Delawares: Personality. What's your experience?

[SandyRiverChick]

I've been hesitant to add Delawares to my flock based on my friend's experience that they "are mean," and also a guy at my local feedstore, saying they are "mean/bossy." But I just ordered 3 because I want to find out for myself. It's that time of year for me to add a few and I don't have any white chickens. I work pretty hard to have all different colored hens, all different colored eggs. Will I like having Delawares? Let me know what your experience with this breed is. Appreciate your feedback! THANKS.

 

[Noraaaaa]

I haven't had them before, but my friends have. They seem to be calm and friendly. The more you hold them as chicks, the nicer they will be as well! Some other white breeds you can consider if you want to are Columbian Sussex (my speckled ones were super friendly and curious), white silkies (my favorite breed, but they go broody more than others), and silver-laced Wyandotte (I love Wyandottes but they are not purely white).

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I have two Delawares, both about seven years old at this point. One of them is pretty skittish still, but I can catch her if I really want to. She is bossy to the other hens, but not mean about it. She’s one of the top hens, and just keeps everyone in line.

My other Delaware has had wry neck since she was a chick, but it clearly hasn’t affected her at all. She is hands down my sweetest hen. She talks to me every morning, telling me all about her night, and is never more content than when she’s sitting on my lap.

I would get more Delawares in a heartbeat. They’re gorgeous hens and my experience with them has been that they have wonderful personalities.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I haven't had them before, but my friends have. They seem to be calm and friendly. The more you hold them as chicks, the nicer they will be as well! Some other white breeds you can consider if you want to are Columbian Sussex (my speckled ones were super friendly and curious), white silkies (my favorite breed, but they go broody more than others), and silver-laced Wyandotte (I love Wyandottes but they are not purely white).

I was so excited to see Silver Laced Sussex on the feed store list, LOVE Sussex, I have a Speckled. But then I discovered NO dates of arrival, such a buz kill. Maybe next year!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I have two Delawares, both about seven years old at this point. One of them is pretty skittish still, but I can catch her if I really want to. She is bossy to the other hens, but not mean about it. She’s one of the top hens, and just keeps everyone in line.

My other Delaware has had wry neck since she was a chick, but it clearly hasn’t affected her at all. She is hands down my sweetest hen. She talks to me every morning, telling me all about her night, and is never more content than when she’s sitting on my lap.

I would get more Delawares in a heartbeat. They’re gorgeous hens and my experience with them has been that they have wonderful personalities.

Thank you SO much!! I'm feeling better about the decision! I know that I do a good job when they're chicks, of giving them human and chicken socialization. My brooder is set up so that they see the bigs through hardware cloth and they have a whole room to interact with me in. Hoping that's what makes friendly chickens, no matter what the breed.

 

[Noraaaaa]

I was so excited to see Silver Laced Sussex on the feed store list, LOVE Sussex, I have a Speckled. But then I discovered NO dates of arrival, such a buz kill. Maybe next year!

Hopefully! They are one of my fav breeds as well!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I found them to be relatively calm, confident and friendly birds. While some birds can be "mean/bossy" I never saw my Delawares behave that way to any in the flock.
When I had them I had a very mixed flock that included bantams all the way up to Brahmas. I keep 20+ birds at any time so the flock was large (ish) as backyard flocks go.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I found them to be relatively calm, confident and friendly birds. While some birds can be "mean/bossy" I never saw my Delawares behave that way to any in the flock.
When I had them I had a very mixed flock that included bantams all the way up to Brahmas. I keep 20+ birds at any time so the flock was large (ish) as backyard flocks go.

Awesome, thanks! I have 11 now, newbies will make 14. I keep trying to skip a year but you know.... I can't! lol.

 

[SourRoses]

My neighbor has two and they are difficult hens...
Out of their flock of hatchery birds, the Delawares are mean picking on others even during free ranging, they want other hens to leave the whole area when they find some goodies. It made chicken sitting more difficult than it should have been due to the feeding situation. They are rather loud about egg laying compared to the others (buff orps, red sex links, easter eggers). Also have a tendency to hop fences... we had to add more height to the border fence to keep them out, during the short time they were getting in they would go after our chickens with a vengeance, and we would go in to get them out and find the wily things ducking and diving and doing everything they could to avoid being shooed out the gate.
I just asked my mom if I forgot anything and she said "make sure you say "stubborn, greedy, determined" lol.
The line probably matters a lot, these are hatchery birds that are clearly scrawnier than breeder stock. Maybe the line you're getting is different.
Disclaimer: I have a docility bias as I've selectively bred our whole flock for gentle demeanors.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

My neighbor has two and they are difficult hens...
Out of their flock of hatchery birds, the Delawares are mean picking on others even during free ranging, they want other hens to leave the whole area when they find some goodies. It made chicken sitting more difficult than it should have been due to the feeding situation. They are rather loud about egg laying compared to the others (buff orps, red sex links, easter eggers). Also have a tendency to hop fences... we had to add more height to the border fence to keep them out, during the short time they were getting in they would go after our chickens with a vengeance, and we would go in to get them out and find the wily things ducking and diving and doing everything they could to avoid being shooed out the gate.
I just asked my mom if I forgot anything and she said "make sure you say "stubborn, greedy, determined" lol.
The line probably matters a lot, these are hatchery birds that are clearly scrawnier than breeder stock. Maybe the line you're getting is different.
Disclaimer: I have a docility bias as I've selectively bred our whole flock for gentle demeanors.

Thanks! I'm going to watching them closely and working extra hard at making them friendly. I'm with you, I've selectively only added breeds that I know to be friendly with humans and flocks to avoid times of stress. I love the color of RIR's but I no longer get them after a few meanies. Thanks for honest feedback, appreciate!