Delaware

These four Delaware pullets are my first "flock" and I absolutely love them!  True to their reviews they are very friendly and quick learners too at only 5 weeks old.  When I open the coop for feeding and care they always rush to the door, hop on my hand and walk up my arm allowing me to pet them.

As for their reputations for being smart, well, perhaps its too early to tell.  I recently decided to treat my chicks to a special treat of several fresh, little bugs after I cleaned out their coop so I proceeded to gather the insects in a small glass jar that originally contained green olives.  I placed the jar into the coop on it's side so the chicks could grab their treats but one chick, spotting an especially tempting treat at the bottom, squeezed through the narrow neck and popped herself completely into the jar.  I was very surprised and waited a moment to see if she could get out.  She struggled but could not back out and could not turn herself around.  Fortunately, she had one leg sticking out of the jar which I was able to grab and gently work her back out.  Whenever I hear about a chicken being "smart" I will always think of my little chicken in the olive jar!

This is getting to be my favorite chicken.   Mine come from about 4 different bloodlines and Im really happy with them.   I think one of the best chickens for anyone wanting a real dual purpose bird.

Right now I have a trio with one rooster and two hens of varying age. The rooster is friendly and smart. I hatched him out myself and he does very well with the other birds. I did have a few roosters that I hatched out from the same group that were a bit pushy with the other chickens. Since that's not a trait I want in my flock I didn't keep those birds for breeding. The three I have are as sweet as can be. My nephew can pick them all up. They will not bite or scratch and they actually will step up onto your arm if you ask them to. They love human attention but are okay with being on their own too.

As far as their use as Dual Purpose birds they seem small compared to some of my other birds but boy when you pick them up you can feel that they are SOLID. They have more breast meat than my other DP birds and the white feathers makes them fairly easy to pluck as well.

I really have nothing bad to say about them they are amazing birds.

I had two to begin with, but one turned out to be a rooster and I had to cull him.  Both were the friendliest and smartest of my birds, and they sat beside me while I gardened, waiting for me to throw them weeds or worms.  Now that the chickens are laying age (sans rooster,) the hen gives me a large egg at least 5 times a week.  She's extremely intelligent, and she knows exactly where her treats come from.  If I don't let her out during the day, she can be quite vocal about her desires, while the other hens cluck happily in confinement.  Very well-mannered, hasn't been aggressive at all.  But if I walk in her area holding something in my hand, she will assume it's a treat for her and will jump up to grab it from me.