The Delaware – A Hen Dressed for a Wedding

Of the hundreds of chicken breeds only one is dressed to attend a wedding She wears lace every day just in case a ceremony will soon start

 

Most backyard flocks feature Rhode Island Reds, Americaunas, Barred Rocks, Australorps, or Isa Browns Far too few include the wedding breed, the dainty yet meaty Delaware

 

The Delaware is a relative poultry newcomer, had a brief burst of popularity, lost favor as a meat breed and is only recently showing up in some backyard flocks The hens are easily managed good layers that, for anyone so inclined, are big enough to be transformed into

Breed Highlight: Prairie Bluebell Egger™

One special breed, unique to Hoover’s, is the Prairie Bluebell Egger™

 

As well as having a whimsical name, the hens of this breed produce LARGE, bright blue eggs It has been my pleasure to have owned several of these PBEs over the last few years They are always a staple on our farm, and help fill the egg basket with dependable color

According to Hoover’s Hatchery, the lineage of the Prairie Bluebell Egger™ comes from crossing White Leghorn and Araucanas The first reported blue egg layer came from South America in the early