Claire Thompson
There are hundreds of chicken breeds in the world, with some sources estimating more than 500 fancy breeds. The exact number remains unknown as no organisation keeps track of all the breeds globally. Chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years, and distinguishable breeds have been present since geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics created regional types with distinct physical and behavioural traits. Today, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined standards set by governing organisations, with the primary uses being for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of chicken breeds in the world | There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, with Professor C.J. Nichol of the University of London counting more than 500 "fancy breeds" worldwide. The American Poultry Association recognizes 53 large chicken breeds, plus additional bantam chicken breeds. |
| Primary use | Chickens are bred for eggs, meat, ornamental purposes, or dual-purpose (both eggs and meat). |
| Distinguishing physical traits | Size, plumage color, comb type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg color, and place of origin. |
| Other types | Miniature or bantam chickens are usually one-fifth to one-quarter the size of the standard breed. Hybrid chickens, which are a result of crossing two or more breeds, are also common and are often used for egg-laying. |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken breed standards
There are over 500 known chicken breeds in the world, with almost 19 billion chickens worldwide. Chicken breeds are standardised according to various criteria, including size, feathering, origin, and rarity. For example, bantam chickens are smaller than average chickens, and their eggs are about half the size of regular chicken eggs. Not all breeds have a bantam version.
The British Poultry Standards recognise 93 pure chicken breeds, categorised by size, feathering, origin, and rarity. Purebred chickens (also called straightbreds in the US) breed true, meaning their offspring will look like their parents. Hybrid hens, on the other hand, are the result of different matings between breeds and cannot reproduce without returning to the original parent stock. Autosexing is a desirable characteristic in purebred chickens, where day-old chicks can be sexed by their appearance, allowing for the selective raising of female chicks.
The Australian Poultry Standards classify chicken breeds as either hard feather or soft feather, and then further divide them into bantam or standard size. The Old English Game and Asil breeds are considered hard feather due to their close-bodied feathers, while the Silkie, Australorp, and Leghorn breeds are classified as soft feather due to their softer and fluffier feathers.
In the United States, the American Poultry Association recognises chicken breeds listed in the American Standard of Perfection. Standard-sized breeds are grouped by type or place of origin, while bantam breeds are classified by type or physical characteristics. The large breeds are further divided into six classes: American, Asiatic, Continental, English, Mediterranean, and All Other Standard Breeds, largely according to their place of origin.
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Poultry fancy
The number of chicken breeds in the world is difficult to pinpoint, with estimates ranging from "several hundred" to over 500 "fancy breeds" according to Professor C.J. Nichol of the University of London. The American Poultry Association recognizes 53 large chicken breeds, plus additional bantam chicken breeds, while the American Bantam Association maintains a separate list of recognized bantam breeds. These organizations have established themselves as arbiters of breed recognition, but they do not recognize many breeds in the United States that are well-established.
Breeders and exhibitors have played a significant role in shaping today's chicken breeds. The first significant poultry show was held at London Zoo, after which many breeds were imported and standardized. Farmers have historically favored certain breeds for egg production, such as Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, and White Leghorns, while others like Indian Game crossed with Light Sussex have been preferred for meat.
Today, there is a rich variety of fancy chicken breeds worldwide. Some examples include the Ancona, which originates from Italy and is known for being flighty but easy to train, and the Andalusian, characterized by bright white earlobes and reddish-brown eyes. The Araucana breed from Chile sports tufts of feathers on either side of its head like 'mutton chops'. Belgian poultry varieties include the d'Anvers, d'Uccle, and de Watermael, while the Brahma, a large and versatile bird, originates from Asia. The Dorking, possibly dating back to the Roman invasion of England, was once popular for both meat and eggs.
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Bantam breeds
While there is no definitive answer to how many chicken breeds exist in the world, estimates suggest there are several hundred. Bantam chickens, which are miniature versions of standard chickens, are a group of chicken breeds in their own right. They are often excellent flyers, and while they are smaller than standard chickens, they require similar care.
Bantam chickens can be categorised into three types: true bantams, miniature bantams, and developed bantams. True bantams are those that have no large-fowl counterpart, while miniature bantams are those that do. Developed bantams are created through selective breeding for a specific appearance or function. It is important to note that all miniature bantams are also technically developed bantams, but not all true bantams are developed bantams.
Some examples of bantam breeds include the bantam barred Plymouth Rock, the bantam silver-laced Wyandotte, and the bantam white Silkie. Bantam chickens are also available in many colours and with feathered or clean legs. They are a popular choice for those with small backyards or limited space, as they require less space and eat less food than standard chickens.
When it comes to temperament, bantam chickens are generally more docile, friendly, and calm than their larger counterparts. However, some true bantam breeds, such as game bantams, can be more active and flighty. Bantam chickens are also known to go broody more easily than larger chickens, and they make excellent mother hens.
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Crossbreeds
While there are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, the exact number remains unknown. This is because no organisation keeps track of all the breeds globally, and new breeds are constantly being created.
Chicken breeds are typically distinguished by physical traits such as size, plumage colour, comb type, skin colour, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg colour, and place of origin. They are also roughly categorised by their primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, with some considered "dual-purpose".
Since the 19th century, poultry fancy—the breeding and competitive exhibition of poultry as a hobby—has influenced chicken breeds significantly. Many breeds have been kept for ornamental purposes or exhibited as show birds, while others have been bred for specific functions, such as egg production or meat yield.
Crossbreeding, a technique used for hundreds of years, involves mating two or more distinct breeds of chicken. The goal is often to improve certain traits in the offspring, such as introducing a visible characteristic to aid in sex identification at hatching. Crossbreeds, or hybrids, do not breed true, meaning they do not produce offspring with identical characteristics, and are therefore not recognised as distinct breeds by poultry breed standards. However, crossbreeds are extremely common in high-productivity flocks due to their enhanced productivity and vigour. For example, hybrid layers can produce upwards of 300 eggs per year, compared to the average of 250 eggs per year for purebred chickens.
Some well-known crossbreeds include the Black Sex Link (also known as Black Stars or Black Rock in the UK), California Whites, and the ISA Brown, a complex hybrid that efficiently produces brown eggs. While crossbreeding was historically used to introduce specific traits, today, it often involves complex series of matings over multiple generations to develop sophisticated, highly productive birds.
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Hybrids
Hybrid chickens are crossbred from pure breeds such as Light Sussex, Rhode Island Red, Maran, Plymouth Rock, or Leghorn. They are not purebred and do not breed true—if you cross a hybrid chicken with another breed or cross, the offspring will not have the same characteristics as the original hybrid. Hybridization can be complex and may involve a series of matings over multiple generations to develop sophisticated, highly productive birds.
The development of hybrid chickens started in the 1950s when there was a huge growth in the demand for eggs and meat. They are more productive and better suited to intensive management than purebred chickens. Most hybrid chickens are developed to be good egg layers, friendly, and docile, rather than having splendid feathers like purebred hens. Hybrid layers are usually lighter, fast-maturing, and have good feed conversion. They are also cheaper than pure breeds, available in quantity, and usually tame easily. Hybrid table birds, on the other hand, are heavier to provide a good carcass in a short time, so they are extremely fast-maturing.
There are many different names given to the hybrids produced from a given hatchery or parent strains of birds. For example, the "Black Rock" hybrid is a registered name for a Rhode Island Red/Barred Plymouth Rock cross that comes from Crosslee Poultry Farm in Scotland. The ISA Brown is another hybrid that is an amazingly efficient producer of brown eggs. Other hybrid varieties include Maran Cuivre, Bovans Nera, Calder Ranger, Goldline, Meadowsweet Ranger, White Star, Sussex Star, Bluebelle, Speckedlys, and ISA Warren, which is commonly used in battery farming and bred not to go broody.
Hybrid chickens are also created to be more efficient at converting feed into meat. The Cornish Rock hybrid, developed from the Cornish and Rock breeds, produces an eating-size bird in half the time and with much less feed than its purebred counterparts. This hybridization has been credited with dropping the price of chicken in grocery stores and on restaurant menus.
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Frequently asked questions
There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, though no one knows the exact number because no one keeps track. Wikipedia estimates there are hundreds, while Professor C.J. Nichol of the University of London has counted over 500 "fancy breeds".
Some common chicken breeds include Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, White Wyandottes, White Leghorns, Indian Game, and Silkies.
Chicken breeds are roughly divided by their primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, with some considered dual-purpose. They are also distinguished by physical traits such as size, plumage colour, comb type, skin colour, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg colour, and place of origin.
