Product Overview

The Delaware Started Pullet is a 15 to 22 week old female chicken that is close to laying age and ready to become a productive addition to your backyard flock. This is a great option for customers who want a classic American dual-purpose breed without raising day-old chicks.

Cackle Hatchery® offers Delaware Started Pullets as older female birds. Each pullet is priced at $46.00, with a maximum of 2 per order only. Cackle’s grown fowl category confirms that all started pullets are 15 to 22 weeks old and vaccinated for Marek’s disease at no additional charge.

Shipping and handling charges are:

1 bird: $231.00
2 birds: $276.00

These started pullets are vaccinated for Marek’s disease at no additional charge. They are fed non-GMO feed from day one, raised with human interaction to help reduce flightiness, and grown in large areas with other birds.

Why Choose Started Pullets?

Started pullets are ideal for customers who want female chickens that are already past the baby chick stage. Since these birds are 15 to 22 weeks old, they are much closer to laying age than day-old chicks.

They can be a strong choice if you want:

A 15 to 22 week old female chicken
A bird closer to laying age
A Marek’s vaccinated pullet
A bird fed non-GMO feed from day one
A pullet raised with human interaction
A less flighty backyard flock addition
A brown egg layer
A dual-purpose heritage chicken

Started pullets still need a safe transition period when they arrive. Provide clean water, proper feed, secure housing, predator protection, and time to settle into the flock.

Breed Overview and Origin

The Delaware chicken originated and was developed in the state of Delaware in the 1940s. It was admitted into the American Standard of Perfection in 1952 and became known as a dual-purpose breed with both egg and meat value.

The breed began when a hatchery man crossed Rock-Reds and occasionally found white chicks in the tray that were considered “off color” sports. These white chicks grew fast and large. After years of breeding the white offspring, they became consistent in color and pattern and were developed into the Delaware breed.

Cackle Hatchery® has invested more than 40 years into developing its Delaware bloodline or strain of pure Delaware chickens.

Appearance and Characteristics

Delaware chickens are nearly white with black feathers around the neck and tail. Their clean white body color and contrasting black markings give them a bright, classic look in the flock.

They have a single comb and a practical dual-purpose body type. This breed is also known for rapid growth, which helps explain why it became valued by poultry keepers looking for both eggs and meat.

Because these started pullets have already been raised in large areas with other birds, they can be a good addition to a backyard flock when introduced carefully.

Egg Production and Dual-Purpose Value

Delawares are brown egg layers with good dual-purpose value. They are useful for customers who want a practical backyard chicken that can provide eggs while also offering more body size than a light production layer.

Cackle’s Delaware X Hampshire Cross breed facts show the historical connection of Delaware-type genetics to dual-purpose egg and meat production, with brown eggs and good production estimates in similar Delaware-based lines.

Since these started pullets are already 15 to 22 weeks old, they may begin laying sooner after arrival than day-old chicks, depending on age, season, daylight, nutrition, stress, and individual development.

Customers comparing productive brown egg layers can browse Cackle’s Brown Egg Layer Chickens and Egg Laying Chickens categories.

Heritage Breed History and Comeback

The Delaware is an important American poultry breed. In the 1980s and 1990s, very few pure Delaware flocks still existed. In more recent years, the breed has made a comeback as poultry keepers, breeders, and hatcheries renewed interest in practical heritage chickens.

Cackle Hatchery® is proud to be a long-time breeder of this beautiful chicken. Cackle’s original Delaware stock came from Colonial Poultry Farms in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, which has long been out of business.

For customers interested in rare and heritage poultry, Delawares offer a meaningful connection to American poultry history along with practical backyard value.

Delaware Started Pullet vs Day-Old Chicks

Choose a started pullet if you want an older female bird that is closer to laying age and already past the brooder stage.

Choose day-old Delaware chicks if you want a lower starting price, more order flexibility, or the experience of raising chicks from the beginning. Cackle’s Delaware chick listing describes the breed as a brown egg layer and notes Cackle’s long-term breeding work with its pure Delaware bloodline.

Started pullets are especially helpful for customers who want eggs sooner and do not want to manage heat lamps, brooders, and early chick care.

Delaware vs Barred Rock

Delawares and Barred Rock chickens are both American dual-purpose brown egg breeds with strong backyard value.

Choose Delaware if you want a white bird with black neck and tail markings, a breed with a unique Rock-Red development history, and a chicken that was once rare in pure flocks. Choose Barred Rock if you want the classic black-and-white barred Plymouth Rock variety with long-standing backyard popularity.

Both are practical choices for customers who want brown eggs, hardiness, and dual-purpose usefulness.

Delaware vs Rhode Island Red

Delawares and Rhode Island Red chickens are both American breeds with strong production value.

Choose Delaware if you want a white dual-purpose chicken with black neck and tail markings and a history tied to Rock-Red breeding. Choose Rhode Island Red if you want a deep red production-type heritage chicken known for heavy brown egg production.

Customers may also compare Rhode Island Red Started Pullets if they want older female birds closer to laying age.

Delaware vs Red Sex Link

Delaware hens are used in Cackle’s Red Sex Link hybrid cross, but a Delaware is not the same as a Red Sex Link.

Choose Delaware if you want a pure breed with American heritage and a consistent white-and-black appearance. Choose Red Sex Link Started Pullets if you want a hybrid brown egg layer made from Rhode Island Red and Delaware bloodlines.

Both can work well in backyard flocks. The main difference is that Delaware is a breed, while Red Sex Link is a first-generation hybrid.

Started Pullet Guarantee and Refund Note

Customers should review Cackle Hatchery’s Chicken Guarantees and Policies page before ordering started pullets.

Because started pullets are live juvenile birds, customers should be ready to receive them promptly and move them into safe, prepared housing. Provide water immediately, keep the environment calm, and allow time for the birds to adjust after shipping.

Shipping, Pricing, and Order Limits

Delaware Started Pullets are priced at $46.00 each.

Current order limits and shipping charges:

1 bird: $231.00 shipping and handling
2 birds: $276.00 shipping and handling
Maximum: 2 per order only

These shipping charges reflect the special handling required for older started birds. Started pullets are much larger than day-old chicks and require a different shipping process.

Not available for residents of:

Minnesota
Virgin Islands
Alaska
Hawaii
Puerto Rico

Customers should check the Delaware Started Pullet product page and Cackle’s Availability Chart before ordering. Cackle’s availability chart helps customers review current poultry availability and shipping dates.

Is This Product Right for Your Flock?

Choose Delaware Started Pullets if you want:

A 15 to 22 week old female chicken
A bird closer to laying age than a chick
A Marek’s vaccinated started pullet
A bird fed non-GMO feed from day one
A pullet raised with human interaction
A brown egg layer
A dual-purpose chicken
A rapid-growing American breed
A nearly white bird with black neck and tail markings
A maximum order of 2 started pullets

Overall, this is a strong choice for customers who want a practical American dual-purpose pullet without raising day-old chicks. It is not the best choice for customers who want large order quantities, birds shipped to restricted locations, or a hybrid production layer instead of a pure breed.

Recognition and Availability

Cackle Hatchery® sells Delaware Started Pullets as 15 to 22 week old female chickens. Cackle also offers day-old Delaware chicks and Delaware Fertile Hatching Eggs at seasonal times.

Customers may also want to compare Rhode Island Red chickens, Red Sex Link chicks, Red Sex Link Started Pullets, Barred Rock chickens, and Brown Egg Layer Chickens.

Related Breeds and Helpful Cackle Hatchery® Resources

If you like this product, you may also want to compare Delaware chicks, Delaware Fertile Hatching Eggs, Rhode Island Red chickens, Rhode Island Red Started Pullets, Red Sex Link chicks, Red Sex Link Started Pullets, Barred Rock chickens, Brown Egg Layer Chickens, Egg Laying Chickens, and Grown Fowl / Started Pullets.

Helpful Cackle resources include Chicken Guarantees and Policies, Chicken Care Instructions, Chicken Breed Selector, Chicken Breeds List Comparison Chart, and Availability Chart.

FAQ: Delaware Started Pullet

What is a Delaware Started Pullet?

It is a 15 to 22 week old female Delaware chicken that is closer to laying age than a day-old chick.

How much does a Delaware Started Pullet cost?

Each pullet is listed at $46.00.

What is the maximum order?

The maximum is 2 Delaware Started Pullets per order.

What are the shipping and handling charges?

Shipping and handling is $231.00 for 1 bird and $276.00 for 2 birds.

Are these pullets vaccinated?

Yes. They have been vaccinated for Marek’s disease at no additional charge.

Are these started pullets fed non-GMO feed?

Yes. They are fed non-GMO feed from day one.

Are these pullets used to people?

Yes. They have human interaction, which helps make them less flighty.

Are they raised with other birds?

Yes. They have been raised in large areas with other birds.

Where did Delaware chickens originate?

Delaware chickens originated and were developed in the state of Delaware in the 1940s.

When were Delawares admitted into the American Standard of Perfection?

Delawares were admitted into the American Standard of Perfection in 1952.

Are Delawares dual-purpose chickens?

Yes. They are dual-purpose chickens used for brown eggs and meat value.

What color eggs do Delawares lay?

Delawares lay brown eggs.

What do Delaware chickens look like?

They are nearly white with black feathers around the neck and tail.

Are Delawares fast growers?

Yes. The Delaware is known as a rapid-growing bird.

Are Delaware chickens rare?

Pure Delaware flocks became uncommon during the 1980s and 1990s, and the breed has made a comeback in more recent years.

Where did Cackle Hatchery’s original Delaware stock come from?

Cackle’s original Delaware stock came from Colonial Poultry Farms in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, which has long been out of business.

Does Cackle sell Delaware baby chicks too?

Yes. Cackle also sells Delaware chicks.

Does Cackle sell Delaware hatching eggs?

Yes. Cackle offers Delaware Fertile Hatching Eggs at seasonal times.

Where are Delaware Started Pullets not available?

They are not available for residents of Minnesota, Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.

Where can I check availability?

Check the Delaware Started Pullet product page and Cackle’s Availability Chart for current ordering options.