 | |
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Skin color | yellow |
| Color | barred Colombian |
| Egg color | brown |
| Color | barred Colombian |
| Classification | |
| APA | American[4] |
| ABA | single comb, clean-legged[4] |
| EE | no[5] |
| PCGB | no[6] |
| |
TheDelaware is an Americanbreed ofchicken with an unusualplumage pattern. It was developed in the state ofDelaware in the mid-twentieth century, and was initially known as theIndian River. It was briefly of some importance in the American chicken industry, until it was superseded by the common industrialCornish Rock cross.
In the twenty-first century it is anendangered breed.[3] It may be kept formeat, for eggs or forshowing.
In the early twentieth century, thecross of aBarred Plymouth Rock rooster on aNew Hampshire hen was a common choice for producingbroilers. Occasionally, this mating producessports with light coloration. George Ellis of Delawareselectively bred these light-colored birds, which led to the creation of the breed in 1940. He first chose to call themIndian Rivers, but later the name was switched to match its state of origin. At the time, theDelmarva Peninsula, where the breed was created, supplied chicken to the entirety of theEast Coast of the United States through companies such asPerdue Farms.[7]: 84 The Delaware rapidly became the principal broiler fowl in use in the region,[3] thus affecting the industry at large.[8]: 59 It was added to theStandard of Perfection of theAmerican Poultry Association in 1952; thebantam version was added in 1960.[7]: 84 [4]
Beginning in the mid-1950s, commercial farms began to use the WhiteCornish-Rock cross that would come to dominate the chicken industry into the next century. The speedy adoption of the Cornish-Rock saw the decline of the Delaware, though it persisted in some areas into the 1960s.
In the twenty-first century it is anendangered breed. In 2010 itsconservation status was listed by theAmerican Livestock Breeds Conservancy (later called theLivestock Conservancy) as 'critical', its highest level of concern.[9] In 2013 it was listed as 'threatened', the second level; by 2021 it had been moved to the third level, 'watch', and in 2024 was listed as 'recovering'.[10][11][3] A breed census in 2015 found a total population of4692 birds.[2] The Delaware is included in theArk of Taste of the internationalSlow Food Foundation.[12] It is reported only from the United States, and is not recognized by theEntente Européenne or thePoultry Club of Great Britain.[2][5][6]
The Delaware is of medium size; average weight for cock birds is approximately3.5 kg, and some2.8 kg for hens. There is only oneplumage variety, sometimes called 'barred Columbian': it resembles the Columbian pattern, but theprimaries, secondaries, hackles and tail feathers are barred rather than solid black.[8]: 57 Thecomb is single and five-pointed; it, thewattles and the earlobes are all bright red. The beak is a reddish horn color, the eyes a reddish bay, and the shanks and feet yellow.[7]: 84
Also of note is that all feathers have a white quill and shaft, which, combined with yellow skin, makes for a cleaner appearing carcass.[3] Like most standard breeds of chicken, the Delaware has a miniaturizedbantam version; however, these are rarely seen.
Delawares are hardy birds that mature quickly. Hens are good layers of large to jumbo brown eggs and will go broody. Unlike the most common commercial meat birds in use today, the Delaware does well infree range operations. In temperament, it is a calm, but not a typically friendly bird although in some cases can be.[8]: 59
