7 Classic American Chicken Breeds to Raise for America’s 250th Birthday

FlockJourney America 250 Series, Part 7: The Delaware, the newest breed in the lineup, named for the first state of all.

Top 3 Takeaways

• The youngest breed on our list is named for the oldest state. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, which is why it is still called the First State. The breed that carries its name arrived much later, developed in 1940 by George Ellis, and it is the newest bird in our All-American lineup.
• It lays more eggs than any other breed in this series. About 260 large brown eggs a year, from a calm, docile, quick-maturing dual-purpose bird. If you want one hardworking hen with an easy temperament, this is the one.
• Two birds from this series made a third. The Red Star, one of the most dependable brown egg layers a Keeper can raise, comes from crossing a Rhode Island Red male with a Delaware female. The story of American chickens is a story of Keepers building on what came before.

Still celebrating

The fireworks are over. The parade route has been swept, the bunting is coming down off the porch rails, and in the driveway remains one lonely sparkler nobody got around to lighting. But the celebration continues!

A 250th birthday does not really fit in a single day. The Fourth is the party, but the year is the point, and we’re continuing the celebration with the last bird in our All-American Backyard Lineup.

It’s a fitting one to end on, because its named after The First State. Delaware was the first state to say yes to the Constitution, and the chicken that bears its name is the youngest of our series – developed in 1940. We started this series with the Dominique, a breed that was already here before there was a country. We end it with a bird whose home state was the very first to make that country official.

The 7 founding breeds of the American backyard

Each of these was either developed on American soil or earned its reputation here. Here is the full lineup, one last time, with Delaware featured below.

• Dominique. America’s oldest breed, traced to roughly 1750. Calm, sociable, and bred to last. About 245 medium brown eggs a year.
• Rhode Island Red. Developed in the late 1800s in the country’s smallest state and famous worldwide. Around 265 brown eggs a year, and the parent of half the hybrids in the modern hen house.
• Barred Plymouth Rock. The black-and-white striped farm hen most people picture when they hear the word chicken. Steady and unbothered, about 250 large brown eggs a year.
• Wyandotte. An American original with laced feathers and a cold-friendly rose comb. A handsome dual-purpose bird that shrugs off winter.
• Jersey Giant. Born in New Jersey and still one of the largest breeds you can keep. Slow to mature but gentle, friendly, and a steady source of large brown eggs.
• New Hampshire. Refined in the Granite State from Rhode Island Red stock for faster growth and dependable laying. A practical, no-drama dual-purpose bird.
• Delaware. Developed in 1940 in the state it is named for. White with black barring on the hackles, quick to mature, calm, and good for about 260 large brown eggs a year. Today’s feature, and the finale of our series.

Breed of the Week: The Delaware

In 1940, a man named George Ellis set out to build a better farm bird in the state of Delaware. What he ended up with was a hardy, white-feathered chicken with a scattering of black barring on the ends of its hackle feathers, and a disposition so easy that people have been recommending it to first-time Keepers ever since.

It was the last of the great American dual-purpose breeds to arrive, and by the time it did, the country had been raising chickens for centuries. The Delaware is here today because generations of American Keepers decoded exactly what they wanted from a hen and pursued it.

What makes the Delaware great

Temperament. Calm and docile, the kind of bird that does not mind being picked up by a curious kid. That steady nature, paired with how quickly it matures, is what makes the Delaware such a comfortable first flock.

Eggs. About 260 large brown eggs a year, the highest count of any breed in this series. The hens mature quickly and lay dependably, so the wait from chick to first egg is a short one.

Build. At a mature 6 to 7 pounds with a single comb, the Delaware is a true dual-purpose bird. It is hardy, it grows fast, and it earns its keep whether you want a full egg basket or a bird for the table.

The free-range favorite. The Delaware does especially well in a free-range setting. If you have space for your flock to roam, this bird will use every square foot of it. Keep that in mind when you plan your yard, because a Delaware kept in a tight run is a Delaware not doing what it loves.

A quiet connection worth noticing

Cross a Rhode Island Red male with a Delaware female and you get the Red Star, a bird that lays around 320 medium brown eggs a year and is hardy in nearly any condition. Two breeds from this very series combine into one of the most productive layers a Keeper can raise.

That is the whole story of American chickens summarized. Every breed on this list was somebody’s idea of an improvement on the last one. The Dominique crossed the ocean. Rhode Island built a bird the world copied. New Hampshire refined it. Delaware perfected the farm hen. And Hoover’s Hatchery will be here for the next step.

Is the Delaware right for you?

If you want a calm bird that lays exceptionally well, matures quickly, and thrives with room to roam, the Delaware belongs at the top of your list. It suits the Keeper with space, the family with kids, and the first-timer who wants a forgiving bird that still fills the basket. It is a fine place to start a flock, and a fine place to end a series.

FAQ

What is a Delaware chicken?

The Delaware is an American dual-purpose breed developed in 1940 by George Ellis in the state of Delaware. It has white plumage with black barring on the ends of its hackle feathers, matures quickly, and is known for a calm, docile temperament. It lays about 260 large brown eggs a year.

How many eggs does a Delaware chicken lay?

A Delaware hen lays about 260 large brown eggs per year. The hens mature quickly and lay dependably, which makes the Delaware one of the stronger layers among American dual-purpose breeds.

Are Delaware chickens good for beginners?

Yes. Delawares are calm, docile, hardy, and quick to mature, and they lay well. That combination makes them a comfortable choice for a first flock, including a family flock with children.

Are Delaware chickens good free-range birds?

Yes. The Delaware does well in free-range environments and should be given room to roam when possible. Keep that in mind when deciding whether the breed fits your backyard or farm.

What breeds come from the Delaware?

The Red Star comes from crossing a Rhode Island Red male with a Delaware female. Red Stars lay about 320 medium brown eggs a year and are hardy in a wide range of conditions.

How big does a Delaware chicken get?

A mature Delaware weighs about 6 to 7 pounds and has a single comb, which makes it a true dual-purpose bird suited to both eggs and meat.

That is the lineup

Seven breeds. One country. Two and a half centuries of Keepers who wanted a hen that laid well, handled easy, and made it through the winter.

You do not need all seven to celebrate America 250. You need one bird, a little space, and the willingness to start. The Dominique was here before we were a nation. The Delaware arrived long after, and it is still one of the best reasons to walk out to the coop in the morning. Everything in between is the story of people who kept trying to do it a little better.

That sounds like a country worth celebrating, and a flock worth keeping.

Raise a piece of American history

At Hoover’s Hatchery, we believe starting or keeping a backyard flock is one of the best ways to celebrate America 250. The party may be over, but the year is not, and neither is the fun of raising your own. Learn more or add them to your yard at www.hoovershatchery.com/delaware

FlockJourney is brought to you by Hoover’s Hatchery, the nationwide leader in backyard poultry. For more than 80 years, Hoover’s has lived its values of Excellence, Tenacity, Servitude, Humility, and Ingenuity while 100% focused on backyard poultry. From chickens, ducks, and pheasants, to turkeys, geese, guineas, quail, bantams, and rare breeds, Hoover’s has the best variety and the highest quality genetics in the industry. Find Hoover’s chicks at your local farm store or shop online at www.hoovershatchery.com.