Delawares--who has them?

[miss_jayne]

i just got eggs from csibb and she has nice birds too...

go to this link to see the eggs she just sent me...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=100473&p=6

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Thank you--you'll have to keep us updated on how they hatch out!

 

[speckledhen]

As many know, my first Delawares were hatched from a hen and rooster that came from McMurray. They were mean, evil little things. They plucked 7 Speckled Sussex bare and bleeding one day in the space of 2 hours. And those were in 4x7 coop with 9 ft ceilings, so not crowded or hot. They would bite the tar out of me and were very skittish. I sold even the pullets, then I swore off them, till this breeder asked me to do a fertility test. She promised the temperaments wouldn't be like the first ones and she was right.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Yeah, I've noticed that myself--that the temperments seem to be based on where they come from.

 

[DeeTee]

i posted this in the egg laying thread as well, but here is a video of one of my Delaware pullets singing the egg song:

 

[seriousbill]

Hi Equibling. Yes, I have Delawares, but no, I'm not selling right now.

I find them to be great all-around dual purpose birds and an interesting heritage breed. It's hard to find the old type Delawares these days. The ALBC lists them as critical with only 500 breeding birds in the US:

http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/delaware.html

Here's a picture of one of my males:

 

[speckledhen]

He is so gorgeous, Janet. I definitely will be increasing the Delaware flock as soon as I get their new coop done..well, in the spring. Hopefully, my coop will be done before the end of January. I can't wait till Jake looks more mature.

 

[seriousbill]

Thanks, Cyn. He's a big sweetheart; I can tell you that. I'm really pleased with his personality, very true to the old style Delaware.

Yes, it'll be really interesting to see how Jake matures, and it's so exciting about your new coop! Keep us posted.

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks so much for everything, Janet. I'll keep you posted on Jake and his two ladies.

 

[shelleyb1969]

I have 2 Delaware chicks, 1 roo and 1 pullet, that I hatched from shortcake1806's eggs. Mine are super sweet. They can be a little "enthusiastic" at times, but overall they have a very nice disposition. They love attention, and are very curious...always checking things out. I also have 18 developing Delaware eggs from csibb in the bator right now. I agree that a lot of a chicken's personality is inherited. With that being said, however, I also think that their personality is a reflection of how much they were or were not handled as chicks. I feel that Delawares, regardless of their breeding, need more consistent daily human interaction in order to keep them docile. A chicken who's been handled daily (pretty much) since hatch is obviously going to have a way better temperament with people than one who hasn't. I love to hear other people's experiences with different breeds, but I don't base MY opinion on a breed by what other folks say. Who knows how their chickens were really raised, and exactly how little or how much interactions they had with their owners...if truth be known.