Sophie Bennett
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of the U.S. state of Delaware, where it is also the emblem or mascot of several institutions, including the sports teams of the University of Delaware, known as the Fightin' Blue Hens. The Blue Hen Chicken was designated the official state bird in 1939, and its history as a symbol of the state is said to stem from the Revolutionary War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State | Delaware |
| Official Bird of the State | Blue Hen Chicken |
| Year of Adoption | 1939 |
| Date of Adoption | April 14 |
| Previous Recommendation | Scarlet Cardinal |
| University of Delaware Mascot | Blue Hen Chicken |
| Blue Hen Chicken Breed | Not Recognized |
| Blue Hen Chicken Plumage | Gold, Red, Brown, Maroon, Orange, Metallic Green, Gray, White, Olive |
| Blue Hen Chicken Physical Features | Yellow Beak, Reddish Bay Eyes, Willow Shanks and Toes |
| Blue Hen Chicken Tail Feathers | 14 |
| Tail Feather Length | 28 cm |
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What You'll Learn
- The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of Delaware
- It was adopted as the state bird on April 14, 1939
- The Blue Hen Chicken is a domestic bird and not a recognised breed
- The University of Delaware's sports teams are nicknamed 'the fightin' Blue Hens'
- The Blue Hen Chicken's association with the state dates back to the Revolutionary War
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of Delaware
The Blue Hen Chicken, a strain of the American gamecock, is the official bird of the State of Delaware. The Delaware Blue Hen, as it is also known, was designated the official state bird in 1939, though its history as a symbol of the state goes back to the Revolutionary War of the 1770s.
The Blue Hen Chicken is not a recognised chicken breed. Its selection as the state bird is more closely related to historical events than to a natural association with the state. The bird's connection to Delaware is said to have originated with Captain Jonathan Caldwell's company of soldiers, recruited mostly in Kent County. These men took blue game chickens with them to war, and their fighting ability in battle earned the soldiers the nickname "Blue Hen's Chickens". The chickens' reputation as fierce fighters spread throughout the army, and the men of Caldwell's company came to be known for their valour.
Another story suggests that the nickname was not earned until the men found themselves in battle. The heroics of Caldwell's company during the Battle of Long Island firmly established the connection between the soldiers and their fighting gamecocks. The Delaware regiment distinguished itself again at White Plains, New York, where they fought with such courage that they were likened to their gamecocks once more.
The Blue Hen Chicken had long been used as a motif in political campaigns and publications before it was adopted as the official state bird on April 14, 1939, by the Delaware legislature. The Blue Hen is also the emblem or mascot of several institutions in Delaware, including the sports teams of the University of Delaware, which are nicknamed the "Fightin' Blue Hens". The university maintains a breeding group of Blue Hen Chickens on its campus farm.
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It was adopted as the state bird on April 14, 1939
The Blue Hen Chicken was designated the official state bird of Delaware on April 14, 1939. The selection of the Blue Hen Chicken as the state bird is rooted in history, specifically the Revolutionary War. During the war, Captain Jonathan Caldwell's company, recruited in Kent County, brought with them game chickens said to be from the brood of a famous Blue Hen. These chickens were known for their fighting prowess, and the company distinguished itself in battle, earning the nickname "Blue Hen's Chickens" or "Fightin' Blue Hens." The men also participated in cockfights when not fighting the enemy, and their bravery in battle was likened to that of their fighting cocks.
The Blue Hen Chicken had been used as a symbol in political campaigns and publications for many years before it became the official state bird. The University of Delaware's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Fightin' Blue Hens," and the university maintains a flock of Blue Hen Chickens, although they are not direct descendants of the original hen. The Blue Hen is considered a symbol of Delaware, and its image is used by several institutions in the state, including as the mascot for the University of Delaware's sports teams.
The Blue Hen Chicken is not a recognised chicken breed, and its selection as the state bird is based more on historical associations than its natural presence in the state. It is a domestic bird and, therefore, does not appear in Audubon's Birds of America, which features only wild birds native to North America. The Blue Hen Chicken (Gallus gallus) is native to Southern Asia, particularly the jungles of India, and has been domesticated and spread worldwide.
The Delaware General Assembly made the Blue Hen Chicken the official state bird, and it is enshrined in the Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 3, Section 304. The Blue Hen Chicken has blue chest and tail feathers, a yellow beak, reddish bay eyes, and willow-coloured shanks and toes. Its head, hackle, cape, and saddle can be in shades of yellow and orange, while the front neck and lower body are white or olive.
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The Blue Hen Chicken is a domestic bird and not a recognised breed
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of the State of Delaware. It is a blue strain of American gamecock and is not a recognised chicken breed. The Blue Hen is believed to have originated during the Revolutionary War in 1775. There are several stories about how the Blue Hen got its name. One story suggests that during the war, the men of the 2nd company of the First Delaware Regiment, led by Captain Jonathan Caldwell, brought with them blue game chickens known for their fighting abilities. The men became known as "Blue Hen's Chickens", and the birds themselves became a symbol of the state. Another tale suggests that Captain Caldwell had two gamecocks hatched from a particular blue hen, and the soldiers began calling themselves "Blue Hen's Chickens".
The Blue Hen Chicken is often associated with the University of Delaware, where it is the mascot of the university's athletic teams, known as the "'Fightin' Blue Hens". The university maintains a breeding group of Blue Hen chickens on its campus farm, and the birds are also kept by poultry enthusiasts across the state and beyond. While the Blue Hen Chicken is not a recognised breed, it is considered a landrace, and there are reports of people breeding and selling these chickens.
The Blue Hen Chicken has become an emblem for multiple institutions in Delaware, including the University of Delaware's athletic teams. The birds are known for their fighting spirit, and this quality is often associated with the soldiers of Delaware during the Revolutionary War. The Blue Hen Chicken was designated as the official state bird of Delaware in 1939, replacing the scarlet cardinal, which was initially recommended by the State Federation of Women's Clubs of Delaware.
The Blue Hen Chicken is a source of pride for many Delaware residents, and its history is deeply intertwined with the state's culture and identity. While it may not be a recognised breed in the traditional sense, the Blue Hen Chicken holds a unique place in the hearts of many Delawareans and plays a significant role in the state's symbolism and heritage. The birds are also known to lay large to extra-large eggs that are typically tan or brown but can sometimes be white.
In conclusion, while the Blue Hen Chicken is not a recognised chicken breed, it holds significant cultural and historical value for the state of Delaware. Its association with the state's military history and the fighting spirit of its residents has made it a beloved symbol of Delaware, and its designation as the official state bird reinforces its importance in the state's heritage and traditions.
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The University of Delaware's sports teams are nicknamed 'the fightin' Blue Hens'
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of the State of Delaware. It is also the emblem or mascot of several institutions in the state, including the sports teams of the University of Delaware, which are nicknamed the Fightin' Blue Hens. The Blue Hen is not a recognized chicken breed.
The University of Delaware's College of Agricultural and Natural Resources maintains a breeding group of Blue Hen chickens on its campus farm. Typically, only about half of the chicks produced by blue parents will have blue feathers. The remaining chicks will be solid black or black and white. The Blue Hen Chicken's popularity is said to go back over 200 years. It is almost universally agreed that the Blue Hen Chicken became the official bird of Delaware during the Revolutionary War.
There are several accounts of the origins of the Blue Hen name, which dates back to 1775. One story suggests that during the Revolutionary War, the men of the 2nd company of the First Delaware Regiment under Captain Jonathan Caldwell, recruited mostly in Kent County, took with them blue game chickens which became renowned for their fighting ability. As a result, the men also came to be known as "Blue Hen's Chickens". Another tale is that Caldwell had two gamecocks hatched from a certain blue hen, and the men called themselves "Blue Hen's Chickens".
The Fightin' Blue Hens have appeared in the Division II playoffs five times with an overall record of 7–4. They were Division II National Champions in 1979. The football team has won six national titles in its 117-year history, including the 2003 NCAA Division I Football Championship. The Fightin' Blue Hens have appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs nineteen times. Their combined record is 25–18. The Fightin' Blue Hens have also produced six NFL quarterbacks: Rich Gannon, Joe Flacco, Jeff Komlo, Pat Devlin, Andy Hall, and Scott Brunner.
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The Blue Hen Chicken's association with the state dates back to the Revolutionary War
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of the State of Delaware. Its association with the state dates back to the Revolutionary War, when a company of soldiers from Delaware, mostly recruited in Kent County, became known for their courage and fighting spirit. They acquired the nickname "The Blue Hen's Chickens" or "Sons of the Blue Hen," which is said to have come from the fighting offspring of a particular hen owned by their Captain, John or Jonathan Caldwell. These birds were famously good at winning cockfights, which were popular during the Revolutionary War era. The men also amused themselves by holding cockfights when they were not fighting battles.
The Blue Hen Chicken is not a recognized chicken breed but is a blue strain of American gamecock. It is said that the Blue Hen gained wider fame through its association with the Delaware soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The soldiers carried Blue Hens as mascots and embraced the nickname "Blue Hen's Chickens," comparing their valiant fighting spirit to that of the birds. The Blue Hen symbolized the fierce determination of the soldiers in fighting the British.
One story from the Revolutionary War that exemplifies the fighting spirit associated with the Blue Hen took place at the Battle of Torrence's Tavern in 1778. The Delaware soldiers found themselves running low on ammunition. Another tale from the war tells of the heroics of the Delaware regiment at the battle of Long Island, which firmly established the connection between the soldiers and their fighting gamecocks. The reputation of the Blue Hen Chickens as fearless fighters was further solidified at White Plains, New York, where the Delaware regiment distinguished itself in battle once more.
Over the years, the "Blue Hen" became a popular symbol beyond the Revolutionary War. It was used during the Civil War, in publications, and in political campaigns. In 1939, Delaware schoolchildren voted to make the feisty Blue Hen the official state bird, and it continues to be a source of state pride. The University of Delaware's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Fightin' Blue Hens," and the university maintains a flock of Blue Hen Chickens, although they are not descended from the original Kent County stock.
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Frequently asked questions
The Blue Hen Chicken is the official bird of the State of Delaware.
The Blue Hen Chicken was designated as the official bird of Delaware on April 14, 1939.
The Blue Hen Chicken was chosen as Delaware's official bird due to its historical significance, particularly during the Revolutionary War. The fighting spirit and bravery of Delaware soldiers in battle were likened to the ferocity of the Blue Hen Chickens owned by Captain Jonathan Caldwell and his company, recruited from Kent County.
