Delaware Blue Hen

The Delaware Blue Hen, is a land race of chickens that were developed during the American Revolutionary War. The birds originated from a strain of gamecocks owned primarily by Capt. John Caldwell, from Kent County, Delaware that were recognizable by their blue plumage and renowned for their pugnacity to the extent that Colonel John Haslet's 1st Delaware Regiment were nicknamed "the Blue Hen's Chickens." The Delaware Blue Hen is a typical “blue” colored chicken, found in Blue, Black and Splash. They are single combed. The hens are Fair layers of tinted/white eggs, and occasionally go broody. The males generally need to be separated from each other once they reach maturity.

The University of Delaware mascot, known as YoUDee, is also modeled after the Delaware Blue Hen and the college teams are nicknamed "Fightin' Blue Hens". Today, the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources maintains the largest known breeding flock of the Blue Hen Chicken. Their flock originated when they received six pairs from Hallock DuPont, in the 1960's because the bird was their mascot. The University also added other game breeds and Blue Andalusian blood to the flock to recreate the original birds as closely as possible. There are still some traditional bloodlines of the Blue Hen owned by Delaware natives.

The Delaware Blue Hen was named the state bird of Delaware in 1939.

Genetically, two Blue Hens will produce 50% blue, 25% white, and 25% black offspring, like other blue breeds. Breeding a splash and a black will result in 100% blue offspring.


Blue hen of Delaware eggs


Blue hen of Delaware chick


Blue hen of Delaware juveniles


Blue hen of Delaware hen


Blue hen of Delaware rooster

For more information on this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-blue-hen-of-delaware.1081006/