Blue Hen of Delaware
The blue hen of Delaware, more often called the Delaware Blue Hen, is the state bird of Delaware and an American game-type chicken associated with regional history rather than a modern production breed. It should not be confused with the mid-20th-century Delaware chicken, a separate white-and-barred broiler-layer breed. Blue hens were described as blue-gray or slate-colored birds with the tight feathering, alert posture, and athletic build of old game fowl. The name became linked to Delaware soldiers in the Revolutionary War and later to the University of Delaware mascot.
Today Blue Hen-type birds are kept mostly by heritage poultry enthusiasts, educational farms, and people interested in state symbols. Blue plumage genetics can produce blue, black, and splash offspring depending on the mating, so color alone is not a complete identity test. Management is similar to other active chickens, but game-type lines may need secure pens, careful introductions, and more attention to rooster compatibility than docile dual-purpose breeds. They are not usually selected for maximum egg output; value lies in maintaining a historically meaningful line with sound structure, fertility, and clear provenance.
