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Henderson's Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart An Alphabetical List of More than 60 Chicken Breeds With Comparative Information A |B |C |D |F |H|J |L |M |N|P |R|S |W We have had personal experience with only a couple dozen of the breeds and varieties on this list. The birds from our flock, past or present, are those listed with illustrations and "Our Birds" comments. Chicken Resources: Information on Breeds, Advice for Small Flock Owners, and more. Why another chicken page? NOTES: This page loads slowly with dial-up connections (Sorry). If the table does not fit on your screen, expand page to full screen and decrease font size. Sage Hen Farm is not a hatchery. The information is provided for educational purposes only. We do not sell chicks or hatching eggs.

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

APA (1984): South American. May Black, Blue, BlueLarge: All Other or may not be various wheaten, Brown-red, Bantam: All Other genetically related to shades the Araucana. In preof blue Ameraucana Buff, Silver, Wheaten, Clean Legged & White PC: Not Columbian Chile, there & FS PB club recognized are several different blueblue egg-laying green Easter Eggers are chicken breeds, none common. Standard Layer called Araucana. The chipmunky Ameraucanas are average to Fancy: blue-egger. rare. above Muffed, Bearded Standardized & accepted into APA in average 88%/8% (EEs/pure) 1984. Most hatcheries,

Comb Skin color Earlobes pea

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

occasional brooder (none of white with ours has) slate colored very cold hardy shanks moderately early red maturing

Behavior

well adaptable to confinement or free range; mostly calm, non-aggressive Our Birds [mostly mongrel Easter Eggers]: a few have been among the most curious & most easily handled birds we have owned. Others have been PDFmyURL.com

Standard: 5.5 lb/2.5 kg Bantam: 1.6 lb/0.75 kg

Ancona FS OK Om AR PP box PB

Black mottled, only Rather rare & in decline. 40%

Much like a leghorn, with Standard: black mottling. 4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam: 1.5 lb/0.7 kg Blue

Still popular as a Andalusian show bird. FS OK PP box 32% GO PB

The original blue.

Standard: 5.5 lb/2.4 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg

however, sell Easter Egg chickens with mixed breeding that may lay blue, green (or other colored) eggs, but do not conform to standard. APA (1898): Developed in Italy in Large: mid-19th century white to Mediterranean probably from leghorns light cream Bantam: Single sporting mottled Comb Clean feathers. Once rivaled Legged the Leghorn in Europe, PC: Soft Feather but never caught on in below average Light North America. Layer APA (1874): Large: Mediterranean Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Light, Rare Layer Fancy: Blue feathered

Developed in Spain & England in mid-19th century. Studied by chalk to Gregor Mendel in creamy white experiments in genetics & heredity. Blue color does not breed true. Black & Splash (White) are necessary for breeding, but are not permitted to be shown.

above average

Others have been calm, nonaggressive, but stand-offish. We wouldn't have a flock without them. single, non-setter also rose generally hardy; yellow skin very cold hardy & shanks except for combs white

early maturing hens

prefers free range; nervous & restless in confinement; flyer; active, flighty, marked wildness, avoids human contact

single

mostly a non-setter semi-adaptable to confinement, but white skin, heat tolerant; prefers free range; slate blue combs subject to active, flighty, noisy, shanks frostbite; ours were avoids human not robust, but that contact white may not be representative of Our Birds: ours, received as adults, the breed. never fit in well with the rest of the flock early maturing & were nervous all the time. Our one cock crowed louder than any other we've ever had. We've been hesitant to try them again, but we might, since they are such beautiful birds. PDFmyURL.com

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Appenzeller Spitzhauben (Pointed APA: Not or Appenzell Hood) recognized FS OKb OKs Om & PC: Soft Feather PP box GOb GOs Barthuhner (Bearded) Light The national breed of Layer Switzerland. Spitzhauben available but Fancy: Barthuhner practically Crested unknown or Bearded 8%/0% (sptz/brthr)

Origins

Developed in Switzerland centuries ago. The name is thought to derive from the lace bonnets of the Appenzeller region.

Egg color & productivity; egg size

white average

Comb Skin color Earlobes

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

Behavior

horn, Vshaped, duplex

can be broody

blueish white

early maturing

pea

good, or frequent, well adaptable to brooder confinement or free range; calm, noncold hardy aggressive

very cold hardy, except may have white skin, problems blue with freezing crest shanks feathers

not very tolerant of close confinement; flyer; active, flighty

4 lb/1.8 kg Araucana or Rumpless Black, White, Black Araucana Breasted Red, Blue, FS OK PP box Buff, Silver GO PB club

The rumpless, tufted blue- Purebreds are very rare. egger. 0% Standard: 5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam: 1.4 lb/0.65 kg

Black, White, Duckwing, Red Aseel or Asil Spangled, Pyle, FS AR Om PP others box GO PB

APA (1976): Introduced from Chile Large: All Other in 1921, from one of blue Bantam: All Other several different blue only Clean Legged egg-laying chicken PC: Light, Rare breeds, none called Araucana there. Likely below average that some Layer "mongrelization" Fancy: occurred before Rumpless standardization. Truest Ear Tufts bred carry a "lethal gene" which is also connected to the tufting characteristic. Standards differ from country to country. APA: Developed in India Large: All Other more than 2000 years lightly PC: Hard Feather ago, perhaps even tinted Heavy 3500 years ago. productive Thought to be the

yellow skin, willow shanks

moderately early maturing

red

small pea can be broody, protective mothers yellow skin & shanks hardy, but not feathered for cold

bears confinement better than most other game breeds; extremely fierce & pugnacious, but PDFmyURL.com

Very rare. 4%

Game

Ancient Indian Standard: 5 lb/2.2 kg athlete. Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg Australorp or Black, only APA (1929): Black (standard); also blue Large: English Australorp & white Bantam: Single FS OK Om PP Comb Clean AR box GO Legged Common The egg-laying PC: Soft Feather 88% champion table Heavy bird from Oz Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Dual Purpose Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg

Thought to be the breed from which the Cornish was primarily developed.

over short season

below average

Developed in 20th century in Australia, primarily from the Orpington. Gained notoriety when one hen in the 1920s laid a record 364 eggs in 365 days. That performance has never been matched by subsequent Australorps.

single brown average

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Double-laced, Blue- APA (2001): laced, White, Black, Large: others Continental PC: Soft Feather Barnevelder Heavy FS OK Om PP Little known until box GO

recently. Famous for 4% large dark brown eggs. Standard: 6-7 lb/2.7-3.2 kg Bantam: 2.25 lb/1.0 kg

Dual Purpose

red

feathered for cold pugnacious, but winters; very hardy docile & easily in high heat handled when away from other cocks slow to mature

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Developed in late 19th century and early 20th very dark century in Holland for reddish dark egg laying. brown, Developed from an with matte older local variety that finish may date as early as average to the 12th century. In above recent history, some strains have been bred average for show and others for the darkness of their eggs.

great brooder (or annoyingly too frequent brooder); white skin, good mother dark shanks very hardy; very cold hardy red moderately early maturing

Comb Skin color Earlobes

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, docile; more easily handled

Behavior

single

mixed reports on well adaptable to setting & brooding confinement or free yellow skin range; calm, docile & less cold hardy; Our Birds: ours fit shanks developed in region known for in well with the flock, red damp conditions but shied away with human contact. Ours laid reddish brown slow to mature, & some chicks can eggs, but most were not especially dark. be easily bullied None currently in our flock, we will likely try them again. PDFmyURL.com

Belgian D'Anver, or Antwerp Belgian, Barbu d'Anvers

14 recognized, including Quail, Porcelain, Black, Blue, Buff, Cuckoo, Mille Fleur, White, Mottled

FS AR PP box

APA (1949): Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: True Bantam Bantam Bearded

Developed in Anver region of Belgium many decades ago. Rumpless versions are called De Grubbe. Breed is often referred to simply as the Quail bantam, after the most popular variety.

Uncommon The bearded 33% bantam. True bantam: 1.3 lb/0.6 kg Belgian Mille Fleur, Porcelain, APA (1914): First bred in Uccle D'Uccle or Black, Buff, White, Bantam: Feather (Belgium) before 1900 Barbu Blue Mottled, Splash, Legged by Michel Van Gelder. d'Uccle Golden Neck, others PC: True Bantam / Breed is often referred FS AR PP box Rare to simply as Mille club Fleur, the most One of the most popular variety. popular bantams Bantam 93% Bearded The bearded, Feather Footed booted bantam True bantam: 1.3 lb/0.55 kg Black, Blue, Buff, APA: Mille Fleur, Porcelain, Bantam: Feather FS PP box club White, Mottled, others Legged PC: True Bantam, Rare Very rare The booted, 0% unbearded Bantam bantam True bantam: Feather Footed 1.4 lb/0.65 kg Booted or Sabelpoot

One of the more ancient bantams; developed in the Netherlands.

creamy white

tiny

creamy white

tiny

creamy white

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen

Class and Type

small great brooder (or single with annoyingly too large frequent brooder) spikes hardy; because of fancy white skin feathering, & shanks not suited for foul weather white

Origins

Egg color & productivity;

tolerates confinement; fliers; calm, cocks less aggressive than other banties

very slow to mature for full coloring single great brooder (or tolerates annoyingly too confinement; fliers; white skin frequent brooder) hens calm, cocks & shanks can be aggressive hardy bright red some reports indicate chicks difficult to rear

tiny

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and

try them again. rose good, or frequent, active, flyer; hens brooder calm, cocks can be white skin, aggressive dark robust shanks chicks difficult to white rear

Comb Skin color

Brooding Hardiness

Behavior PDFmyURL.com

images and more information)

weigh? Light, Dark, Buff

Less common. 48%/20% (light/all FS OK Om AR other) PP box GO PB Brahma club

Large and regal.

Standard: 9 lb/4.1 kg Bantam: 2.6 lb/1.2 kg

egg size APA (1874): Large: Asiatic Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy

Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] Fancy: Feather Footed, outside only

Origin has been in dispute for more than a century and a half. Introduced in mid-19th century (whether first to New York City or London is also in question). Probably imported from the port city of Shanghai, but may have originated in Chinda, India, or elsewhere in the East Indies. Another claim is that the breed was developed in the United States using Cochins, Malays, and Dorkings. For more information on the origins, see Lewis Wright's 1873 monograph on the Brahma fowl.

color Earlobes

Maturing

pea

brown

average

good, or frequent, adaptable to brooder confinement or free yellow skin range; mostly & robust; very hardy gentle; more easily shanks in heat & cold handled. red

slow to mature

Our Birds: some hens were among the gentlest birds we've owned; one rooster became too aggressive toward humans and other chickens in his older age. Some hens ate a lot, got fat, and never laid that many eggs, and we do not currently have any in our flock.

Before the name Brahma was settled on, they were also called Chittagongs, Shanghais (as were the Cochins), and Brahmapootras. Since the Brahmaputra River flows through China, India, and Bangladesh, even the name doesn't PDFmyURL.com

help shed light.

Nut brown, only Very rare. 12% Buckeye FS OK AL

Buckeye brown bird from the Buckeye state.

6.5 lb/2.9 kg

Was once the largest breed of chicken. APA (1904): Developed by Mrs. Large: American Nettie Metcalf of PC: Not Warren, Ohio, in late recognized 19th century. Never widely popular. Dual Purpose

pea varies to brown

can be broody

yellow skin very cold hardy & shanks moderately slow red maturing

average

Buttercup or Golden, only APA (1918): Developed in Sicily, in buttercup non-setter Sicilian Large: mid-19th century. Buttercup Mediterranean yellow skin heat tolerant; white Rare, even as a show FS OK Om PP PC: Light, Rare & combs subject to bird box PB shanks frostbite 36% below average Known for its Layer comb. white early maturing, 5 lb/2.3 kg Fancy: but full comb takes Large buttercup longer comb Breed Comb (with links to Varieties / Rarity / Egg color & Brooding Skin other sites with What's a hen Class and Type Origins productivity; Hardiness images and color weigh? egg size Maturing more Earlobes

adaptable to confinement, very adaptable to free range; calm, docile; can be curious; more easily handled. Our Birds: some have been among the "friendliest." Perhaps because of docileness, none have risen high in the pecking order. Our first Buckeye hens were low producers, but more recent hens have been much better. does not do well in close confinement; very fidgety; active, flighty, wild even for a Mediterrean breed; avoids human contact

Behavior

information)

PDFmyURL.com

Golden, Silver Uncommon. 40%/32% FS OK PP box (golden/silver) RB

Campine

Beautiful bird 5 lb/2.2 kg with unique pencilling.

APA (1914): Large: Continental Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Light

May have ancient ancestry, but refined & further developed in Belgium in the 19th century. Braekel is a closely related European breed.

large single white average

Layer Fancy: Some males are henfeathered

Catalana

Buff

FS OK box PB

Very rare. The most 8% popular breed of South 6 lb/2.7 kg America.

Chantecler FS OK box

White, Partridge

APA (1949): Large: Mediterranean Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Not recognized

Developed in Spain in late 19th century as a meat & egg bird.

Layer APA (1921): Developed in Canada Large: American in early 20th century by

white to light tint average

non-setter

economical eater; semi-adaptable to hardy; comb confinement, but white skin, subject to frostbite prefers free range; blue flyer; alert, lively; can shanks quick feathering be curious; some but late maturing are rather wild, white others can be quite tolerant of humans Our Birds: one hen free ranges even to lay eggs -- never in a standard nesting area. Our cock refused to be confined when we tried to initate a breeding program. Some have been "friendly" enough to eat out of a hand or be a garden companion. Our favorites among the white egg layers. single non-setter less tolerant of close confinement; yellow skin very hardy in heat active, vigorous, & avoids human shanks early maturing contact white

cushion brown

frequent brooder; bears confinement good mother well; calm, docile, PDFmyURL.com

FS OK box

Canada's breed.

Bantam: All Other Brother Wilfred as a Extremely rare. Rare Clean Legged good meat & egg bird even in Canada. PC: Not that could stand the 8% recognized extreme cold. 6.5 lb/2.9 kg

yellow skin extremely cold average to & shanks hardy above

average

red

early maturing

Dual Purpose

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Buff, White, Black, & APA (1874): Partridge Large: Asiatic FS OK Om AR Bantam: Feather PP box GO PB Legged club Still popular as a PC: Soft feather show bird. Heavy 64% Cochin

Standard: Fancy: Big ball of fluff 8.5 lb/3.8 kg Feather Footed, and feathers. Bantam (aka Pekin): fully 1.3 lb/.6 kg Cornish or White, Dark, White

APA (1893):

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Introduced from China in early 19th century. tinted or Originally known as the yellowy Shanghai (a name brown also used for the below average Brahma). The breed that launched interest in poultry shows. Pekins are recognized as a separate bantam breed in some countries, rather than as bantam Cochins. Developed in Cornwall

Comb Skin color Earlobes

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

small single

excellent brooder (or exceedingly annoying as a too yellow skin frequent brooder); & shanks good mother; often used as a red foster mother

although there are reports of skittishness. Our Birds: our partridges have blended in so well they remained rather anonymous for a long time. One was a successful mother hen and returned to the flock only to go broody again immediately. We have two now and both have been broody much of their second year. Behavior

well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, docile; more easily handled

robust, cold hardy slow to mature pea

can be broody;

easily contained; PDFmyURL.com

Indian Game Laced, Red, Buff FS OK Om AR PP box GO

Uncommon, 40%

Famed meat bird, especially Standard: when crossed. 8 lb/3.6 kg Bantam: 2.6 lb/1.2 kg Crevecoeur Black FS OK PP box

Is it beautiful Very rare. and elegant, or 16% just peculiarlooking? 6.5 lb/3 kg

Large: English in 19th century. Now Bantam: All Other principally used Clean Legged commercially for cross PC: Hard Feather breeding purposes for Heavy Cornish X Rock.

light brown

below average

Meat Game or Other APA (1874): Developed in Large: Normandy, perhaps Continental before the 18th Bantam: All Other century. Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare

white average

Fancy: Crested Bearded & muffed Black-Breasted Red, APA (1939): White, Black Large:All Other PC: Not recognized Practically unknown outside the Cuba's fighting Caribbean until Game meat bird. recently. 20% Cubalaya

FS AL OK GO

Developed in Cuba in 19th century from Phillipine or Indonesian stock.

white

below average

protective mother less active; very yellow skin docile for a game & shanks cold hardy bird, noisy, can be docile or aggressive red moderately early maturing

horn, Vshaped, duplex

non-setter

because of fancy feathering, white skin, not suited for foul dark weather; shanks may have problems with red freezing crest [hidden by feathers feathers] pea great, or very frequent, brooder white skin & shanks not feathered for cold winters; very white hardy in heat

suited for close (and dry) confinement; active; can be aggressive

needs to be active; less tolerant of close confinement; aggressive, noisy

slow to mature

4.5 lb/2 kg Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh? White [Columbian]

Class and Type

Origins

APA (1952): Developed by George Large: American Ellis in 1940 in

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Comb Skin color Earlobes single

medium

Brooding Hardiness Maturing can be broody

Behavior

well adaptable to confinement or free PDFmyURL.com

Rare. 32% Delaware

Standard: A broiler cross 6.5 lb/2.9 kg that became a Bantam: 1.8 lb./0.8 kg breed. FS OK AL

Dominique Barred only or Dominiker FS OK GO PP Rare, but now has club

new interest. Claimant to title 52% "America's first breed." Standard: 5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam: 1.5 lb/0.7 kg Silver Gray, White, Colored Dorking

FS OK Om AR PP box GO RB club

Extremely rare. 16%/4% (silver/all other)

Short legged, Standard: very ancient, 6.5 lb/2.2 kg very English. Bantam: 1.0 lb/0.8 kg

11 recognized, FS Om PP including Light

Dutch

Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Not recognized Dual Purpose

medium Delaware while to rich experimenting with brown crossing breeds for broilers. An off-colored sport of a Barred Rock well above / New Hampshire average cross that bred true.

Unknown in most of the world. APA (1874): Developed in New Large: American England in early 19th Bantam: Rose century. Not Comb Clean distinguished from the Legged Barred Rock until APA PC: Soft Feather Standards were Heavy, Rare developed. Most modern Dominiques may be traced to stock developed by A. Q. Dual Purpose Carter after 1900. APA (1874): Ancient; believed to Large: English have been introduced Bantam: Single to England by Romans Comb Clean -- based primarily on a Legged description by a PC: Soft feather Roman writer of a Heavy chicken with five toes. Dual Purpose Fancy: Five-Toed Short legs

APA (1992): Bantam: Single

Developed in the Netherlands, perhaps

brown average

yellow skin robust; hardy in & heat & cold shanks early maturing red

range; calm, docile.

rose

well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm mostly, but more flighty than other dual purpose breeds

good. or frequent, brooder; good yellow skin mother & shanks robust; cold hardy red

rose & single

early maturing

great brooder (or annoyingly too frequent brooder); creamy white skin good mother white to & light tint shanks less hardy in general, below average red but cold hardy to average chicks delicate & slow to mature

single light

Our Birds: Where ours have stood out has been for decent productivity of very large eggs.

adaptable to confinement or free range; calm; docile; stately or awkward; fattens easily; more easily handled

Our Birds: first batch were quiet calm, but next generation included at least one very flighty hen. One hen has been particularly broody. good, or frequent, tolerates brooder; confinement; fliers; PDFmyURL.com

box RF

The littlest bantam.

Brown, White, Black, Comb Clean from Dutch East Indies Blue, Blue Light Legged stock. Introduced to Brown, Silver PC: True Bantam North America after WWII, declined, reintroduced in the 70s Rare. Bantam & 80s. 0%

tint

tiny

white skin protective mother & white or blue hardy shanks slow to mature white

active, lively, cocks have been compared to snapping turtles

True bantam: 1.0 lb/0.45 kg Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh? Salmon, White

Once rare, but Faverolles gaining popularity. FS OK Om PP 44%

AR PP box club

The French Poodle of chicken breeds.

Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1.0 kg

Fayoumi or Gold & silver Egyptian penciled Fayoumi FS PP

Still rare. Precocious 36% scavenger and escape artist. 3.5 lb/1.6 kg

Class and Type

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

APA (1914): Developed in France Large: in early 19th century. Continental Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy

average

Dual Purpose Fancy: Bearded & muffed Feather footed, outside only Five-Toed APA: Not Ancient Egyptian recognized origins; only recently PC: Soft feather spread to the rest of Light the world.

off-white to light tint

Layer

Comb Skin color Earlobes small single

creamy tint

Brooding Hardiness Maturing can be broody

cold hardy; white skin because of fancy & feathering, shanks not suited for foul weather red [hidden by early maturing feathers]

single

non-setter

white skin, very hardy; dark excellent hot below average shanks weather bird white

Behavior

bears confinement well; alert; calm; very docile; genteel; prone to bullying by others Our Birds: ours have not thrived well in the competition with mixed flock. Probably won't replace them when the last one is gone. very economical eater; does not like containment; lively; flighty, known for wildness

quick feathering & very early maturing PDFmyURL.com

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Silver-Spangled, Golden-Spangled, Golden-Penciled, Hamburg or Silver-Penciled, Hamburgh White, Black FS OK AR PP box GO

The spritely, Less common. 56%/24% (slvrlittle "everyday spng/all other) layer."

Class and Type

Origins

APA (1874): Large: Continental Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light

Developed in Holland (not Germany) before 1700; may be ancient. Historical names include Pheasants, Moonies, Crescents, Corals & Everlayers

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Comb Skin color Earlobes

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

rose

non-setter (or very very economical rarely broody) eater; likes wide white skin, range; less tolerant low-gloss slate blue hardy; cold hardy of close white shanks confinement; high very early maturing flyer; very flighty; white spritely, active; below average mostly avoids human contact

Layer

Standard: 4 lb/1.8 kg Bantam: 1.5 lb/0.7 kg

Holland or American Holland

White & Barred Rare.

APA (1949): Established in 1949 as Large: American an improved, yellow Bantam: Single skinned, heavy breed

Behavior

single white

can be broody

yellow skin cold hardy

Our Birds: ours have been very economical eaters, and in their prime laid well; even though smaller than most other hens, they have held their own in a mixed flock. We have one hen left that was eight years old as of spring 2009. Because small white eggs are not especially popular with most customers, we probably won't be getting more. well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, good PDFmyURL.com

FS OK AL

The calm white-egger.

Houdan

Rare. 12% 6.5 lb/2.9 kg

White, Mottled

FS OK Om PP box

Uncommon. The crested 32% French bird with big eyes. Standard: 6-7 lb/2.7-3.2 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg

Comb Clean Legged PC: Not recognized

with white eggs. Unknown in Holland & most of the rest of world.

Dual Purpose APA (1874): Developed in France Large: before 1700, possibly Continental as a cross between Bantam: All Other Polish and Dorking or Clean Legged related breeds. PC: Heavy, Rare Dual Purpose Fancy: Crested Bearded Five-Toed

average

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Japanese or Black, White, Black Chabo (and Tailed, Birchen, still called Japs Mottled, others

in some parts of the world) FS AR Om PP box club

Popular 86%

The short- True bantam: legged, low- 1.3 lb/0.6 kg built, squirreltailed bantam. Java

FS OK AL

Black, Mottled

moderately slow maturing

leaf (or V) can be broody white

white skin, because of fancy darker feathering, to average shanks not suited for foul weather; white may have [hidden by problems with feathers] freezing crest feathers

below average

bears confinement well; active; docile; more easily handled

early maturing

Class and Type

Origins

APA (1874): Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: True Bantam

Developed in Japan as early as the 7th century perhaps from Indo-Chinese stock. First introduced to Europe in 1860. Truest bred carry a "lethal gene" which is also connected to the shortened leg characteristic.

Bantam Short legs

tempered

red

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

& shanks

APA (1874): Developed in U.S. Large: American after being introduced

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Comb Skin color Earlobes large single

creamy white

tiny

excellent brooder (or annoyingly too frequent brooder); white skin protective mother & shanks because of short bright red legs & fancy feathering, not suited for foul weather single

brown

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

Behavior

tolerates confinement; some are fliers; generally docile, cocks can be aggressive

slow to mature good, or frequent, well adaptable to brooder confinement or free PDFmyURL.com

Old breed, but Extremely, perhaps endangered. critically rare. 16% 7.5 lb/3.4 kg

Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Not recognized

from Java in 1835.

average

Developed in New Jersey in 1870s. Never commercially popular, but bird of choice for capons

small single brown

average to

above average

Breed

La Fleche

FS OK Om PP box GO

The devil bird.

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Origins

Black, Blue, White, & APA (1874): Dates back to France Cuckoo Large: before 1660. Continental Bantam: All Other Very rare. Clean Legged 12% PC: Heavy, Rare 5.5 lb/2.5 kg

range; calm cold hardy very slow maturing

red

Dual Purpose Black, White APA (1922): Large: American Bantam: Single Uncommon. Was in Comb Clean Jersey Giant decline, but now Legged FS OK Om PP seems to be holding PC: Heavy, Rare its own. box GO The chicken 56%/28% (black/all Dual Purpose world's largest other) [formerly Meat] breed. 10 lb/4.6 kg

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

yellow skin, dark shanks

Dual Purpose

Egg color & productivity; egg size

tinted white

above average

yellow skin, dark shanks red

Comb Skin color Earlobes horn, Vshaped, duplex

occasional because of size, not brooder; an economical protective mother eater; adaptable to confinement or free robust; very cold range; calm, gentle, hardy more easily handled. very slow to mature Our Birds: never reached giant-sized porportions; one gentle hen was among the easiest to pick up. We don't currently have any but may try them again. Brooding Hardiness Maturing non-setter hardy

white skin, early maturing dark shanks

Behavior

well adaptable to confinement or free range; active, flighty, avoids human contact

white PDFmyURL.com

Black/white/black pattern. Rare. Lakenvelder 52%/20% FS OK Om PP (silver/gold) box GO Shadow on a 4 lb/1.8 kg sheet.

Fancy: Horns for a comb APA (1939): Large: Continental Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Light

white Developed in Germany in early 19th century. Golden Lakenvelders white to are not standard. light tint Vorwerk is a bantam with the black/gold/black below average pattern. to average

single

Developed by Harry Lamon in 1912 specifically to be a yellow skinned heavy breed with white eggs.

single

non-setter

white skin, hardy dark shanks early maturing white

Layer

Lamona

White

APA (1933): Large: American Bantam: Single The rare, Extinct or verging on Comb Clean possibly extinction. Legged extinct, yellow- 0% PC: Not skinned, redrecognized ear-lobed, 6.5 lb/2.9 kg white-egglaying table Dual Purpose bird. Black, White, & Blue. APA (1883): Large: Asiatic Bantam: Feather Uncommon. Legged Langshan 32%/16% (black/all PC: Soft feather FS OK box GO other) Heavy PB FS OK

The longlegged, hightailed, and feather-footed regal bird.

7.5 lb/3.4 kg Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] Fancy: Feather Footed, outside only

white average

well adaptable to confinement or free range; flyer; flighty, avoids human contact. Our Birds: never sociable, but not easily startled, either. If we get more, it will be because they are handsome birds.

yellow skin & shanks red

Introduced from China single can be broody in mid-19th century. brown Major Croad [Croad greyish very hardy; cold introduced them to Langshans white skin, hardy England & gave his once lay very dark name to an early dark shanks slow to mature variety of Langshans. brown] In Europe & average red elsewhere, distinctions are made between Croad & Modern Langshans.

well adaptable to confinement or free range; active for their size; graceful; not as calm or docile as other large breeds Our Birds: One rooster was very personable and had a lovely, deep crowing voice. We PDFmyURL.com

(some varieties are clean footed)

liked him better than the hens who have not stood out either in egg-laying nor personality. Dark Brown, Light APA (1874): Ancient, but greatly large non-setter (or very economical eater; Brown, White, Buff, Large: developed in 19th & pearl single; rarely broody) better adaptable to Black, Silver, Red, Mediterranean 20th centuries. white also rose confinement then Leghorn Black-Tailed Red, Bantam: Single Honored by the (non-white hardy; heat tolerant some FS OK Om AR Columbian Comb Clean Romans, and the white feathered yellow skin (esc. white variety); Mediterranean; PP box GO PB Legged variety was reportedly varieties are & combs subject to enjoys free range; RF club PC: Soft Feather developed for use in less prolific.) shanks frostbite flyer; flighty; spritely, Common. Light ceremony and noisy, nervous, The ultimate 84%/80%/32% above foretelling the future. very early maturing usually avoids egg machine. white/brown/all other average white One of the most human contact. [commercial popular birds around Layer Standard: whites' are Our Birds: Flighty the globe. 4.5 lb/2 kg especially does describe them Bantam: large] pretty well, but they 1.75 lb/0.8 kg aren't without personality. One of our first white Leghorns would lead the pack in greeting us when we came home. Breed Comb (with links to Varieties / Rarity / Egg color & Brooding Skin other sites with What's a hen Class and Type Origins productivity; Hardiness Behavior images and color weigh? egg size Maturing more Earlobes information)

Black Breasted Red, APA (1883): An ancient breed White, Spangled, Large: All Other related to birds Malay Black, and Red Pyle Bantam: All Other indigenous to southern FS OK PP GO Clean Legged Asia from the Indian PB PC: Hard Feather, sub-continent to Very rare Rare Indonesia. One of the 4% first breeds to be

strawberry can be very broody needs to be active; intolerant of close yellow skin hardy, but not confinement; among productive & shanks feathered for cold the most over short winters; very hardy aggressive, but season rich red in heat more placid than most game birds brown

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introduced from Asia to Europe, the breed spread quickly where A cruel-looking, cock fighting was elongated enjoyed. It was giant. standardized in the U. K. before being introduced to North America. Dark, Cuckoo, others APA: Not Developed in France recognized in early 20th century. PC: Soft Feather Since French and Once little known, but Heavy English standards are now becoming trendy. Marans different, and both FS Om PP box 4% have been imported GO RF Layer into North America, Known for one Standard: Feather or Clean standardization in the 7 lb/3.2 kg thing -Footed,depending United States may not chocolate Bantam: on country occur any time soon. colored eggs. 2.2 lb/1.0 kg standard or strain 7 lb/3.2 kg

Minorca FS OK AR PP box GO PB

Black, White, Buff

Rare to uncommon. Largest 44%/28% (black/all Mediterranean, other) extra large eggs. Standard: 7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg

very slow to mature

Game

APA (1888): Large: Mediterranean Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light

Developed in Spain (and Minorca?) Once known as the Redfaced Black Spanish.

average

single

great brooder (or varies widely by annoyingly too individual and strain. white skin frequent brooder) dark Our Birds: Although in some strains chocolate & "cuckoo" was meant shanks brown some strains less to describe feather pattern, we thought red hardy average to it fit the personality above as well. Not exactly average wild, some have been very active and somewhat difficult to manage. Others have been quite calm. None of ours have laid especially dark brown eggs. single & non-setter adaptable to rose confinement, but white excellent hot prefers free range; white skin, weather bird; restlessly active, above combs subject to flighty, avoids average dark shanks frostbite human contact white

early maturing

Layer PDFmyURL.com

Black-Breasted Red, APA (1874): Modern Game Silver Duckwing, Red Large: All Other or Modern Pyle, White, Black, Bantam: Game PC: Hard Feather English Game many others FS OK AR PP box GO

Uncommon 16%

The game bird Standard: with style and 4.5 lb/2 kg carriage. Bantam: 1.2 lb/0.55 kg Breed (with links to Varieties / Rarity / other sites with What's a hen images and weigh? more

Game

Class and Type

Developed in England in 19th century for white to light exhibibiton, not for tint cockfighting. productive over short season

can be broody; needs to be active; protective mother less tolerant of close confinement; not feathered for aggressive, noisy coldest winters; yellow skin hardy in heat; & shanks some subject to health problems red slow to mature below average

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

information)

Naked Neck Black, White, Red, or and Red are Transylvanian recognized by the Naked Neck APA, but other or Turken varieties include Blue FS OK Om PP and Cuckoo or box GO Barred. No, it's not a turkey / chicken Uncommon. cross. 44% Standard: 6 lb/2.7 kg Bantam: 1.5 lb/0.7 kg Light brownish red, only New Fairly common Hampshire or 72%

APA (1965): Large: All Other Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare Fancy: Bare neck

Originated in the Transylvanian region of Central Europe that is creamy now part of Romania light and further developed brown in Germany. First shown in Vienna in 1875 by breeders from average to counties that are now above part of Romania. average

large single (often dubbed)

Comb Skin color Earlobes single

Brooding Hardiness Maturing can be broody; good mother

yellow skin & hardy in cold; shanks does well in high heat red because of fewer feathers, but can get sunburned

Behavior

well adaptable to confinement or free range; active; calm, docile; more easily handled

slow to mature

APA (1935): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged

Developed in New Hamphire from the Rhode Island Red in early 20th century.

large single light to medium

good, or occasional to frequent, brooder; yellow skin good mother &

well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm; can be docile or aggressive; can be PDFmyURL.com

Hampshire or 72% New Hampshire Standard: Red 6.5 lb/2.9 kg FS OK Om PPbox GO

New Hampshire's answer to Rhode Island.

Bantam: 1.9 lb/0.85 kg

PC: Heavy, Rare

medium dark brown shanks red

Dual Purpose average to

above average

Black-Breasted Red, APA (1928): Developed in England Silver Duckwing, Red Large: All Other in 19th & 20th century white to light Old English Pyle, White, Black, Bantam: Game from ancient stock tint Game many others PC: Hard Feather FS OK Om AR productive PP box GO over short Uncommon season Game 4% Small fighting Standard: cocks and their 4 lb/1.8 kg mates.

large single (often dubbed)

robust; hardy in heat & cold; combs subject to frostbite

curious

excellent brooder (or annoyingly too frequent brooder); protective mother

needs to be active; less tolerant of close confinement; aggressive, selfsufficient; noisy

Our Birds: a few have been among our favorites. very early maturing Addled Adelaide was our first hen to raise a brood of chicks. She earned her name for appearing to be scatter-brained at times as a pullet, but when older could almost seem affectionate -maybe she was just very hungry. Several enjoyed keeping close to us while gardening. Some have been aggressive in maintaining their position in the pecking order.

white skin hardy, but not & shanks feathered for coldest winters red slow to mature below average PDFmyURL.com

mates. Orloff or Russian Orloff

FS PP box GO

Bantam: 1.3 lb/0.6 kg Red, White Very rare 12%

Wild-looking 6.0 lb/2.7 kg thing Buff, Black, Blue, White Only buffs are still FS OK Om AR popular. 88%/8% (buff/all PP box GO Big gentle bird. other) Orpington

Standard: 8 lb/3.6 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg

APA: Not recognized (dropped from Continental) PC: Heavy, Rare

Reportedly developed in Russia in 18th light century from Persian brown stock. Once called below average Chlianskaia, current name probably derives from Count OrloffFancy: Techesmensky, a Bearded & muffed Russian breeder APA (1902): Originally developed Large: English by William Cook in Bantam: Single Orpington (County brown Comb Clean Kent) the 1880s. Legged Some varieties PC: Soft Feather developed by his Heavy daughter. average to

above average

Dual Purpose [formerly Meat]

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh? Creole, Partridge, Wheaten, Black

Class and Type

APA: Not recognized Penedesenca PC: Not FS GO club Very, very rare. Only recognized

Origins

Rescued, or somewhat developed, from ancient stock in Catalan district of

Egg color & productivity; egg size

very dark red-

walnut

non-setter

yellow skin hardy & legs slow to mature

adapts to confinement; calm, but not docile, avoids human contact

red single

good, or frequent, adaptable to free brooder; range; very white skin excellent mother adaptable to & confinement; docile; white or hardy; very cold more easily dark hardy handled; can be shanks bullied moderately early Our Birds: ours red maturing have been docile enough, and some have fit pretty low in the pecking order, but none of ours have shown the "friendliness" that others have claimed for the breed. Comb Skin color Earlobes

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

clavell non-setter (carnation) very hardy in heat white skin,

Behavior

well adaptable to free range; active; flighty; avoids human contact PDFmyURL.com

Very, very rare. Only recently available in The dark egg North America. Layer layer that 0% wears a crown 4 lb/1.8 kg Phoenix Partridge; Silver FS PP box Duckwing; White; GO other colors Uncommon 36% Honorable long-tail.

Standard: 4 lb/1.8 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg

Barred, White, Buff, Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Blue Plymouth Rock

APA (1965): Large: All Other Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Light Rare (not recognized separately from Yokohama)

blue-grey slow to mature below average shanks to average white

Developed in Europe single and the U.S. from the white to tinted Japanese long-tailed yellow breed called the skin; Onagadori. yellow or slate shanks below average

Fancy Long-tailed APA (1874): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy

Developed in New England in 19th century. Once common on the homestead, still popular in the backyard.

Bearded & APA (1874): Originated in Europe, Beardless; Black, Large: but probably not White, Golden, Silver, Continental Poland, before the FS OK Om AR Buff Laced Bantam: All Other 16th century. Once PP Polish or Poland

brown

red

can be broody, requires special protective mothers housing or cages & high perches to reportedly short accommodate long lived; tails; generally because of fancy docile feathering, not suited for foul weather slow to mature

Popular 96%/84%/52%/32% (barred/white/prtg/all Once upon a other) Dual Purpose time America's favorite breed. Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg FS OK Om ARPP box GO club

Spain in 20th century. Penedesenca Negra developed in 1980s.

small single

infrequent brooder; well adaptable to good mother confinement or free range; calm, docile; light (or yellow skin robust; very cold more easily handled pinkish) to hardy medium & Our Birds: ours shanks brown have been good, somewhat early solid, dependable red maturing birds that have above blended in well with the flock, not average standing out for good or bad reasons. varies widely small V to

non-setter

white skin, some subject to blue health problems;

bears confinement well; mixed reports - either calm or somewhat flighty; PDFmyURL.com

PP

Popular as a show bird. 56% Perhaps the oldest of the 4-4.5 lb/1.8-2 kg crested breeds.

Clean Legged known for good egg white shanks PC: Soft Feather production, now almost below average Light strictly ornamental. white Fancy: Crested

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Redcap or Red & black pattern, Red Cap or only Derbyshire Redcap Very rare. FS OK PP box 8% Think huge rose comb. 6 lb/2.7 kg

Rhode Island Red & Rhode Island White Rhode Island (two separate FS OK AL Om breeds) AR PP box club

Best of breeds Popular, but for producing purebreds are brown eggs. uncommon.

Class and Type

APA (1888): Large: English Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Light

Origins

Developed in Derbyshire.

Layer Fancy: Large rose comb APA (1904/1922): Developed in New Large: American England in 19th Bantam: Single century. Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose

Egg color & productivity; egg size

white below average

Comb Skin color Earlobes

because of fancy feathering, not suited for foul weather; | may have problems with freezing crest feathers; special care may be needed since plumage blocks vision Brooding Hardiness Maturing

very large non-setter spiked rose hardy

obstructed vision can hinder some activities; can be bullied

Behavior

can adapt to confinement; active

white skin, moderately early blue maturing shanks red

rich medium brown

above average

large infrequent brooder; well adaptable to single; can be dutiful confinement or free also rose mother range; active, calm & fairly docile, can yellow skin robust; hardy in be aggressive & heat & cold; (cocks are shanks combs subject to especially frostbite notorious) red moderately early Our Birds: we've PDFmyURL.com

moderately early maturing

68%/44%/28% (production/red/white) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg Black, White, Silver Laced, others. FS AR Om PP Rosecomb

APA (1874): Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: True Bantam

The original Common. rosecombed, 67% clean-legged True bantam: Bantam bantam 1.3 lb/0.6 kg Breed Varieties / Rarity / (with links to other sites with What's a hen Class & Type images & more weigh?

Origins unclear & disputed. Claimed to be direct descendant of the original Bantam, but may be related to Hamburg.

Origins

information)

Sebright

FS AR Om PP box

Silver, Golden Very popular. 87%

The beautifully True bantam: laced bantam 1.3 lb/0.6 kg

Silkie

FS OK AR Om box

Bearded & Beardless; Black, White, Blue, Buff, Partridge, Gray Probably the most popular bantam

APA (1874): Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: True Bantam Bantam Both male & female henfeathered APA (1874): Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feathered Light & Bantam both

Developed before 1810 in England by Sir John Sebright, after thirty years of breeding.

rose white to cream

tiny

Egg color & productivity; egg size creamy white

tiny

Already developed in China by the time of Marco Polo (13th century) Large & Bantam classes are

non-setter

yellow skin hardy in heat & & shanks cold white

Our Birds: we've had very limited experience, but the few hens we have had have been more aggressive than most other breeds. tolerates confinement; fliers; generally docile, cocks can be aggressive

slow to mature?

Comb Brooding Skin Hardiness color Maturing Earlobes rose non-setter yellow skin not robust; & shanks | chicks difficult to rear purplish red slow to mature

Behavior tolerates confinement; fliers; jaunty, sprightly

walnut light tint

one of the most adapts well to broody (or very confinement; calm, black skin annoyingly too docile & shanks frequent brooder) turquoise hardy in heat & cold; PDFmyURL.com

popular bantam An oddity of breeds. oddities of the 100% poultry and pet world True bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg

Black skin, face, comb, & wattles below average Hair-like plumage Turquoise earlobes Five-Toed Crested Feather footed Spanish, White-Faced Black APA (1874): Oldest of the White-Faced only Large: Mediterranean breeds, Black Mediterranean developed in Spain. Spanish, Bantam: Single Very rare, & Spanish Comb Clean white becoming even rarer. White Ear, or Legged 12% Clownface PC: Light, Rare FS OK PP box GO PB

6 lb/2.7 kg Layer Fancy: White face

Handsome, graceful, rare.

above average

Breed

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

Sultan

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh? White, only

FS OK PP box

Uncommon. 24%

Class and Type

Origins

Egg color & productivity; egg size

APA (1874): Introduced from Turkey Large: All Other in mid-19th century. white below average Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Light, Rare

4.0 lb/ 1.8 kg All for show.

cold; because of fancy feathering, not suited for foul weather

recognized in some countries

Fancy: Crested Bearded & muffed Feather-footed, fully Five toed

slow to mature

large single

adaptable to confinement, but reportedly subject prefers free range; grey skin, to health problems; flighty, haughty, dark heat tolerant; noisy, avoids human shanks combs subject to contact frostbite white slow to develop; white face takes more than a year Comb Skin color Earlobes horn, Vshaped, duplex

non-setter

Brooding Hardiness Maturing non-setter

not suited for foul weather; white skin may have & shanks problems with freezing crest white? feathers [hidden under moderately slow feathers developing

Behavior

suited for close confinement; calm, non-aggressive; more easily handled

PDFmyURL.com

Black, only Uncommon FS OK PP box GO 40% Sumatra PB

APA (1883): An ancient breed, Large: All Other introduced from Bantam: All Other Sumatra. Clean Legged PC: Light, Rare

white or light tint

Game A giant on long legs

needs to be active; intolerant of close not feathered for confinement; yellow skin cold winters; hardy pugnacious & shanks in heat

average

Speckled, Red, Light APA (1914): Developed in county of Large: English Sussex in early 19th Bantam: Single century. Uncommon. Comb Clean Sussex 44%/0% (speckled/all Legged FS OK Om AR other) PC: Soft Feather PP box GO RF Heavy An old English Standard: favorite 7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam: Dual Purpose 2.2 lb/1 kg

single creamy to light brown average

Breed

Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?

Class and Type

Origins

APA (2001): Developed in Holland Large: in 20th century. Continental Once little known, but PC: Soft Feather Welsumer or gaining popularity. Light Welsummer 12%

Egg color & productivity; egg size

Red Partridge

FS AR Om PP box GO club

can be broody

productive over very dark red short season

7 lb/ 3.2 kg

(with links to other sites with images and more information)

large single

Standard: Backyard bird 6 lb/2.7 kg with big brown Bantam: eggs. 2 lb/0.9 kg

Dual Purpose

rich dark terracotta brown

above average

good brooder & mother

white skin & robust; very cold shanks hardy red

Comb Skin color Earlobes

moderately early maturing

Brooding Hardiness Maturing

well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm; gentle; active; can be curious; more easily handled Our Birds: a few have been among our favorites for personality. Behavior

small single

mixed reports on well adaptable to setting & brooding confinement or free range; lively, but yellow skin hardy; cold hardy more docile than & flighty. shanks moderately early Our Birds: some of maturing our hens have laid red solid dark brown eggs. Even more popular with many of our customers PDFmyURL.com

Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Buff, Partridge, Silvered Penciled, Columbian Wyandotte FS OK Om AR Popular. PP box GO PB 92%/64%/24%

The "bird of (slver/gold/all other) curves." Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg Yokohama Red shouldered & FS PP box white; White; other GO colors

Rare Elegant long- 4% tail. 4 lb/ 1.8 kg

APA (1883): Large: American Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy

Developed in New York State & Wisconsin in late 19th century.

light to rich brown

above Dual Purpose

APA: Called Yokohama from Large: All Other the port of origin. tinted Bantam: All Other Developed in Germany Clean Legged in the 19th century from PC: Light Rare the Japanese longtailed breed called the below average Minohiki. Fancy: Long-tailed

have been the very large speckled brown Welsumer eggs. rose infrequent brooder; well adaptable to excellent mother confinement or free yellow skin range; calm. & robust; very cold Our Birds: Most of shanks hardy ours have been red moderately early docile, but some individuals have maturing been aggressive. Most have been aloof in terms of human contact. walnut or can be broody, requires special pea protective mothers housing or cages & high perches to yellow skin because of fancy accommodate long & shanks feathering, tails; generally not suited for foul docile; cocks can white weather be pugnacious around other cocks slow to mature

Numerous books (new and old, and including those by authors Harry Lewis, Lewis Wright, Alanna Moore, H. S. Babcock, Caleb N. Bement, Frank L. Platt, Louis M. Hurd, James E. Rice and Harold E. Botsford, Joseph Batty, Ian Kay, Eric Bailey, Page Smith and Charles Daniel, and Tamara Staples), articles from Mother Earth News , Organic Gardening, and Science News, the Murray McMurray and Glenn Drown's Sand Hill Preservation Center catalogs, the websites in the "KEY TO LINKS" section below, and multiple other Web sites were consulted in creating the chicken chart. Sources, of course, do not always agree, so personal judgments, common sense, and some personal knowledge were also used in determining the final make-up of the chart. If you have corrections or suggestions, please let me know.

Notes on symbols and keywords: KEY TO LINKS: The links in the first column are to some of the most useful sites I found for information about specific breeds. PLEASE PDFmyURL.com

NOTE that the links lead you to sites created and developed by other individuals -- not by me. When you click on them, you are leaving this website. = portrait (illustration rather than photograph) available on the Web. Illustrations are either by Diane Jacky, found either on her site or in an online poultry catalog. Photographs of most breeds can be found at the FeatherSite, the "Breeds Parade" section of Chickenbox, Joke Osinga's Kippenrassen, and on many other chicken pages. FS = Barry Koffler's FeatherSite (usually lots of photographs available) OK = Oklahoma State University's Department of Animal Science's Poultry Breeds AL = The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Priority List Om = Omlet UK AR = Poultry Photos, a collection of black and white photographs taken during the early 1900s by Arthur Rice, of Lincolnshire. PP = PoultryPage from Britain box = Johan Opsomer's Chickenbox from the Nederlands. Links are to the main page. You will have to explore the site to find individual breeds. GO = Hühnerrassen from Geflugel Online. Text is in German, but photos at the bottom of the page PB = DOM_BIRD Breed Encyclopedia (Formerly associated with the Palm Beach County Poultry Fanciers Association) RF = Rupert the Fish, the website of a short poultrykeeper from Coventry, aka Robert Stevenson RB = Rare Breeds Trust of Australia club = pages specific to the clubs established for specific breeds VARIETIES AND RELATED BREEDS: Among the poultry associations of different countries, different breeds are officially recognized and different varieties within the same breed are accepted. Not all breeds listed here are recognized by the American Poultry Association, but for the breeds that are APA Standard, I have tried to use the APA accepted varieties. For some breeds, I have listed colors that are available, not that are recognized varieties by either the APA or another official poultry association. Names and terms also differ around the world. RARITY: Notes on rarity are related to availabilty in North America. The figures listed in orange are from a February 2003 survey of US and Canadian hatchery catalogs and breeder lists. For standard breeds, 25 hatcheries/breeders were used; for bantams 15 hatcheries/breeders were used. A list of sources used is available upon request. Availability of quality exhibition birds is not addressed in this data. CLASS AND TYPE: Class: APA = American Poultry Association (Year in parenthesis is first year any variety of the breed was admitted to the Standard of Perfection) PC = Poultry Club [of Britain] Chicken breeds have been classified many different ways. Class as defined by the American Poultry Association indicates place of origin. The Poultry Club in the UK uses classes based on type of feathering, Soft (or loose) and Hard (or close) and body type, Light or Heavy. Type: Breeds can also be separated by the purpose for which they were originally developed. Dual Purpose were develped for both meat and eggs. These days, most of these breeds are only found in backyards and small farms. [formerly Meat] indicates that in the days before Cornish X Rock dominance (post World War II), this breed was highly prized as a meat bird. Layers are those breeds that are principally used for egg production. As a general rule these birds are active and lively, lighter in weight than most other standard breeds, and not broody. Game breeds were once bred for cockfighting. It is believed they were the first chickens to be bred by humans. As a general rule, they are noisy and pugnacious, but some can be docile toward toward humans, and hens can be very protective mothers. As a rule they have low egg PDFmyURL.com

production. Fancy breeds are those with special features, such as crests, feathered feet, unusual colors, beards, muffs, or five toes. Some fancy breeds are strictly ornamental, but many others are will also be found among the layer and dual purpose breeds, as well. Bantam breeds are little birds of ornament and pleasure. The term bantam comes from a small chicken that originated in the Bantam region of Java, but after they were introduced to Europe centuries ago, any small variety of fowl was called a bantam. Bantams include both miniature versions of the large standard breeds and True Bantams, breeds for which there is no matching large standard. The descriptive term True, however, does not mean a naturally diminutive breed, since many True Bantams have been highly engineered by breeding programs. indicates that the hackle and saddle feathers of the cocks in some colors and varieties of these breeds are particularly prized for use in tying fishing flies, especially when natural, undyed feathers are desired. In addition, long-tailed breeds are also used and special crossbreds have been developed. Bantams are preferred by some for their smaller and more delicate feathers. EGG RATE: = poor = fair = good = very good = prolific I have been inexact with the egg rates, because egg production is only partly influenced by the breed of hen, and because numbers I have seen have been all over the place. Egg production of an individual hen is dependent on such other factors as age, health, nutrition, space, housing, sanitation, light, humidity, temperature, and contentment. Although one Black Australorp laid a record 364 eggs in 365 days, your Australorp may not reach half that number in her best year. Different lines of the same variety have been bred for different reasons, some emphasizing breeding to standard, others emphasizing egg-laying. = winter layer Chickens tend to be much better layers in the spring and summer; winter layers are those hens whose weekly egg rate show significantly less drop in the colder/darker months, even if they aren't especially prolific overall. EGG COLOR: Egg colors used on this page are estimations and will also appear differently on different monitors. Egg colors will vary from bird to bird. This is especially true of the dark brown egg laying breeds, many of which, disappointingly, will lay much lighter shades than listed. In general for brown egg layers, the color of eggs will lighten as the hen ages. EGG SIZE: Sizes listed are not in conformity with USDA grades and combine large, extra large, and jumbo. In general, below average eggs average 55 grams or less (under 2 ounces). Average eggs average 55 to 60 grams (about 2 ounces). Above average eggs are 60 grams or more (more than 2 ounces). Egg sizes for bantams, except True Bantams that have their own listings, are not provided, but they fit the label TINY. Size is based on those laid during a hen's prime laying years. Pullets will lay much smaller eggs, and, as hens get older, they will lay increasingly larger eggs. Size of eggs will vary by both variety and individual hen. Perhaps the best example of this is the leghorn, since the commercial white has been developed to lay a very large egg, but most other varieties lay medium sized eggs. COMBS: For pictures of combs, see this old Cornell poultry textbook with a chapter on comb types. The illustrations, seen quite a few places on the web unattributed, are credited in the book to W. C. Baker. A hen's comb is generally smaller than a coxcomb, and in the case of the large single comb, the hen's comb flops over rather jauntily instead of standing erect like a large single coxcomb. The University of Illinois Extension site includes descriptions of combs with its illustrations. It also describes a Silkis comb [silkie's comb?], PDFmyURL.com

which is most elsewhere called a walnut comb. BROODING: Broodiness can be a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. When hens go broody, they don't lay eggs, so especially for commercial egg producers, this is a bad trait. On the other hand, for some backyard chicken enthusiasts, the opportunity of having a natural hatching experience is very desirable, so having a broody hen is a good thing. The range of broodiness goes from nonsetters to great brooders. The Mediterranean breeds are notorious for not setting on their eggs. Silkies, on the other end of scale, have both greatly frustrated some owners for going broody so often and been prized for so often being available for hatching out eggs. Hens of all breeds can go broody, according to testimony from many friends and correspondents. In 2009, we first observed a broody brown leghorn. With notoriously broody breeds, individual hens may never or never conveniently go broody at convenient times. HARDINESS: What is the difference between hardy and robost? For purposes of this chart, Hardy has more to do with ability to deal with different climate and weather related conditions. Robust is more health-related, and indicates not prone to sickness. BEHAVIOR: Chickens don't make good pets like cats and dogs, and chickens really aren't friendly like house pets. What some interpret as friendly is most often little more than not not avoiding human company, not struggling when held, or willing to eat out of a human's hand. Calm, docile birds can appear to be "friendlier" than flighty birds that squawk and run away whenever a human gets close or an aggressive bird that will peck at other birds and humans alike. I have removed notes about foraging, because I have learned from experience that all chickens, when introduced to free ranging at an early age, seem to do just fine. OUR BIRDS: Please keep in mind that the notes on our birds are based on a small sample size of chickens found in a small, mixed-breed, backyard, free-ranging flock. Experiences of others with birds in a different environment may be quite different. This page authored and maintained by: John R. Henderson ([email protected]), Sage Hen Farm, Lodi, NY. Last modified: March 2, 2010 All chicken portraits are by Diane Jacky and are used by permission. Photograph of egg assortment (before they became chipotle scrambled eggs) by Kelda Brown This page was formerly known as the ICYouSee Handy Dandy Chicken Chart URL: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

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