Baby Delaware Chickens for sale
Chicks hatching February to October.
Delaware chickens are among the fastest growing of the heritage breeds and the hens are good brown egg layers, making them an excellent dual purpose breed. Add to that the fact that these chickens also have a great temperament and you will begin to see why Delaware chickens are a fantastic addition to your backyard flock.
Production: Matures quickly, making it an ideal breed for meat production; hens are excellent brown egg layers.
Temperament: They are friendly, calm and funny.
History: George Ellis bred Barred Plymouth Rock Males with New Hampshire females. The offspring were called "silver sports," and it was the offspring of those chickens that became the breed Delaware chickens. The breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1952.
Delaware chickens are considered a threatened species by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. There is not much quality breeding stock across the country. The breed was developed for the same reasons Cornish Crosses were, and the popularity of the Cornish Cross eclipsed the Delawares. Now the breed is slowly beginning to find its way into more backyard flocks, due to its hardiness, beauty and usefulness.
While Delawares are listed in the Standard of Perfection, they are not often entered in APA competitions. They are rare for one thing and also it is difficult to breed them to such exacting standards with the lack of breeding stock.
Colors: Males: White with black barring on the neck and tail
Females: Same, except that the entire tail is black, edged in white
Status: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Status: Threatened
Body Type: moderately long, broad, deep; keel long, extending well to front at breast and to the rear of legs.
Market Weight: Male: 5.5 - 7.5 pounds
Classification: American Poultry Association Class: American Chicken Class
