Delaware chicken facts for kids
The Delaware is a special kind of chicken. It first came from the U.S. state of Delaware. A long time ago, this chicken was very important for getting meat in the United States. Today, there are not many Delawares left. This means they are considered critically endangered. These chickens are good for meat, but they also lay a fair number of eggs. They have a unique look with their feathers. People also show them in poultry shows.
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What Makes Delawares Special?
Delaware chickens are a medium size. Male chickens, called roosters, weigh about 8.5 pounds (3.9 kilograms). Female chickens, called hens, weigh about 6.5 pounds (3 kilograms). They have bright red combs and wattles on their heads.
Their Unique Look
Delawares have a special color pattern. Their bodies and chests are white. They have light black stripes on the ends of their neck feathers, wings, and tails. This pattern is a bit like the "Columbian" color seen in other chicken breeds. However, Delawares have stripes in the dark parts, not just solid black. All their feathers have white quills, which are the stiff middle parts. This, along with their yellow skin, makes them look very clean. There are also tiny versions of Delawares, called bantams, but they are very rare.
Temperament and Eggs
Delawares are strong birds that grow up quickly. Hens are good at laying large to jumbo-sized brown eggs. They also like to sit on their eggs to hatch them, which is called being "broody." Unlike many chickens raised for meat today, Delawares do well when they can roam freely outside. This is called free range. They are usually calm birds. They might not be super friendly, but some can be quite gentle.
Approximate Weight
| Rooster | 3.9 kg | 8.5 lbs |
| Hen | 2.9 kg | 6.5 lbs |
| BANTAM | ||
| Rooster | 32 oz | |
| Hen | 28 oz |
History of the Delaware Chicken
In the early 1900s, farmers often crossed two types of chickens. They would breed Barred Plymouth Rock roosters with New Hampshire hens. This was done to create chickens for meat, called broilers. Sometimes, these crosses would produce chicks with lighter colors.
How the Breed Started
A man named George Ellis from Delaware noticed these lighter-colored chicks. He decided to breed them on purpose. In 1940, he created the Delaware chicken breed. At first, he called them Indian Rivers. Later, the name was changed to match the state where they were created.
Rise and Fall of the Delaware
The area where the breed was created, the Delmarva Peninsula, was a big chicken farming region. Companies like Perdue Farms supplied chicken to the entire East Coast of the United States. The Delaware chicken quickly became the most popular meat chicken in this area. This made them very important to the chicken industry. In 1952, the American Poultry Association officially recognized the Delaware. This meant it could be shown in poultry shows.
However, in the mid-1950s, a new type of chicken became popular. This was the White Cornish-Rock cross. This new cross quickly took over the chicken industry. The Delaware chicken breed started to decline. By the 1960s, there were very few left. Today, organizations like the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy consider the Delaware a critically endangered breed. It is also listed in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste. This list includes special heritage foods that need to be protected.
