What color eggs do Delawares lay?

Brown. UW–Madison, Ohio State and Mississippi State say brown, and the Livestock Conservancy says light brown. Ohio State rates them large and the Livestock Conservancy says large to jumbo.

How many eggs does a Delaware lay a year?

Sources differ. The Livestock Conservancy says about 4 eggs a week, up to 200 a year; Oklahoma State says around 100 to 150.

Are Delawares friendly with kids?

They're known as calm and friendly: Mississippi State lists them as friendly, and Oklahoma State says they have a gentle disposition and aren't known to be aggressive. The Livestock Conservancy adds they aren't a cuddly breed and can be loud.

Do Delawares go broody?

Not often. The Livestock Conservancy says they are not generally a broody breed, though Oklahoma State says hens go broody on occasion.

Why is it called a Delaware?

Illinois Extension says the breed is named for the state where it was developed in 1940. The Livestock Conservancy notes it was first called the Indian River chicken, after George Ellis's home of Indian River, Delaware.

Delaware

A calm white heritage hen with a black-barred neck and tail, laying large to jumbo brown eggs.

See my shortlist

Delaware at a glance

Medium, dual-purpose

Status: APA breed, American class, admitted in 1952 (one variety).[1][2]
Origin: First developed in 1940 in Delaware, from off-colored chicks of Barred Rock × New Hampshire crosses; originally called the Indian River.[3][4]
Egg color: Light brown to brown[7][8][6][4]
Eggs per year: Sources differ: up to 200 (Livestock Conservancy) or 100–150 (Oklahoma State)[4][5]
Egg size: Large to jumbo[8][4]
Weight: Sources differ: 8.5 lb rooster, 6.5 lb hen (Oklahoma State) or 7.5 and 5.5 lb (Livestock Conservancy).[5][4][6]
Bantam: Yes.[2][5]
Temperament: Calm, friendly and gentle, though not cuddly, and they can be loud.[6][4][5]
Broodiness: Not generally broody (Livestock Conservancy), though Oklahoma State says hens go broody on occasion.[4][5]
Conservation: Listed as Recovering by the Livestock Conservancy.[4]
How to spot one: White bird with black barring on the neck (hackle) and tail, five-point single comb, red earlobes, white skin and yellow shanks.[5][4][8]

Facts no source backs up are left out. Updated October 26, 2026 (how we check).

The Delaware is a striking white heritage hen with black barring on her neck and tail. She's calm, friendly and lays big brown eggs, and she's a breed the Livestock Conservancy is still working to bring back.

A Delaware original

Illinois Extension says the Delaware was first developed in 1940 "from off-colored sports which occurred in the cross between Barred Plymouth Rock males and New Hampshire females." The Livestock Conservancy says it was originally called the Indian River chicken, after George Ellis of Indian River, Delaware. The American Poultry Association admitted it in 1952, in the American class, with one variety.

Eggs

All our sources agree on brown shells, with the Livestock Conservancy calling them light brown. Ohio State rates them large, and the Livestock Conservancy says large to jumbo.

How many is where sources split: the Livestock Conservancy says about 4 eggs a week, up to 200 a year, while Oklahoma State says 100 to 150. Your own Egg Log will settle it for your flock. To time first eggs, use the Laying Calculator.

Temperament

Mississippi State says Delawares "have a calm and friendly disposition," and Oklahoma State calls them gentle and not known to be aggressive. The Livestock Conservancy adds two honest notes: they aren't considered a cuddly breed, and they can be loud.

Broodiness

The Livestock Conservancy says the Delaware "is not generally a broody breed," while Oklahoma State says hens go broody on occasion. Expect more eggs than chicks.

Size

Sources differ here too. Oklahoma State gives 8.5 lb for a rooster and 6.5 lb for a hen; the Livestock Conservancy lists 7.5 and 5.5 lb, and Mississippi State says adults weigh 5.5 to 7.5 lb. Bantams exist (Oklahoma State gives 34 oz and 30 oz).

Conservation

The Livestock Conservancy lists the Delaware as Recovering. Keeping a few helps a breed that was once rare.

How to recognize a Delaware

Oklahoma State describes "a white bird with black barred plumage near the neck area," with black-barred tail feathers too, a single red comb, red wattles and earlobes, yellow shanks and white skin. The Livestock Conservancy adds that the single comb has five points. Ohio State sums it up: mostly white with a barred tail and hackle.

Is a Delaware right for you?

Choose Delawares for a calm, good-looking heritage flock with big brown eggs. They come from a Barred Rock and New Hampshire cross, so if you like them, read about the Barred Plymouth Rock and the New Hampshire too.

Compare egg colors on our free Egg Color Chart printable.