Delaware

These are some interesting posts. I purchased 10 Delaware peeps, from a hatchery, based on their description. They were described as gentle, easy to handle, good layers, all of which are what I was looking for. I could tell right of the bat that they has more personality than your average red bantams. They are very curious and not as afraid as the reds. However my reds are between 2 and 4 years old. I don't want them getting bullied. I guess we will wait and see how these guys act. I still keep them indoors since it gets down to the 50's and they are only a month old. This will be interesting.

The Delaware girls are consistently good layers and are definitely the top of the pecking order in my flock. They are pushy with the other hens and very noisy at times. It has taken them 2 years to allow me to pet them, although Desdemona will still not allow me to touch her. They are very inquisitive and smart. I probably will not get this breed again although the egg output is very good.

After researching various breeds, I decided the the Delaware was it. Egg production is described as very good. It was for up to around 18 months. I was getting 7 to 9 eggs a day from 9 hens. After 18 months, I am lucky to get 5. Most of the days it's 3 or 4. If you want longer standing egg production, look elsewhere.

Couldn't ask for bigger eggs.
Big,friendly,hardy and attractive.
A bit bossy with other breeds though.

I read above that someone else got their Delaware from MPC, maybe it is just their stock. But our first batch of hens came from MPC and we loved them all except our Delaware. She is mean, and even pecks at the kids. She lets everyone know EVERY time someone goes into the coop to lay an egg. We can't stand her. I am sure there are some great lines out there but we didn't get a good one.

I have a breeding quad of heritage Delawares from a breeder - not hatchery. This breed is in need of conservation and is on the endangered list. I have been hatching out and selling chicks and love it when people learn about the history of this breed and choose it over the typical broiler. Takes a couple more weeks to mature - but more then well worth it.

The hens lay daily and I have a batch of pullets I am raising up to add to the flock. Nice big eggs - laid all winter.

My Delaware is realy nice i love it!It is a nice layer and meatbird!

I purchased a mixed flock from My Pet Chicken in June 2012 (4 austrlorp, 2 barred rock, 2 delaware). From the minute that I opened the box, my delaware hens were loud, and kind of pushy.

As the girls got older, Precious and Princess just became more and more agressive. They are very loud, they eat eggs, and run at you if you attempt to get eggs from the nest. They have gone after poor Lucy (australorp) so bady that they took off most of her comb and put a hole in her neck....all within a matter of hours!! They are well cared for birds, were handeled often since birth, always have plenty of feed and fresh water and have lots of room. We have decided to cull them both. It makes me so sad.

I have five hens: Delaware, New Hampshire Red, Dominque, and two mystery tan ones...

They all got delivered together, and the Delaware (Angel) was the first to get her wings (and was white...hence, Angel). I think because she matured first, she became the leader of the pack...she's always curious, pretty brave, and jumps on top of everything, and that girl has some hops for a heavy breed...she can get about 3-4 feet of the ground.

She's cool to be picked up and held, I set up a nesting box indoors for when I'm at home, and when angel wants in to get to that nesting box, raises a racket and let's you know she needs to be let in.

My Delaware is a little on the controlling side of the other hens on my flock, however this could be just because she is the dominant hen of the flock. My Delaware is less noisy than the average chicken and lay more eggs than the average hen. Overall, a great addition to a backyard flock.

I love my Delawares so much I'm going to make them my primary laying breed this spring. I'm going to have a total of 40 +/-. They have been laying extra large eggs and have been decent winter layers.

Since we received our first order of chicks last spring, the Delawares have distinguished themselves as adventurers. The first to figure out the eating and drinking thing, the first to roost on the waterer, the roost, the brooder lamp and edge of the brooder, and the first to escape the brooder, these girls just want to explore.

We have three and one, Shirley, is the funniest. She comes in the house when the door is open and if she sees you in the yard or on the front porch she is right there talking to you. Our Delawares are very vocal which I don't mind one bit. Last weekend Shirley hopped on a table we have on our front porch and laid her first egg while we all watched through the window.

Several weeks back I was out for the evening and it was getting dark. The door to the coop is normally left open when the hens are free ranging so they can go in there if they need/want but this time it had closed before they had a chance to get to bed. One of the Delaware girls came up to the french door at the back of the house and made a fuss. My husband remembered the girls and went out into the dusk to find the rest of them waiting patiently outside the pen. He is sure that she knew to come to the house to let the people know they were ready for bed and couldn't get there.

Ours just began laying so I don't know what to tell you about that yet but as far as personality goes they are tops!

ETA that I am averaging 9 eggs a week this winter from two Delaware hens. They lay a lovely pink tinted beige egg. I have ordered more for this spring. They continue to be my favorite breed!

I have had Delawares off and on over the years but right now I have the best Delaware rooster, I purchased him at 20 weeks old from a heritage meat farmer he is huge, 9lbs and is soo sweet! he lets my kids pet him he calls for the hens and chicks to come eat when he finds bugs or some yummy plant. He lets the chicks eat before he does. My favorite rooster I have ever had! Im going to cross him with with white rock hens for meat birds, Superman rocks maybe 4h next year for my son.

I have been very happy with all of my delawares. They are friendly, calm and great egg-layers. I will always include them in my chick orders.

purchased from breeder to raise,( or learn to). really attractive, good markings

I just brought them home yesterday. They are 5 months old.

I love my delawares, they are so much fun to watch. We purchased 4 young chicks and have been fascinated as we watch them grow. They are very adventurous and travel the farthest than any of our other birds to forage. They actually care very little for pellets and are some of the first to venture outside each morning. They are truly beautiful, and even though they are only 5 months old this week I can tell their markings will make for striking adult birds.

Purchased straight run Delawares, NH's, & Wyandottes from hatchery. Knew we would have to cull extra roos, but did not expect the Delaware roo's to be so aggressive. The girls are sweet as pie, but the boys terrorize everyone and everything! My NH and Wyandotte roo's are far better behaved and they get to stay!

I bought my Delawares from 2 different hatcheries. The first group are 6 weeks old and the serving group is 3 weeks old. I cannot say enough good things about them. I have a very mixed flock, but have decided that I will focus mostly on breeding Dellies. About the time the pullets start to lay the cockerels well be ready as fryers. If someone were only able to have one breed I would only suggest this breed. The history of the Delawares is pretty interesting too.

These four Delaware pullets are my first "flock" and I absolutely love them! True to their reviews they are very friendly and quick learners too at only 5 weeks old. When I open the coop for feeding and care they always rush to the door, hop on my hand and walk up my arm allowing me to pet them.

As for their reputations for being smart, well, perhaps its too early to tell. I recently decided to treat my chicks to a special treat of several fresh, little bugs after I cleaned out their coop so I proceeded to gather the insects in a small glass jar that originally contained green olives. I placed the jar into the coop on it's side so the chicks could grab their treats but one chick, spotting an especially tempting treat at the bottom, squeezed through the narrow neck and popped herself completely into the jar. I was very surprised and waited a moment to see if she could get out. She struggled but could not back out and could not turn herself around. Fortunately, she had one leg sticking out of the jar which I was able to grab and gently work her back out. Whenever I hear about a chicken being "smart" I will always think of my little chicken in the olive jar!