Delawares

[Ms Jellybean]

I didn't read through this whole thread, so forgive me if this has been asked before. I am putting a list together of chickens to get and a Delaware is on the list. I was reading reviews though and found that several people who ordered from My Pet Chicken (where I am getting mine from) have had problems with their Delawares being very mean. Have others found this too be the case? With a small flock like I am going to have there isn't room for a mean chicken in the group.

 

[the foot]

My Delawares are the best tempered hens I have owned. They lay like it's going out of style. My Delaware rooster (the smallest and least *******-ish rooster from four brothers) is the most protective rooster I have seen. In my estimation you can't beat Delawares for laying and being good chickens.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I'm getting a Delaware but not from MPC. I'll be able to pick one up locally from the feed store.

 

[the foot]

I will vouch for delawares, they are great layers and have a calm disposition. Good to go!

 

[caychris]

I wonder if the "aggressiveness" is really the fact that they are very inquisitive and confident birds. Im new to this so I havent experienced enough yet. I started with 4 Delawares which are about 7 weeks now, 1 (is more than likely a roo though he doesnt carry himself as a roo) My wife who was hesitant about this whole thing finally got on board but wanted a "pretty" gold chicken like a friend of ours. (Buff Orpington) So we got 2 about 3 weeks ago and they are so sweet by comparison to the Del's We just picked up 4 more Buffs to grow out for family members.

The birds are all separated now with the Dels outside in the starter coop while a larger flock coop is being constructed. They are the most adventurous and active birds. They will tolerate being held and picked up but would rather be out running around sampling everything they can get their beaks on. I guess you could consider them loud because they voice their enthusiasm whenever we are outside. I hope the integration goes well when the time comes. I'm thinking if they aren't crowded they should integrate nicely. The Orps are rather docile so I can't see then Del's needing to be too assertive. Ill watch for it and soup is tasty after all.

 

[hildar]

To me the Delawares are one of the best chickens I have ever had. Not sure where you all are getting yours from but I have never once had an aggressive rooster. I had one rooster that showed himself to be a fighter with other roosters and he was culled for it. However out of 12 roosters he was the only bad egg. The others all were sold as show birds to people. Each one of my chickens is bred for temperament. I will not have any aggression, and so far all of my ladies have been sweet. In fact I had one that hurt her leg as a baby and she would lay at my feet with her head on my foot and coo like a dove. They are one of the most lovable breeds that I have ever had the pleasure to breed. My twin girls, have the best disposition of any hen I have ever met. In fact the only pain in the butt ones that I have are the GLW's they pull all my hens feathers out. Which is why I am ridding myself of that breed. I don't allow hens in my flock to have such a behavior.

 

[caychris]

maybe you can help me sex these 8 week olds
This one is half blind so having a hard time getting a good shot of her

Dubbed "Clara"



Pretty sure this ones a cockerel started as Penny now we call him Pete.



"Verna"



They have no interest in giving me good photos.

 

[hildar]

maybe you can help me sex these 8 week olds
This one is half blind so having a hard time getting a good shot of her

Dubbed "Clara"



Pretty sure this ones a cockerel started as Penny now we call him Pete.



"Verna"



They have no interest in giving me good photos.

My cockerels all had more black then that on their tails and necks, so not really sure. Have you checked their wings for the black on the tips??? My girls don't have the black on their wing tips. However i did have one rooster that never crowed and never even looked like a rooster. He was what we called the rooster gone hentard, He tried to act like a hen around his 2 brothers, however the first time I caught him on a hen i knew what had to be done. His waddles never even developed all the way down, and his comb stayed small. there was something wrong with him, however he made some great chicken nuggets.

Is Clara the same age??? her comb looks larger then the rest do. the key to getting good photos is get them interested in food. They will do anything for that.

 

[tiffrosef]

I have a beautiful Delaware named Dolly whom is a very sweet bird. Soon it seems I will be inheriting a roo from my mom who is also a delaware. Anyone know the temprament on a Delaware roo? I am hoping for something mellow, he hasn't been handled much (she doesn't really touch her birds at all, they just stay in a coop outside) so I am hoping he will still be a sweet boy. Dolly is an absolute angel, so I hope that he'll be similar. Does anyone have a lot of experience with Delaware roos?

 

[hildar]

I have a beautiful Delaware named Dolly whom is a very sweet bird. Soon it seems I will be inheriting a roo from my mom who is also a delaware. Anyone know the temprament on a Delaware roo? I am hoping for something mellow, he hasn't been handled much (she doesn't really touch her birds at all, they just stay in a coop outside) so I am hoping he will still be a sweet boy. Dolly is an absolute angel, so I hope that he'll be similar. Does anyone have a lot of experience with Delaware roos?

I had 4 out of 5 roosters that were big babies. I could walk along and just pick them up and they loved it. However one of them I culled, because I didn't need that many. Then later on culled 2 more and kept Snowball and Trouble. When Snowball started fighting even my hens he then was culled which left me with the biggest baby of them all trouble. He however was way to big for the girls and actually killed one by breaking her neck so now I have 5 girls and no roosters.