I'm confused...it appears the Delaware Blue Hen made popular by a Revolutionary war hero by staging 'cock' fights is a ROOSTER? So why would the state legislature, U of DE, and almost EVERY encyclopedia refer to this breed as a recognized chicken and have cock fights as a HEN AND adopt its name (The Fighting Delaware Blue Hens)? It was just a mutt chicken used for cock fights? YET...the state claims it as a state bird??
Is this the HEN or the Roo that is revered?
IS it a chicken or a pheasant??
Is there such a breed here that anyone owns?
Am I confused...or is Delaware confused??
HEre is what MSN Encarta says...
Blue Hen Chicken, common name for the state bird of Delaware. Unlike the Rhode Island Red, the Blue Hen Chicken is not an officially recognized chicken breed. Rather, the name refers to a tradition that dates back to the American Revolution (1775-1783). According to one account, an American military battalion was raised from the lower counties along the Delaware River in December 1775. Its leader, Captain Jonathan Caldwell, was a fan of cockfighting. His troops would stage cockfights using a breed known as the Kent County Blue Hen, distinguished by its blue plumage. The Blue Hens became famous for their ferocity and fighting success. As Caldwells battalion gathered the same reputation, they were nicknamed The Blue Hens Chickens. In 1911 the Blue Hen was adopted as the University of Delawares mascot, and in 1939 the Delaware General Assembly named the Blue Hen Chicken as the official state bird. Delaware is nicknamed the Blue Hen State.
Although chicken strains called Delaware Blue Hens still exist today, they are not descended from the historic bird. In fact, blue plumage is not a true breeding trait in chickens. Like all domestic chickens (see Fowl), the Blue Hen Chicken is descended from the red jungle fowl. The red jungle fowl is found in tropical and sub-tropical habitats and is still a wild native of India and Southeast Asia. It first became domesticated more than 3000 years ago (see Poultry Farming).
Scientific classification: Like all domestic chicken strains, the Blue Hen Chicken belongs to the pheasant family, Phasianidae, in the order Galliformes, and is classified as Gallus gallus.
Is this the HEN or the Roo that is revered?
IS it a chicken or a pheasant??
Is there such a breed here that anyone owns?
Am I confused...or is Delaware confused??
HEre is what MSN Encarta says...
Blue Hen Chicken, common name for the state bird of Delaware. Unlike the Rhode Island Red, the Blue Hen Chicken is not an officially recognized chicken breed. Rather, the name refers to a tradition that dates back to the American Revolution (1775-1783). According to one account, an American military battalion was raised from the lower counties along the Delaware River in December 1775. Its leader, Captain Jonathan Caldwell, was a fan of cockfighting. His troops would stage cockfights using a breed known as the Kent County Blue Hen, distinguished by its blue plumage. The Blue Hens became famous for their ferocity and fighting success. As Caldwells battalion gathered the same reputation, they were nicknamed The Blue Hens Chickens. In 1911 the Blue Hen was adopted as the University of Delawares mascot, and in 1939 the Delaware General Assembly named the Blue Hen Chicken as the official state bird. Delaware is nicknamed the Blue Hen State.
Although chicken strains called Delaware Blue Hens still exist today, they are not descended from the historic bird. In fact, blue plumage is not a true breeding trait in chickens. Like all domestic chickens (see Fowl), the Blue Hen Chicken is descended from the red jungle fowl. The red jungle fowl is found in tropical and sub-tropical habitats and is still a wild native of India and Southeast Asia. It first became domesticated more than 3000 years ago (see Poultry Farming).
Scientific classification: Like all domestic chicken strains, the Blue Hen Chicken belongs to the pheasant family, Phasianidae, in the order Galliformes, and is classified as Gallus gallus.
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