Exploring The Diverse World Of Chicken Breeds

There are hundreds of chicken breeds, varying in colors, patterns, sizes, and purposes. Chickens are the most widely domesticated fowl globally, and have been distinguished by geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics, creating regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits. Some common breeds include Brahmas, Cochins, and Wyandottes, but there are many more, including rare breeds with less than 1000 birds globally. Chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standards, with the British Poultry Standard being the first of its kind.

Chicken breeds by purpose: laying, meat, dual-purpose, ornamental

Chicken breeds can be categorised by their primary purpose: laying, meat production, dual-purpose, or ornamental. While all chickens lay eggs and possess edible meat, distinct breeds have been developed through selective breeding to emphasise certain traits.

Laying

Chicken breeds used primarily for egg production are mostly lightweight birds whose hens do not often go broody. Minorcas, for example, are excellent layers of large, white eggs. They are very hardy and take well to free-range conditions. Brakels are another breed that is well-suited to free-range flocks. They are good fliers, alert to predators, and excellent foragers. Hens lay about 180-200 large eggs per year. Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, and Wyandottes are also strong layers, though their breast meat is said to be less desirable. Jersey Giants lay extra-large eggs and produce about 150-200 eggs per year, but they are less adaptable to warm climates.

Meat

Meat production breeds include the Cornish, or Indian Game. The Freedom Ranger is another breed used for meat production, though some keepers have reported that they lay decent eggs.

Dual-Purpose

Dual-purpose breeds are used for both meat production and egg laying. The "best" dual-purpose breed is said to be subjective and dependent on individual needs and priorities. Bovans, for example, are a dual-purpose breed that may not be as large as other meat birds, but they are abundant egg layers. The Bielefelders are a German heritage breed that is reported to be docile, friendly, and cold-hardy. They are also said to be well-suited to free-ranging. The American Bresse is another dual-purpose breed that has been described as prolific egg-layers with faster growth rates than other dual-purpose breeds.

Ornamental

Ornamental chicken breeds are kept primarily for exhibition and hobby purposes, though they may still retain some inherent utility. Bantam chickens, for example, are cherished for their compact size, friendly demeanour, and charming personalities. They exhibit a wide variety of colourful plumage and feather patterns and are ideal for backyard settings. The Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers is one of the oldest bantam breeds, characterised by its upright body, round breast, and profuse beard of feathers. The Barbu D'uccle is another bantam breed known for the beard and muff of feathers around their necks.

Rare chicken breeds

Chickens come in countless breeds, shapes, colours, and sizes. While there is no universally accepted definition of a "rare" chicken breed, The Livestock Conservancy defines a rare breed as one that is over 200 years old, with fewer than 1000 birds globally. The Poultry Club of Great Britain, on the other hand, classifies rare breeds as those without their own breed club or society, which are taken care of by the Rare Poultry Society.

Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers

The Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers is one of the oldest true bantam breeds, dating back to the 1600s. These birds have upright bodies, round breasts jutting forward, and arching tails. They are known for their sweet, friendly personalities and quirky expressions. Roosters weigh around 24 ounces, while hens weigh about 21 ounces. They can be found in various colour variations, with 29 recognised colours in Belgium alone.

Scots Dumpies

Scots Dumpies are an ancient Scottish breed of chicken that is believed to have existed 700 years ago. They have a dwarfing gene that results in very short legs, giving them a waddling gait. Due to their shorter legs, they cannot scratch up landscaping, making them well-suited for certain environments.

Sebright

The Sebright is one of England's oldest bantam breeds, named after its creator, Sir John Sebright, in about 1800. They are considered ornamental birds and do not lay many eggs. However, they are prized for their beautifully laced plumage in silver or gold. Sebrights are small, even for bantams, with males weighing around 22 ounces. They are active and easily tamed, making them good pets.

La Fleche

La Fleche is a large chicken breed native to France, known for its distinctive V-shaped comb, earning it the nickname "devil bird." They are good foragers and consistent layers, as the hens rarely go broody. La Fleche chickens are heat-tolerant but struggle in cold climates.

Onagadori

Onagadori is a long-tailed chicken breed that originated in Japan, where it is now considered a National Natural Treasure. The roosters' tail feathers can reach up to 27 feet in length due to their rapid growth and lack of molting. Onagadori chickens are extremely rare outside of Japan, with an estimated global population of only about 250 birds.

These are just a few examples of the many rare chicken breeds that exist. Each breed has its own unique characteristics, and some may be harder to acquire than others due to their rarity.

Bantam breeds

Bantam chickens are miniature versions of large fowl, though not all breeds have bantam counterparts. These small chickens are popular for those with limited space, as they require less space and eat less food. Bantam chickens are also known for their huge attitudes and personalities. They are often excellent flyers, so it is important to keep their roosts raised high off the ground. They are more sensitive to temperature changes and are more susceptible to heat and cold stress.

One of the oldest true bantam breeds is the Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers, which has been around since the 1600s. These birds have sweet, friendly personalities and are known for their quirky expressions. They have upright bodies, round breasts jutting forward, and an arching tail. Roosters weigh around 24 ounces, while hens weigh around 21 ounces. The Booted Bantam is another breed that goes by many names, including "Federfuflge Zwerghuhne" in German, "Sabelpoot" in Dutch, and "Booted Bantam" in the UK and Belgium.

Another well-known bantam breed is the Sebright, which originated in England in the 19th century. Sebrights are considered ornamental and are known for their beautifully laced plumage in silver or gold. They are small even for bantams, with males weighing about 22 ounces. They make good pets because they are active and easily tamed. The Serama is a bantam breed originating in Malaysia and is named for the word "Rama," the title of the Kings of Thailand.

Other bantam breeds include the Cochin bantams, which are friendly, docile, and submissive. They were introduced to the U.S. from China around 1850 and make good pets and excellent brooders due to their calm, maternal nature. The Self Blue d'Uccle Bantams, or Porcelain Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantams, are true bantams with a uniform blue-grey colour. The Blue Breasted Red Old English Bantams have bright red combs, faces, wattles, and earlobes, and males and females have distinct plumage patterns. Silkies are another popular bantam breed known for their fluffy, silky-soft plumage, black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot.

Chicken breeds by origin

Chicken breeds are classified based on their origin, purpose, and physical traits. While there are hundreds of chicken breeds, they can be broadly categorized into six classes based on their origin.

European Breeds

The Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers, one of the oldest bantam breeds, has been around since the 1600s. These birds have upright bodies, round breasts, and a profuse beard of feathers. The Booted Bantam, known as "Federfuflge Zwerghuhne" in German and "Sabelpoot" in Dutch, is another European breed. The Ancona chicken, originating in Italy, was developed in England in the 19th century and is known for its consistent plumage, with one in every three beetle-black feathers having a V-shaped white tip. The Gournay chicken, or "Le Poule de Gournay," from the upper Normandy region of France, is another European breed with ancient ancestry that may date back to the Viking Age.

North American Breeds

Wyandottes, developed in the 1880s, are named after a Native American tribe found in parts of upstate New York and Ontario, Canada. They come in various recognized color varieties, including Silver Laced, black, blue, buff, and golden laced.

Asian Breeds

The Serama bantam breed of chicken originated in Malaysia within the last 50 years. Small chickens have long been popular pets in the area, and the Serama is known for its small size and fearless personality.

British Breeds

The Sebright, one of England's oldest bantam breeds, was named after its creator, Sir John Sebright, in about 1800. They are considered ornamental due to their small size and beautifully laced plumage in silver or gold, but they do not lay many eggs.

Ancient Breeds

Scots Dumpies, an ancient Scottish breed, are believed to have existed 700 years ago. They have very short legs due to a dwarfing gene, giving them a unique waddling gait.

Indian Breeds

The Cornish, or "Indian Game," was developed by Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert of England, who intended to combine the power of an Aseel gamebird with the speed of an English gamebird.

Chicken breeds by size

Chicken breeds come in a variety of sizes, from teeny bantams to gentle giants. While there are countless different breeds, shapes, colours, and sizes of chicken, they can be broadly classified into two sizes: Large Fowl and Bantam. Bantams are miniature versions of large fowl, and not all breeds have a bantam version.

Some of the smallest chicken breeds include the Belgian Antwerp d'Anvers, a true bantam breed that has been around since the 1600s. Roosters of this breed weigh around 24 ounces, while hens weigh about 21 ounces. Another small breed is the Sebright, an English ornamental bantam breed from around 1800. Males of this breed weigh approximately 22 ounces, making them small even for a bantam.

On the larger side are breeds like the Malay, which is one of the tallest chicken breeds, reaching up to 3 feet in height. Males can weigh up to 9 pounds, while hens weigh around 7 pounds. The Shamo chicken from Japan also falls into the larger breed category, with O-Shamo roosters weighing about 12.4 pounds and hens weighing 7.5 pounds.

In between these extremes are breeds like the Brakel, a hardy and active medium-sized chicken. Hens of this breed lay relatively large eggs compared to their body size, producing 180-200 eggs per year. The Gournay chicken, originating from France, also falls into the medium-sized category, weighing between 4 and 7 pounds.

Frequently asked questions