List of chicken breeds
Encyclopedia
There are hundreds of chicken
breed
s in existence. Domesticated for thousands of years, distinguishable breeds of chicken have been present since the combined factors of geographical isolation and selection
for desired characteristics created regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits passed on to their offspring.
The physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds are size, plumage
color, comb
type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg
color, and place of origin. They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and with some considered to be dual-purpose.
In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standard
s set down by governing organizations. The most commonly used of such standards is the Standard of Perfection published by the American Poultry Association
(APA), the oldest livestock organization in the New World
. Others include European standards (especially British ones), and that of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam
fowl. Only some of the known breeds are included in these publications, and only those breeds are eligible to be shown
competitively. There are additionally a few hybrid strains which are common in the poultry world, especially in large poultry farms. These types are first generation crosses of true breeds. Hybrids do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring, but are highly valued for their producing abilities.
Bulgaria
Croatia
Indonesia
Romania
Serbia
South Africa
, have edible meat
, and possess a unique appearance. However, distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits. Any breed may technically be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use.
Many breeds were selected and are used primarily for producing eggs
, these are mostly light-weight birds whose hens do not go broody often.
market is currently monopolized by the Cornish-Rock (a hybrid of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock). Many smaller farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production.
The generalist breeds used in barnyards the world over are adaptable utility birds good at producing both meat and eggs. Though some may be slightly better for one of these purposes, they are usually called dual-purpose breeds.
, the breeding and competitive exhibition
of poultry
as a hobby, has grown to be a huge influence on chicken breeds. Many breeds have always been kept for ornamental purposes, and others have been shifted from their original use to become first and foremost exhibition fowl, even if they may retain some inherent utility. Since the sport of cockfighting has been outlawed in the developed world, most breeds first developed for this purpose, called game
fowl, are now seen principally in the show ring rather than the cock pit.
Most large chicken breeds have a bantam counterpart, sometimes referred to as a miniature. Miniatures are usually one-fifth to one-quarter the size of the standard breed, but they are expected to exhibit all of the standard breed's characteristics. A true bantam has no large counterpart, and is naturally small. The true bantams include:
Many common strains of cross-bred chickens exist, but none breed true or are recognized by poultry breed standard
s. Thus, though they are extremely common in flocks focusing on high productivity, cross-breeds do not technically meet the definition of a breed
. Most cross-breed strains are sex linked, allowing for easy chick sexing
.
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
breed
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
s in existence. Domesticated for thousands of years, distinguishable breeds of chicken have been present since the combined factors of geographical isolation and selection
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
for desired characteristics created regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits passed on to their offspring.
The physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds are size, plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
color, comb
Comb (anatomy)
Anatomically, a comb is a fleshy growth, caruncle, or crest on the top of the head of gallinaceous birds, most notably turkeys, pheasants, and domestic chickens...
type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
color, and place of origin. They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and with some considered to be dual-purpose.
In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standard
Breed standard
A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....
s set down by governing organizations. The most commonly used of such standards is the Standard of Perfection published by the American Poultry Association
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is the oldest poultry organization in the North America. Founded in 1873, and incorporated in Indiana in 1932 The first American poultry show was held in 1849, and the APA was later formed in response to the burgeoning need for an overseeing body to set standards...
(APA), the oldest livestock organization in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. Others include European standards (especially British ones), and that of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam
Bantam (chicken)
A bantam is a small variety of poultry, especially chickens. Etymologically, the name bantam is derived from the city of Bantam - currently known as "Banten Province" or previously "Banten Residency" - once a major seaport, in Indonesia...
fowl. Only some of the known breeds are included in these publications, and only those breeds are eligible to be shown
Livestock show
A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks,...
competitively. There are additionally a few hybrid strains which are common in the poultry world, especially in large poultry farms. These types are first generation crosses of true breeds. Hybrids do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring, but are highly valued for their producing abilities.
| Table of contents |
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By place of origin: Australia • Austria • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Chile • China • Croatia • Cuba • Czechia • Egypt • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Iceland • India • Indonesia • Iran • Italy • Japan • Korea • Kosovo • Malaysia • Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Pakistan • Philippines • Portugal • Romania • Russia • Serbia • Slovakia • South Africa • Spain • Switzerland • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States • Vietnam |
By primary use: Eggs • Meat • Dual-purpose • Exhibition |
Other: Bantams • Hybrids |
See also • Footnotes • References |
Australia
- AustralorpAustralorpThe Australorp is an Australian chicken breed.It is a large, soft-feathered bird which has two recognised colours according to the Australian Poultry Standard; black and blue. A third colour, white, is recognised by the Australorp Club of Australia but not the Australian Poultry Standard, as of the...
- Australian LangshanAustralian LangshanThe Australian Langshan is an Australian chicken breed, derived from the Croad Langshan and accepted by the Australian Poultry Standard as a recognized breed. The Australian Langshan is little known outside Australia but is a popular breed inside the country...
- Australian Pit Game
- Australian GameAustralian GameThe Australian Game is a breed of chicken developed in Australia at an unknown date, possibly the mid and late 19th century. They are alternatively known as Colonials, Aussie Game or sometimes just Aussies.-Origin:...
Belgium
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Campine (chicken) The Campine is a breed of chicken originating in Belgium's Campine region. They are a fairly small breed in Silver and Gold varieties, with solid white or golden hackles and iridescent black-green barred bodies. Hens and roosters are nearly identical in feather coloration. They will lay a fair... Brabanter The Brabanter is a Dutch breed of chicken originating in the historic region of Brabant which straddles Belgium and the Netherlands. The original form of the Brabanter went extinct in the early 20th century, but was re-created by 1920. Today, it is a rare breed which is practically non-existent... Braekel The Braekel or Brakel is one of the older European chicken breeds. Its history dates back to 1416, when it was mentioned as a successful poultry breed of the Brakel region, Belgium.... (Brakel) |
Brazil
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BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
- Black Shumen chickenBlack Shumen chickenBlack Shumen chicken is an old breed of chicken originating in Shumen region of Bulgaria. In the middle of the 20th century it was crossed with Minorca and Rhode Island red chickens.Nowadays it is considered to be a rare breed...
- Starozagorska red chickenStarozagorska red chickenStarozagorska red chicken is an old breed of chicken originating in Stara Zagora region in Bulgaria. In the middle of the 20th century it was crossed with local chikens of Stara Zagora and Rhode Island red chickens.Nowadays it is considered to be a rare breed...
China
- CochinCochin (chicken)The Cochin or Cochin China, originally known as the Chinese Shanghai, is a breed of chicken.The name Cochin came from the original Chinese name 九斤黄, meaning nine jin yellow, erroneously conflated with the then-current names for what are now parts of southern India and Vietnam, where jin is a...
- Croad LangshanCroad LangshanThe Croad Langshan is an old, heavy, soft-feathered chicken breed which probably originated in China.-Origin:The first recorded imports came from the Langshan District in 1872 and were undertaken by Major F.T...
- NankinNankin (chicken)The Nankin is a bantam breed of chicken. One of the true bantams, the breed is a naturally small fowl with no large counterpart from which it was miniaturized...
- Pekin
- SilkieSilkieThe Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as dark blue flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot...
CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
- Croatian Dwarf chicken (Hrvatska patuljasta kokoš)
- Dalmatian chicken (Dalmatinska kokoš)
- Hrvatican (Hrvatica)
- Križevac Crested chicken (Križevačka kukmasta kokoš)
- Sava Crested chicken (Posavska kukumasta kokoš)
- Slavonian Dwarf Naked Neck chicken (Slavonska patuljasta golovrata kokoš)
Czechia
- Czech gold brindled hen (Česká slepice zlatá kropenatá, Česká zlatá kropenka, Češka)
- Šumavanka
France
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Houdan (chicken) The Houdan is a breed of chicken native to France. Named after the city of Houdan, near Paris, it is an old breed.-Overview:It was first exported to England in 1850, and to North America in 1865, where it appeared in the first edition of the American Standard of Perfection in 1874... La Flèche (chicken) La Flèche is a very rare breed of chicken originating in France in the area of Le Mans, where this chicken is still famous for its meat.-Description:... Marans The Marans is a breed of chicken originating in France. It is a medium breed compared to others, popular for poultry shows and is a dual purpose fowl known both for its extremely dark eggs as well as for its very fine meat qualities.-Appearance:... |
Germany
- Annaberger chicken
- Augsburger chicken
- Bergischer Long CrowerBergischer Long CrowerBergische Long Crower is old German chicken breed.-Origin:The breed originated in the Bergisches Land in Germany. Its ancestors are Balkan long crowing chicken breeds which were imported into Germany from Balkans. Nowadays it is a rare breed. -Description:Birds are black with some gold feathers on...
- Bergischer Schlotterkamm
- Bielefelder
- Deutscher Sperber
- Deutsches Reichshuhn
- Dresdner chicken
- East Frisian GullEast Frisian GullThe East Frisian Gull is old hardy landrace of chicken. It is a rare breed. As of 2009, only 218 roosters and 972 hens were officially registered in Germany.-Origin:...
- German Faverolles
- German Langshan
- HamburgHamburg (chicken)The Hamburg or Hamburgh in Britain, is a type of chicken developed in Germany and Holland prior to 1700. It is comparatively rare, with less than 1000 registered in North America each year.-Appearance and behavior:...
- KraienköppeKraienkoppeThe Kraienköppe , also called the Twentse, is a breed of chicken originating on the border region between Germany and the Netherlands. The latter of the two names is the Dutch language version, while the former is German. Kraienköppe appear in two color varieties: Black-breasted Red and Silver...
(Twentse) - LakenvelderLakenvelder (chicken)Lakenvelders or Lakenfelders are a breed of chicken developed in the 1830’s in Germany despite their Dutch name. Characteristics of the breed are black head, collar, and tail, white body, white skin and slate colored legs. The Lakenvelder is a flighty breed that is a good forager if allowed to free...
- Niederrheiner chicken
- Pfalz chicken (Pfälzer Kampfhuhn)
- PhoenixPhoenix (chicken)The Phoenix is one of many breeds of chicken that resulted from European selective breeding of onagadori,. a long-tail fowl bred in Japan for a thousand years.They molt every year or every other year...
- Ramelsloher
- Rheinlander
- Saxonian Chickens
- Sundheimer chicken
- Thuringian Bearded chicken
- Vogtländer chicken
- VorwerkVorwerk (chicken)The Vorwerk is a breed of chicken originating in Germany. Though it is unrelated to the German company which produces the Vorwerk vacuum cleaner, it is the only chicken to share its name with a brand of household appliance...
- Westphalian chickenWestphalian chickenThe Westphalian chicken is an old hardy landrace of chicken, which is more than 400 years old. It is a rare breed. As of 2009, only 301 roosters and 1353 hens were officially registered.-Name:...
Greece
Source- Alonissos island Chicken
- Boufunes
- Curly Chicken Mutation
- Follidotes Chicken
- Greek Cuckoo spotted chicken
- Hooded Greek Chicken
- Chios Fighting Chicke
- Kalamata Chicken
- Komotini Long Crow Chicken
- Lesvos Dwarf Naked Necked Chicken
- Lesvos Fillianes Chicken
- Milos Island Chicken
- Pomak Fighting Chicken
India
- Giri Raja (The Mountain King)
- Kalinga Brown
- Mumbai Desi
- Grama Lakshmi
- Naati Kori(Kudla)
- KadaknathKadaknathThe Kadaknath is an Indian breed of chicken. It is local to the Madhya Pradesh area, where it is known as "Kali masi" . The Kadaknath is popular mainly for its adaptability, and the well-tasting black meat, which is believed to infuse vigor...
- Dwarf
- Control Broiler
- AseelAsil (chicken)The Asil or Aseel is a breed of chicken originating from South Punjab/ Sindh area of Pakistan and India. Similar fowl are found throughout Southeast Asia and have names like Shamo, Taiwan, etc....
- Dalhem Red
- Vanaraja (The Forest King)
- Gramapriya
- Punjab Broiler
- BrahmaBrahma (chicken)Brahmas are an Asiatic breed of chicken, originating in the Brahmaputra region in India where they were known as "Gray Chittagongs." Their heritage is unclear, but they are believed to be closely related to the Jungle Fowl and the Cochin....
- Nicobari
IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
- Ayam CemaniAyam CemaniAyam Cemani is a breed of chicken, originating in Indonesia. It is rarely kept breed.-Name:Ayam means chicken in Indonesian language and Cemani is name of village on Central Java.-Origin:...
- BekisarBekisarThe Bekisar, or Ayam Bekisar, is the first generation hybrid offspring of the Green Junglefowl and domesticated Red Junglefowl from Java...
(interspecific hybrid) - Sumatra (chicken)Sumatra (chicken)The Sumatra is a breed of chicken native of the island of Sumatra. Chickens were originally imported from Sumatra in 1847 to the U.S. and Europe for the purpose of cockfighting, but today the breed is primarily kept for exhibition...
- KeduAyam KeduAyam Kedu is a breed of chicken, originating in Indonesia. It is one of the ancestor of Ayam Cemani.-Name:Ayam means chicken in Indonesian language and Kedu is name of village on Kedu Plain on Central Java....
(nationally standardized) - Nunukan/Tawao
- Pelung (long-crower, locally standardized)
- Ketawa ("laughing" or staccato-crower, local bred from Rappang, South SulawesiSouth SulawesiSouth Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
) - Bali (naked-necked chicken)
Italy
- AnconaAncona (chicken)The Ancona is a breed of chicken originating in, and named after Ancona, Italy, but they have also been known in England since the late 19th century....
- Leghorn
- Sicilian Buttercup
Japan
- Japanese Bantam (or Chabo)
- Shamo (or Ko-Shamo)
- TomaruTomaruThe Tomaru is a breed of chicken originating in Japan, It appears in a single variety with black plumage. Tomarus are best known for their exceptionally long, musical crows , which can be sustained for up to 25 seconds....
- Totenko
- OnagadoriOnagadoriOnagadori is a breed of chicken originating Kōchi Prefecture of Japan. The Japanese government designates the breed in Kōchi as a Special Natural Monument....
Netherlands
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North Holland Blue The North Holland Blue is a breed of chicken originating in the province of North Holland. Created around the turn of the 20th century as laying breed, North Holland Blues come in single variety with black and white striped pattern called Cuckoo. North Holland Blues have quiet, docile temperaments,... Polish (chicken) The Polish is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers. The English language name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands... Welsummer Welsummer is a chicken breed originally from the small village of Welsum, in the eastern Netherlands.It was bred at the beginning of the 20th century from local fowls of mixed origin: Rhode Island Reds, Barnevelders, Partridge Leghorns, Cochins, and Wyandottes. In 1922-23 steps were taken to fix a... |
RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- Transylvanian Naked NeckNaked NeckThe Naked Neck is a breed of chicken that is naturally devoid of feathers on its neck and vent. The breed is also called the Transylvanian Naked Neck, as well as the Turken. Originally from Central Europe, it originated in Hungary and was largely developed in Germany. The name "Turken" arose from...
SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
- Banat Naked Neck (Banatski gološijan)
- Sombor chicken (Somborska kaporka)
- Svrljig chicken (Svrljiška kokoš)
South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
- Ovambo
- Potchefstroom KoekoekPotchefstroom KoekoekThe Potchefstroom Koekoek is a South African breed of chicken developed in the 1960s at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College in the city of Potchefstroom by Professor Chris Marais...
- Venda
Spain
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Penedesenca The Penedesenca is a breed of chicken originating in the Spanish province of Catalonia, in the area around Vilafranca del Penedès, which is the main town in the region known as "Penedès"...
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Switzerland
- AppenzellerAppenzeller (chicken)The Appenzeller is a breed of chicken originating in Appenzell region of Switzerland. The Appenzeller comes in two varieties. The Spitzhauben, meaning "pointed hood", has a V-comb and feather crests in males and females. The Barthuhner has a rose comb and no crest. Both types appear in either...
(Barthühner and Spitzhauben) - Schweizer chickenSchweizer chickenThe Schweizer chichen is a breed of chicken originating in Amriswil, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland. It is kept mainly in German-speaking areas of Switzerland, and its name is literally German for "Swiss chicken".-Origin:...
(Schweizerhuhn)
Sweden
- Hedemora (chicken)
- skånsk blomme (chicken)
- åsbo(chicken)
- ölands (chicken)
- gotlands (chicken)
- kinda (chicken)
- hedemora (chicken)
- orusthöna
- bohuslän-dals svart (chicken)
- gammalsvensk (Dwarf chicken)
- öländsk (dwarf ckicken)
United Kingdom
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Old English Game The Old English Game Fowl is a breed of chicken. Pure English Game Fowls are prized among Poultry breeders and thus fetch a high sale price. One of the types called standard Old Englishes are larger than the bantams and were originally bred for cockfighting... Old English Pheasant Fowl The Old English Pheasant Fowl is a rare breed of chicken originating in England. Despite its name, it is not a species of Pheasant, and is so named based merely on appearance. Mostly concentrated around Yorkshire and Lancashire, it was named and a breed club was formed in 1914. They are thought by... Orpington (chicken) The Orpington is a breed of chicken named after Orpington, England, which was made famous in part by this breed. Belonging to the English class of chickens, it was bred to be an excellent layer with good meat quality... Rosecomb The Rosecomb is a breed of chicken named for its distinctive comb. Rosecombs are bantam chickens, and are among those known as true bantams, meaning they are not a miniaturized version of a large fowl. Rosecombs are one of the oldest and most popular bantam breeds in showing, and thus have numerous... Scots Dumpy The Scots Dumpy is a breed of chicken from Scotland. The moniker dumpy, meaning short and stout, refers the breed's thick-set appearance and extremely short legs. Through history they have been known under a host of names such as: Bakies, Stumpies, Dadlies, Hoodies, or Creepies... Scots Grey The Scots Grey, originally titled the Scotch Grey, is a breed of chicken originating in Scotland. It is so named because of its striped plumage, which is called either Barred or Cuckoo by poultry enthusiasts. Though superficially similar to breeds such as the Cuckoo Marans and Barred Plymouth Rock,... Sebright (chicken) The Sebright is a breed of chicken named after its developer, Sir John Saunders Sebright. The Sebright is one of the oldest recorded British 'true' bantam , created in the 19th century through a selective breeding program designed to produce an ornamental breed... Sussex (chicken) The Sussex chicken is a dual purpose breed that originating in England around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43 that is a popular backyard chicken in many countries... |
United States
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Iowa Blue The Iowa Blue is a breed of chicken that originated near Decorah, Iowa in the early 20th century. Despite its name, the breed is not actually blue according to poultry standards. It is an exceedingly rare fowl, and is not recognized for showing by the American Poultry Association... Java (chicken) The Java is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. Despite the breed's name, which comes from the island of Java in Indonesia, it was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds,... Jersey Giant The Jersey Giant is a breed of chicken originating in the United States in the late 19th century by John and Thomas Black. The intent of the breed was the replace the turkey as the primary meat poultry breed. Named for their state of origin and their large size. Jersey Giants are largest purebred... Lamona The Lamona is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. It was developed in the early 20th century by Harry S. Lamon, who was the senior poultry expert at the Bureau of Animal Industry, an agency that was eventually replaced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research... Maiden Rock bantam The Maiden Rock bantam is a breed of chicken which originated near Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. It is an extremely cold hardy blue egg laying bantam with very small or non existent comb and wattles.-History:... McGraw (chicken) The McGraw is a breed of chicken that originated near Anderson, Alabama. The McGraw is a blue egg laying, cold hardy breed that excels in a free-range environment.-History:... New Hampshire (chicken) The New Hampshire breed of chicken originated in the state of New Hampshire in the United States. Poultry farmers, starting with Rhode Island Reds and performing generation after generation of selective breeding, intensified the characteristics of early maturity, rapid full feathering, and... Plymouth Rock (chicken) The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks , is a chicken breed that originated in the United States... (or Barred Rock, Rock) Rhode Island Red The Rhode Island Red is a breed of chicken . They are a utility bird, raised for meat and eggs, and also as show birds. They are a popular choice for backyard flocks because of their egg laying abilities and hardiness. Non-industrial strains of the Rhode Island Red are listed as recovering by the... Rhode Island White The Rhode Island White is a breed of chicken originating in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Despite their very similar names and shared place of origin, the Rhode Island White is a distinct breed from the Rhode Island Red... Winnebago (chicken) Winnebago is a 19th-century American chicken breed of unknown origin. It appears to have been a precursor to the modern Golden Wyandotte.In by John H... Wyandotte (chicken) The Wyandotte is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. The first examples of the breed appeared in 1870s. Wyandottes are a docile, dual-purpose breed kept for their brown eggs and for meat. They appear in a wide variety of color patterns, and are popular show birds. The Wyandotte... |
By primary use
All chickens lay eggsEgg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
, have edible meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
, and possess a unique appearance. However, distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits. Any breed may technically be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use.
Eggs
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
, these are mostly light-weight birds whose hens do not go broody often.
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Marans The Marans is a breed of chicken originating in France. It is a medium breed compared to others, popular for poultry shows and is a dual purpose fowl known both for its extremely dark eggs as well as for its very fine meat qualities.-Appearance:... Minorca (chicken) The Minorca is a breed of chicken originating in Spain. They are classified in the Mediterranean class by the American Poultry Association. They lay white eggs. Color varieties include buff, black, white with the British recognizing a blue phase. Minorcas mature quickly and begin crowing sooner... Orloff (chicken) The Orloff is a breed of chicken who is named after Alexey Grigoryevich Orlov, a Russian Count. Reflecting this moniker, it is sometimes called the Russian Orloff or simply Russian.... Penedesenca The Penedesenca is a breed of chicken originating in the Spanish province of Catalonia, in the area around Vilafranca del Penedès, which is the main town in the region known as "Penedès"... White-Faced Black Spanish The White-Faced Black Spanish is a Spanish breed of chicken. They are thought to be the oldest breed of fowl in the Mediterranean class. The British have records dating back to 1572 referring to this chicken. This breed was admitted into the American Poultry Association in 1874... Welsummer Welsummer is a chicken breed originally from the small village of Welsum, in the eastern Netherlands.It was bred at the beginning of the 20th century from local fowls of mixed origin: Rhode Island Reds, Barnevelders, Partridge Leghorns, Cochins, and Wyandottes. In 1922-23 steps were taken to fix a... |
Meat
Some breeds are preferred for meat alone, though the commercial broilerBroiler
A broiler is a type of chicken raised specifically for meat production. Modern commercial broilers, typically known as Cornish crosses or Cornish-Rocks are specially bred for large scale, efficient meat production and grow much faster than egg or traditional dual purpose breeds...
market is currently monopolized by the Cornish-Rock (a hybrid of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock). Many smaller farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production.
- BresseBresse (chicken)The Bresse is a breed of chicken originating from the Bresse area of the Rhône-Alpes region of France.-Overview:The birds are highly valued for their gamey depth of flavour, yet with fine, tender flesh and delicious, clean-flowing fat. Roughly 1.2 million are raised annually, but such is the...
- Indian Game (or Cornish Game)
- IxworthIxworth (chicken)The Ixworth is a breed of chicken originating in the village of Ixworth in Suffolk, England. It is a dual-purpose fowl that comes in single, white-feathered variety. Developed in 1932, it was created from crosses of the white types of Sussex, Minorca, Orpington and Indian Game chickens. With the...
- Jersey GiantJersey GiantThe Jersey Giant is a breed of chicken originating in the United States in the late 19th century by John and Thomas Black. The intent of the breed was the replace the turkey as the primary meat poultry breed. Named for their state of origin and their large size. Jersey Giants are largest purebred...
Dual-purpose
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Naked Neck The Naked Neck is a breed of chicken that is naturally devoid of feathers on its neck and vent. The breed is also called the Transylvanian Naked Neck, as well as the Turken. Originally from Central Europe, it originated in Hungary and was largely developed in Germany. The name "Turken" arose from... New Hampshire (chicken) The New Hampshire breed of chicken originated in the state of New Hampshire in the United States. Poultry farmers, starting with Rhode Island Reds and performing generation after generation of selective breeding, intensified the characteristics of early maturity, rapid full feathering, and... Norfolk Grey The Norfolk Grey is a breed of chicken that originated in the city of Norwich, in Norfolk, England. They were created by Fred Myhill before the First World War as utility birds under the name Black Marias. The name was unfortunately reminiscent of funerals and was quickly dropped and the breed took... Orpington (chicken) The Orpington is a breed of chicken named after Orpington, England, which was made famous in part by this breed. Belonging to the English class of chickens, it was bred to be an excellent layer with good meat quality... Plymouth Rock (chicken) The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks , is a chicken breed that originated in the United States... Poltava (chicken) The Poltava is an old Ukrainian dual-purpose breed of chicken named after the Ukrainian city of Poltava. It includes three color varieties: Clay, Cuckoo, and Black.- Breed and variety names :* Ukrainian Names: полтавська... Red Shaver The Red Shaver is a sex linked breed of chicken developed in Canada. Pullets are reddish-brown in colour with white underfeathers, while males are white with a few red markings on the feathers. It is a hardy, dual-purpose breed laying brown eggs and dressing out between three and five pounds. They... Rhode Island Red The Rhode Island Red is a breed of chicken . They are a utility bird, raised for meat and eggs, and also as show birds. They are a popular choice for backyard flocks because of their egg laying abilities and hardiness. Non-industrial strains of the Rhode Island Red are listed as recovering by the... Rhode Island White The Rhode Island White is a breed of chicken originating in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Despite their very similar names and shared place of origin, the Rhode Island White is a distinct breed from the Rhode Island Red... Scots Dumpy The Scots Dumpy is a breed of chicken from Scotland. The moniker dumpy, meaning short and stout, refers the breed's thick-set appearance and extremely short legs. Through history they have been known under a host of names such as: Bakies, Stumpies, Dadlies, Hoodies, or Creepies... Scots Grey The Scots Grey, originally titled the Scotch Grey, is a breed of chicken originating in Scotland. It is so named because of its striped plumage, which is called either Barred or Cuckoo by poultry enthusiasts. Though superficially similar to breeds such as the Cuckoo Marans and Barred Plymouth Rock,... Sussex (chicken) The Sussex chicken is a dual purpose breed that originating in England around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43 that is a popular backyard chicken in many countries... Winnebago (chicken) Winnebago is a 19th-century American chicken breed of unknown origin. It appears to have been a precursor to the modern Golden Wyandotte.In by John H... Wyandotte (chicken) The Wyandotte is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. The first examples of the breed appeared in 1870s. Wyandottes are a docile, dual-purpose breed kept for their brown eggs and for meat. They appear in a wide variety of color patterns, and are popular show birds. The Wyandotte... |
Exhibition
Since the 19th century, poultry fancyAnimal fancy
Animal fancy is a hobby involving the appreciation, promotion, or breeding of pet or domestic animals.Fancy may include ownership, showing, trialling and other competitions, breeding and judging. Hobbyists may simply collect specimens of the animal in appropriate enclosures, such as aquaria and...
, the breeding and competitive exhibition
Livestock show
A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks,...
of poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
as a hobby, has grown to be a huge influence on chicken breeds. Many breeds have always been kept for ornamental purposes, and others have been shifted from their original use to become first and foremost exhibition fowl, even if they may retain some inherent utility. Since the sport of cockfighting has been outlawed in the developed world, most breeds first developed for this purpose, called game
Gamecock
A gamecock or game fowl is a type of rooster with physical and behavioral traits suitable for cockfighting. Game fowl are more closely related to their wild cousins "jungle fowl"; a shy wild chicken from forests in South Central and Southeastern Asia...
fowl, are now seen principally in the show ring rather than the cock pit.
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U denotes a breed primarily used for exhibition, but which is still used for utility purposes. |
G denotes a game breed. |
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Nankin (chicken) The Nankin is a bantam breed of chicken. One of the true bantams, the breed is a naturally small fowl with no large counterpart from which it was miniaturized... Old English Game The Old English Game Fowl is a breed of chicken. Pure English Game Fowls are prized among Poultry breeders and thus fetch a high sale price. One of the types called standard Old Englishes are larger than the bantams and were originally bred for cockfighting... G Phoenix (chicken) The Phoenix is one of many breeds of chicken that resulted from European selective breeding of onagadori,. a long-tail fowl bred in Japan for a thousand years.They molt every year or every other year... Polish (chicken) The Polish is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers. The English language name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands... U Rosecomb The Rosecomb is a breed of chicken named for its distinctive comb. Rosecombs are bantam chickens, and are among those known as true bantams, meaning they are not a miniaturized version of a large fowl. Rosecombs are one of the oldest and most popular bantam breeds in showing, and thus have numerous... Serama The Serama , also called the Malaysian Serama is a bantam breed of chicken originating in Malaysia within the last 50 years.-History:... Silkie The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as dark blue flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot... Sultan (chicken) The Sultan is a breed of chicken originating in Turkey. Its English moniker is directly culled from the original Turkish language name of Serai-Tavuk, which translates as "fowls of the Sultan". They have always been primarily ornamental, having been kept in the gardens of Ottoman sultanate... Sumatra (chicken) The Sumatra is a breed of chicken native of the island of Sumatra. Chickens were originally imported from Sumatra in 1847 to the U.S. and Europe for the purpose of cockfighting, but today the breed is primarily kept for exhibition... Vorwerk (chicken) The Vorwerk is a breed of chicken originating in Germany. Though it is unrelated to the German company which produces the Vorwerk vacuum cleaner, it is the only chicken to share its name with a brand of household appliance... U Yokohama (chicken) The Yokohama is a breed of chicken that originated from Japanese breeds. Yokohama is not where the breed originated, but it is the port where a French Missionary named Girad first exported the breed to Europe where further breeding would create the Yokohama known today.It was developed from two... |
Bantams
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Nankin (chicken) The Nankin is a bantam breed of chicken. One of the true bantams, the breed is a naturally small fowl with no large counterpart from which it was miniaturized... Rosecomb The Rosecomb is a breed of chicken named for its distinctive comb. Rosecombs are bantam chickens, and are among those known as true bantams, meaning they are not a miniaturized version of a large fowl. Rosecombs are one of the oldest and most popular bantam breeds in showing, and thus have numerous... Serama The Serama , also called the Malaysian Serama is a bantam breed of chicken originating in Malaysia within the last 50 years.-History:... Silkie The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as dark blue flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot... |
Cross-breeds
See also :Category:Chicken hybridsMany common strains of cross-bred chickens exist, but none breed true or are recognized by poultry breed standard
Breed standard
A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....
s. Thus, though they are extremely common in flocks focusing on high productivity, cross-breeds do not technically meet the definition of a breed
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
. Most cross-breed strains are sex linked, allowing for easy chick sexing
Chick sexing
Chick sexing is the method of distinguishing the sex of chicken and other hatchlings, usually by a trained person called a chick sexer or chicken sexer...
.
- Black Sex Link (also called Black Stars)
- Red Sex Link (also called Red Stars)
- ISA BrownISA BrownThe ISA Brown is a hybrid type of Sex Link chicken, which is the result of crossing Rhode Island Reds and Rhode Island Whites. The ISA Brown is a hybrid, not a true breed...
- Lohmann Brown
- Daisy BelleDaisy BelleDaisy Belles are a hybrid breed of chicken developed from the Rhode Island Red and the Sussex. They are also known by other hybrid breeders as Pied Sussex, Merrydale Pied and etc. All of the above are basically the same hybrid, but with a different name from each breeder.-Breed details:The breed...
- Cream LegbarCream LegbarThe Cream Legbar is an autosexing type of chicken. This means that you can tell the sex of the chick at hatch, and they breed true. The Cream Legbar originated as a cross between Brown Leghorns and Barred Rock with some Araucana blood in them. This is reflected in the crest and the blue eggs that...
- Cornish-Rock
- Easter EggerEaster EggerAn Easter Egger is any chicken that possesses the "blue egg" gene, but doesn't fully meet any breed description as defined in the American Poultry Association and/or the American Bantam Association standards. The name derives from the resemblance of their colorful eggs to Easter eggs...
- BroilerBroilerA broiler is a type of chicken raised specifically for meat production. Modern commercial broilers, typically known as Cornish crosses or Cornish-Rocks are specially bred for large scale, efficient meat production and grow much faster than egg or traditional dual purpose breeds...
See also
- List of birds
- List of duck breeds
- List of goose breeds
- List of turkey breeds
- Chickens as petsChickens as petsKeeping chickens as pets has become increasingly popular over the years among urban and suburban residents. Most chickens are kept on farms for the agricultural production of meat and eggs but some chickens are kept as pets for entertainment and educational reasons, along with homegrown eggs and...
External links
- List of fancy chicken breeds at poultryhub.org
- Chicken Breeds at feathersite.com
- Chicken Breed Selector Tool at mypetchicken.com
- Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart
- Main Breed Chart at backyardchickens.com
- Many pictures of Chicken Breeds at kippenencyclopedie.nl