Delaware
Dual purposeUnited StatesBeginner friendly
White with light black barring at the neck and tail, the Delaware matures fast, lays generously, and stays friendly — the complete package it was designed to be in 1940s America. It nearly vanished when industrial broilers took over, and small flocks are helping bring it back.
Eggs per year
200–280
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
6–7 lbs
Temperament
Calm and friendly
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
For about a decade the Delaware was the broiler chicken of the East Coast, until the Cornish Cross displaced it almost overnight in the 1950s.
Delaware egg production
Expect roughly 200–280 brown eggs a year from a Delaware in her prime — about 4–5 a week, or 17–23 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Delaware is generally described as calm and friendly. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Delaware rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Delawarehens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Delaware hen is a large bird at 6–7 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Delaware right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You want both eggs and a solid table bird
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
Think twice if…
- Honestly, not much — this is a versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist
Delaware FAQ
- How many eggs do Delaware chickens lay?
- A healthy Delaware hen lays about 200–280 brown eggs a year — roughly 4–5 a week, or 17–23 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Delawares lay?
- Delawares lay brown eggs, large in size.
- How big do Delaware chickens get?
- A Delaware hen weighs roughly 6–7 lbs — a large bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Delawares cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Delaware is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Delawares good for beginners?
- Yes. The Delaware is a forgiving, calm and friendly breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Delaware hens go broody?
- Rarely. Delaware hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
The Delaware shows up in
More breeds to explore
Keeping Delawares?
Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
