Chicken breed
Delaware
Also called Indian River (original name)
The Delaware was developed in the 1940s as a fast-growing broiler and is now a dual-purpose heritage breed. Hens lay large to jumbo light-brown eggs. Birds are friendly and curious but can be loud.
At a glance
200–280eggs a year
4–6eggs a week
16–20weeks to first egg
5.5–7 lbhen weight
7.5–8.5 lbrooster weight
Largeegg size
Traits
- Cold hardyhigh
- Heat tolerantmedium
- Goes broodymedium
- Fine in a small runmedium
- Egg colour
- light brown to brown
- Temperament
- calm, friendly, curious; assertive but not a bully
- Noise
- loud
- Origin
- United States (Indian River, Delaware; 1940s)
- Comb
- single
- Bantam size
- Available
- APA standard
- Recognized
- Conservation
- Recovering
- Purpose
- dual
Good for
- meat and eggs
- cold climates
- free-ranging
Watch out for
- can be loud; consider neighbors
- broodiness reports conflict between sources
- prefers to range; needs something to do if confined
Looks and feathers
White with black barring on hackles, wings and tail; fast feathering.
Our drawing shows the most common US variety; colours vary.
Similar breeds
All breedsSources
- 1Delaware Chicken (breed facts)The Livestock Conservancy
- 2Accepted Breeds & VarietiesAmerican Poultry Association
- 3Delawares (product/breed profile)Cackle Hatchery
- 4Delaware Day Old Chicks (product/breed profile)Meyer Hatchery
- 5Delaware (breed page)My Pet Chicken
Hatcheries often disagree on eggs a year; ranges span every source we read. How we check the facts.