Delaware Giant

[gilariversun]

I saw an ad on eBay for hatching eggs from a breed called - Delaware Giant. Does anyone here have any experience with these? Is this a strain of Delaware that gets unusually large? Is this a Delaware x Jersey Giant or some such? Or is this a regular Delaware suddenly endowed with a marketing plan - since I read somewhere that there are only 500 or so Delawares still being used for breeding? I am a bit confused as to what these are - exactly. I am hoping someone here has experience with them and can shed light on the question.

 

[BarkerChickens]

I haven't heard of it. If you are wanting true purebred Delawares, you are better off contacting a respectable breeder (Speckledhen among others on here, for example). You might want to send the seller a message and ask.

If you don't mind what you get, try it out and let us know!

 

[TimG]

I just went to eBay and found the listing:

Hi I have 20 Delaware Hens that just started laying. I put a few in the incubator and 3 out of 4 are developing. These are giant birds that were developed to be "inbetween the size of a chicken and a turkey" for family farms were one chicken wasnt enough to feed the farm family.

That's a lot of hype. I wonder where he got his stock from. I would think that if he has been breeding Delawares for size that he would have made mention of the program. Not that I'm not tempted to give them a try, but I would suggest buyer beware.​

 

[Germaine_11.20]

What is the name of the ebayer, I might have bought some of those.

 

[speckledhen]

I've never heard of one before, but could be a Del x Giant. Would have to research to find out.


**** read his ad. The pitch says they became endangered when commercial poultry went to the CornishX. Sounds like he's made up a name for what he's claiming are the original Delaware breed meant for meat bird status, not a cross of any type. It's a sales gimic, IMO. His birds do look quite chunky, but then, so is Isaac. There is no actual breed called a Delaware Giant if he's referring to the birds who meet the standard as they should, size-wise. The original Delaware breed was not a cross that included JG's.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
imconclusive

While on this subject, how do eggs shipped in winter months do? Aren't they likely subjected to cold temperatures that could damage them?

 

[mountainpridefarm]

Quote:
imconclusive

While on this subject, how do eggs shipped in winter months do? Aren't they likely subjected to cold temperatures that could damage them?

I am wondering the same thing I live in Vermont. Will they more than likely be duds by the time any eggs get to me in these winter months?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

You know, I did buy some of those. I thought the name sounded familiar. They were the first Delawares that I bought and are very nice. I had to go back and look up some old records but yep I have those.
I don't think they are a cross but you could always "ask seller" they would let you know.

 

[gilariversun]

Quote:
I did ask the seller. The only information I got was that they had bought their start from a lady in Iowa with about 250 of them, that they are "Delaware Giants just in large size", "that they are nice, and that a bunch of 4 month old hatchlings attacked a rattlesnake and killed it, 3 got bitten, but none died......." "And that they are great layers of light pink to dark red eggs......" I assume the Delaware giants in large size - means - they are large Delawares without other crossings..... I will let you make of that as you wish. Not really the direct information I had hoped for, but at least - interesting - and I did at least receive a reply.

You are the first person it seems who actually *has* some of these. Can you please let me know their rate of growth, and how well they lay? I am interested in these as a dual purpose bird. How large do they really get - is it between a chicken and a turkey as the ad says - or - is it a 7-9 pound heritage chicken? Basically - is there anything Giant about these birds - or are they simply a nice line of Delawares?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I really don't think they are a cross. They seem like your average LF bird. Delawares are not supposed to be larger than 8.5 lbs for Roos according to the APA and the pullets (?) can't remember right now.

Are you wanting SOP Delawares? Or just a good DP bird? Check out the Delaware site. You can find great Delawares on there.