Delaware

Last year, I decided I needed some chickens.  I bought three breeds....Delawares, Speckled Sussex and Blue Lace Red Wyandottes.  They were raised together.  Of the three, the Delawares are the only breed I will continue with.  They are interesting, inquisitive and intelligent.  They are friendly with my grandson and lay very well. 

I have a breeding quad of heritage Delawares from a breeder - not hatchery.  This breed is in need of conservation and is on the endangered list. I have been hatching out and selling chicks and love it when people learn about the history of this breed and choose it over the typical broiler.  Takes a couple more weeks to mature - but more then well worth it.

The hens lay daily and I have a batch of pullets I am raising up to add to the flock.  Nice big eggs - laid all winter.

My Delaware is realy nice i love it!It is a nice layer and meatbird!

I purchased a mixed flock from My Pet Chicken in June 2012 (4 austrlorp, 2 barred rock, 2 delaware).  From the minute that I opened the box, my delaware hens were loud, and kind of pushy. 

As the girls got older, Precious and Princess just became more and more agressive.  They are very loud, they eat eggs, and run at you if you attempt to get eggs from the nest.  They have gone after poor Lucy (australorp) so bady that they took off most of her comb and put a hole in her neck....all within a matter of hours!!  They are well cared for birds, were handeled often since birth, always have plenty of feed and fresh water and have lots of room.  We have decided to cull them both.  It makes me so sad.

I have five hens: Delaware, New Hampshire Red, Dominque, and two mystery tan ones...

They all got delivered together, and the Delaware (Angel) was the first to get her wings (and was white...hence, Angel). I think because she matured first, she became the leader of the pack...she's always curious, pretty brave, and jumps on top of everything, and that girl has some hops for a heavy breed...she can get about 3-4 feet of the ground. 

She's cool to be picked up and held, I set up a nesting box indoors for when I'm at home, and when angel wants in to get to that nesting box, raises a racket and let's you know she needs to be let in. 

My Delaware is a little on the controlling side of the other hens on my flock, however this could be just because she is the dominant hen of the flock. My Delaware is less noisy than the average chicken and lay more eggs than the average hen. Overall, a great addition to a backyard flock.

I love my Delawares so much I'm going to make them my primary laying breed this spring. I'm going to have a total of 40 +/-. They have been laying extra large eggs and have been decent winter layers.

I have had Delawares off and on over the years but right now I have the best Delaware rooster, I purchased him at 20 weeks old from a heritage meat farmer he is huge, 9lbs and is soo sweet! he lets my kids pet him he calls for the hens and chicks to come eat when he finds bugs or some yummy plant. He lets the chicks eat before he does. My favorite rooster I have ever had! Im going to cross him with with white rock hens for meat birds, Superman rocks maybe 4h next year for my son.

I have been very happy with all of my delawares.  They are friendly, calm and great egg-layers.  I will always include them in my chick orders.