Delaware Chickens Are a Rare Breed Making a Comeback on Small Farms

Quick Take

• Delaware chickens dominated the broiler industry for decades, then vanished almost overnight. The reason they disappeared is exactly why small farmers want them back. Read the breed's rise and fall →
• Cross a Delaware with the right breed and you can predict a chick's sex just by looking at its feather color, though this only works if the pairing goes in one specific direction. Explore the sex-linking method →
• Delaware chickens were purpose-built as elite broilers, yet science shows they take 2.5x longer to reach market weight than commercial birds. How can that be? See the growth comparison →

Today the Delaware chicken is a rare breed, but when it was first developed in the 1940s, it was a popular breed. Known as fantastic broiler chickens with high egg production, Delaware chickens remained popular for 15 to 20 years until they were superseded by the Cornish/Plymouth Rock crossbreeds that are still the most popular broilers today. However, these healthy, low-maintenance, dual-purpose birds are perfect for smaller farms, and the Delaware chicken has experienced a resurgence among younger farmers.

History

Originally named the Indian River chicken, the Delaware was bred in the 1940s by a man named George Ellis, who wanted to create a chicken that could be used for broiling, but was also a good layer. He decided to crossbreed New Hampshire hens with Barred Plymouth Rock roosters. This resulted in white offspring with black barring on their tails, hackles, and primary and secondary feathers. George Ellis continued to experiment and refine the breed, finally creating the Delaware chicken.

These chickens maintained their popularity for around 20 years, famous for being excellent broiler chickens and producing primarily white offspring. Having white feathering is advantageous because white feathers don’t leave dark spots on the chicken’s skin, making the carcass more appealing to shoppers. However, in the 1950s, Delawares were replaced by solid white Cornish/Plymouth Rock mixes that are still the most popular birds in the broiler industry.

Unfortunately, since Delaware chickens were specifically bred for broiling, smaller farms were unaware of the breed, and their popularity quickly waned. However, they are slowly making a comeback, as many farmers have discovered these dual-purpose chickens are healthy and easy to care for.

Appearance

Delawares are medium-sized chickens known for their fast feathering. They have a wide body, giving them a sturdy appearance. Their single combs are relatively large and have five points. They have medium-sized heads and necks. As noted above, they have black barred plumage near their necks and on their tail feathers. Delaware chickens have red wattles, combs, and ear lobes. Males typically range from 7.5 to 8.5 pounds when fully grown, while females grow to 5.5 to 6.5 pounds. Delaware chickens can sometimes be mistaken for Columbian Wyandottes and Columbian Plymouth Rocks because these birds have white body feathers with solid black neck feathers and solid black tails. Delaware chickens have grey and black striped feathers in the same areas.

Behavior

Farmers like these chickens because they are low-maintenance. Delaware chickens are curious, calm, and friendly. They are a docile, non-aggressive breed that is good with kids, but they are more assertive with other chickens. Although they may stand out due to their white coloring, they are wary of predators. These chickens tend to chatter and can be loud. They become used to people, often following them around. These chickens prefer being outdoors where they can freely explore, but they can be confined when needed as long as they have sufficient room to forage and exercise. Because these chickens are not strong flyers, a four-foot fence may be sufficient, but a six-foot fence would be ideal.

Egg-Laying

The Delaware chicken typically produces light brown large to jumbo-sized eggs. However, some hens also lay dark brown eggs. If cared for properly, these chickens can lay around 100 to 150 eggs annually, although some sources indicate they can lay 4-5 eggs per week, or around 200 eggs per year. Hens can be broody at times, but invest in a good incubator if you plan on hatching the eggs.

Delaware hens begin to lay eggs when they are around 16 to 20 weeks old. However, as they grow older, the number of eggs they produce declines by around 15% per year. As these chickens can live up to 6 to 8 years old, they can still produce a large amount of eggs in their lifetime.

Several factors can influence egg production. Hens must receive high-quality feed containing the necessary nutrients, ensuring they lay healthy eggs and reducing the chances of the hens eating their eggs. Their feed must contain calcium. This will ensure the eggs have strong shells, making it harder for the hens to break and eat them.

Reproduction and Sex Linkage

While the Barred Rock and New Hampshire breeds create the Delaware chicken, Delawares can reproduce with other breeds, resulting in sex-linked chicks. For example, if a Delaware rooster breeds with either the Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire hen, the offspring have the Delaware chicken color pattern. However, if the rooster is a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red and breeds with a Delaware, it results in red sex-linked chicks. This means the males will have the Delaware chicken color pattern, while the females will be red like their father.

Delaware Chicken Growth and Health

While some sources note that these chickens grow quickly, scientific studies have found that Delaware chickens grow more slowly than fast-growing broilers eating commercial feeds. Researchers found it took the Delawares 2.5 times longer to achieve a similar final live body weight than the broilers. However, they do grow more quickly than other heritage birds. Delaware chickens are typically ready for processing between 12 to 16 weeks of age, though many are raised an additional 2 to 4 weeks beyond that before harvest. So feed will be more expensive, but these chickens are also expert foragers, so they can supplement their feed by foraging for insects and other invertebrates.

Chicks from 0–8 weeks should eat starter feed with 20% to 22% protein. Allow them to eat freely, but ensure they do not overeat. Pullets from 8–20 weeks require grower feed with 16% to 18% protein. Feeding should remain free-choice as desired. Adult chickens over 20 weeks of age require layer feed with 16% protein. Adult chickens should be fed in the morning and evening. Fresh water should be available at all times for all ages.

While Delaware chickens are relatively healthy and strong, most chickens are prone to mites and lice. So it’s important to check under their wings and around the vent area for parasites. Create an area for dust baths with a mixture of sand, wood ash, and diatomaceous earth so they can groom and keep themselves pest-free. Periodic veterinary check-ups can also prevent any potential health issues.

Chicken Coop

While these chickens love to be outdoors and free-roaming, even your meat chickens need a chicken coop. Delaware chickens are very active, and require a lot of space. For example, you need at least 4 square feet per bird inside the coop and at least ten square feet for every chicken in an outside run. If they are cramped into a small space, it will lead to fighting, or even egg eating. Each chicken needs about 10 to 12 inches of roosting space on bars that are around 2 feet off the floor. For your nesters, standard 12 x 12 inch nest boxes are sufficient. One nest box can accommodate 3 to 4 laying hens. You can purchase pre-made chicken coops for small flocks from farm supply stores.