicken are less stressful than other chickens. They are best left free-ranging instead of confining them in a coop. This is because they love moving or running around.
Do not worry when you free-range them, as you can still find them safe since they are not aggressive toward one another. Although, they become assertive once faced with danger due to other circumstances or predators.
Delaware chickens are safe to be around; you can bond or cuddle with them. Most of them are calm, while some may not appear to be friendly. This chicken breed is the one you should raise when you also want company!
You can observe the characteristics of Delaware chickens using this video:
Lifespan, Egg laying, and Meat production of Delaware chicken
Delaware chickens have the same lifespan as other chickens. Typically, they live for 5-7 years, but if they are properly taken care of, they can live much longer. Delaware chickens have different lifespans. Some may grow faster, while others are slower.
Delaware chickens are dual-purpose chickens, which means they are a good source of meat and eggs. These benefits are why people were so engaged in raising this chicken breed back then.
In Particular, the eggs of Delaware chickens are massive, and their colors vary from light to dark brown. Each hen can lay 4 eggs per week; however, the numbers may change depending on the hen’s condition. In this sense, more or less 200 eggs will be produced every year by one hen.
As the hens grow older, their egg-laying capability declines by 10%. Sometimes, some of them will eventually stop laying. Until then, Delaware is an excellent source of eggs.
To help boost the egg production of a Delaware chicken, be mindful of the following:
- The feeds must be nutrient-rich (pay attention to calcium content if you want the eggs to have stronger shells.)
- Adequate light for good well-being (more than 15 hours of exposure)
- Safe environment (this could mean stress-free from pests and other predators)
All these requirements will also be helpful for meat production since they will have healthy bodies. Delaware chickens have excellent massive body structures.
They are meaty, especially in the breast area, and their big thighs are rich in flavor. Their feathers are also loose and light, making cleaning any dirt in their body easier without leaving scars or dark spots.
Are Delaware chickens healthy?
Now, one of the most important questions is the health of Delaware chickens. Are they healthy or not? We will find that out in this part of the blog!
Essentially, Delaware chickens are healthy and do not have genetic diseases. Although, we know that all living things are susceptible to illnesses. So, it is still best to provide proper care despite being low-maintenance chickens.
Just be mindful of the feeds you will give them. Ensure that their needed nutrients will be met as they should, and beware of overfeeding them as well. MSD Veterinary Manual made a general list of nutritional requirements of poultry.
In addition, a conducive environment will be helpful to lessen the stress of Delaware chickens. Regularly clean their coop and their free-ranging area to avoid pests and other harmful objects.
Are Delaware chickens rare?
Due to the existence of Cornish-cross chicken, many poultry farmers switched to raising them instead of Delaware chicken. Indeed, Delaware lost its importance in the poultry industry of the United States. This resulted in a rapid decrease in the population of Delaware.
Unfortunately, no definite study will give the exact number of Delaware chickens in the world. However, based on the report of The Livestock Conservancy, Delaware is now under the watchlist in the conservation priority list of chickens.
Based on the same report, chickens that are under the watchlist section have limited geographical distribution. Moreover, the global population is approximately less than 10,000.
Is it Expensive to raise a Delaware chicken?
No, it is not expensive to raise a Delaware chicken. This breed is very low-maintenance as long as you are giving them their basic necessities. Food and shelter are the common things you will need.
For their feeds, you can use supplementary feeds to lessen the cost. You can also do your own mixture of meals as long as you know what nutrients they need. Another tip is to use vitamins for the chickens, so they grow faster and be able to produce high-quality eggs that you can sell.
In terms of the coop, Delaware chickens will require bigger space since they love roaming around. If you are going to raise only for homesteading, a massive area is not necessary; keep them in your garden or any vacant space.
Meanwhile, on a business scale, both food and the coop are something you should invest in. Free-ranging them will also cut the cost since they can forage for food on their own.
Investing in an incubator and brooder
Poultry farmers will agree if we say that Delaware hens are not broody. That said, additional equipment like an incubator and brooder must always be accessible. Unfortunately, these tools might be expensive, so think twice before purchasing one.
We suggest beginner poultry farmers make their DIY incubators like this:
Where can I buy a Delaware chicken?
Since Delaware chicken breeds are now rare, finding it might be challenging. So, here are some hatcheries you can contact if you want to buy a Delaware chicken.
Remember that in buying Delaware chicken, it is ideal to purchase at accredited hatcheries to ensure you’ll get the correct breed. Furthermore, suppose you know any trusted individuals who are raising Delaware. In that case, you can ask them if they are open to selling.
- Purely Poultry (Located in Durand, Wisconsin)
- Murray McMurray Hatchery (Located in Webster City, IA)
- The Chick Hatchery (Located in Michigan)
- Ideal Poultry (Located in Cameron, TX)
- Chickens for Backyards (Located in Phillipsburg, MO)
Advantages of Raising Delaware Chickens
You could never be wrong in putting the time, money, and energy into raising Delaware chickens! Here are the compiled benefits you can get from them.
- Huge eggs for selling or self-consumption
- Good source of meat
- Friendly and calm chickens
- Low-maintenance and inexpensive to raise
- Naturally healthy chicken breed
- Rare (you can expand as a supplier once you have raised plenty of Delaware)
- Can tolerate warm climates
- Great for homesteading
Disadvantages of Raising Delaware Chickens
On the other hand, just like in other chicken breeds, there are still disadvantages in raising Delaware chickens. Some of these are the following:
- Requires bigger free-ranging space
- Loud when foraging and roaming (can irritate neighbors)
- Barely sits on the egg to incubate (not broody)
- Rare (as a starter, looking for a supplier might be tricky)
Final Thoughts on Delaware chickens
This Delaware chicken guide is your first step in understanding Delaware chickens!
These chickens are a great source of meat and eggs, making them very suitable even for home consumption. They are very low-maintenance, too, and won’t require much of your time which is excellent if this is only a hobby or a side hustle for you!
Since Delaware chickens are now rare, we encourage you to grow or add Delaware to your flock. This will be an essential step to inflate their population and not go extinct!
