Delawares, originally called “Indian Rivers,” were developed by George Ellis of Delaware in 1940 and were used for the production of broilers. The reproduce originated from crosses of Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens.
Some off-colored sports were produced that were virtually white with black barring on the hackles, primaries, secondaries, and tail. This coloration is similar to the Colombian color pattern, but with the barring substituting for the black sections. For roughly 20 years the Delaware and the Delaware x New Hampshire cross were the most well liked broiler chickens on the Delmarva Peninsula, thanks to the Delaware’s ability to provide offspring with predominately white feathering.
Delaware males might be joined to New Hampshire or Rhode Island Red females and produce chicks of the Delaware color pattern. Delaware females paired to New Hampshire or Rhode Island Red males produced sex-linked offspring ; the males having the Delaware color pattern and the females having the solid red color of the sires.
Chicks from this second cross can even be sexed by their down color when hatched.
