Again last week at the Ohio National, a Delaware rooster with it's rather unique feathering. You can see why despite how pretty they look, how difficult it is to get the right pattern and colouring but that's what the game is all about.
As you can see from this Rooster, it is a SC (Single 5 pointed comb), red wattled, light Columbian pattern on white tailed bird. What you cannot see is that is not feather footed like the Cochin or Brahma, but clean. It is hardy in heat and cold tolerant so it works everywhere from the heat of Texas to the temperate Mid Atlantic Coast. I had one when I first started and while it was a good layer, I found getting stock problematic, so I did not pursue it. Perhaps now things have improved. Mine was placed with a young kid who wanted just a layer and did not care about a mixed flock, so that worked out well.
George Ellis of Ocean View, Delaware created from New Hampshire and Barred Plymouth Rocks for the broiler market right on the cusp of WWII in 1940. These white birds have a light Columbian pattern, the irregular black barring on neck, tail, and wing feathers which Ellis thought prettier than pure Barred Rocks. He thought that this American breed bird, with the American yellow legs, but white skin, would be a winner and quickly signed Indian River Poultry on; it has not caught on beyond it's native land btw.
It was accepted into the APA in 1952 which seems to have been the kiss of death as quite shortly afterward it's popularity declined in the commercial market. I think that the real reason is that Sexed Links and Cornish Rocks came up which were much more preferred, so in a wild twist of fate, the Delaware became a backyard meat bird particularly in forage situations i.e. they are given the space to find their found instead of being given it.
To be a forage bird, another is my own Chantecler, the bird has to have a lot of space so this fellow isn't good in urban environs so by the 1990's the Livestock Conservancy, found that the bird was heavily in decline and by the latest Club reports, there are no Delaware breeders in its home state! For Facebook junkies, there is also a Delaware Club there as well.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
As you can see from this Rooster, it is a SC (Single 5 pointed comb), red wattled, light Columbian pattern on white tailed bird. What you cannot see is that is not feather footed like the Cochin or Brahma, but clean. It is hardy in heat and cold tolerant so it works everywhere from the heat of Texas to the temperate Mid Atlantic Coast. I had one when I first started and while it was a good layer, I found getting stock problematic, so I did not pursue it. Perhaps now things have improved. Mine was placed with a young kid who wanted just a layer and did not care about a mixed flock, so that worked out well.
ORIGINS
George Ellis of Ocean View, Delaware created from New Hampshire and Barred Plymouth Rocks for the broiler market right on the cusp of WWII in 1940. These white birds have a light Columbian pattern, the irregular black barring on neck, tail, and wing feathers which Ellis thought prettier than pure Barred Rocks. He thought that this American breed bird, with the American yellow legs, but white skin, would be a winner and quickly signed Indian River Poultry on; it has not caught on beyond it's native land btw.
It was accepted into the APA in 1952 which seems to have been the kiss of death as quite shortly afterward it's popularity declined in the commercial market. I think that the real reason is that Sexed Links and Cornish Rocks came up which were much more preferred, so in a wild twist of fate, the Delaware became a backyard meat bird particularly in forage situations i.e. they are given the space to find their found instead of being given it.
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