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 Comb Skin color Earlobes Brooding Hardiness Maturing Behavior Ameraucana FS PB club Black, Blue, Blue- wheaten, Brown-red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, & White Easter Eggers are common. Standard Ameraucanas are rare. 88%/8% (EEs/pure) APA (1984): Large: All Other Bantam: All Other Clean Legged PC: Not recognized Layer Fancy: Muffed, Bearded South American. May or may not be genetically related to the Araucana. In pre- Columbian Chile, there are several different blue egg-laying chicken breeds, none called Araucana. Standardized & accepted into APA in 1984. Most hatcheries, various shades of blue & blue- green pea white with slate colored shanks red occasional brooder (none of ours has) very cold hardy moderately early maturing 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 The chipmunky blue-egger. average to above average PDFmyURL.com
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Henderson'sHandy-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 birdsfrom 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 withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Ameraucana FS PB club
Black, Blue, Blue-wheaten, Brown-red,Buff, Silver, Wheaten,& White
APA (1984): Large: All OtherBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Notrecognized
Layer Fancy: Muffed, Bearded
South American. Mayor may not begenetically related tothe Araucana. In pre-Columbian Chile, thereare several differentblue egg-layingchicken breeds, nonecalled Araucana.Standardized &accepted into APA in1984. Most hatcheries,
variousshadesof blue
&blue-green
pea
white withslatecoloredshanks
red
occasionalbrooder (none ofours has)
very cold hardy
moderately earlymaturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; mostly calm,non-aggressive
Our Birds [mostlymongrel EasterEggers]: a few havebeen among themost curious & mosteasily handled birdswe have owned.Others have been
however, sell EasterEgg chickens withmixed breeding thatmay lay blue, green (orother colored) eggs,but do not conform tostandard.
Others have beencalm, non-aggressive, butstand-offish. Wewouldn't have aflock without them.
Ancona FS OK Om ARPP box PB
Black mottled, only
Rather rare & indecline.40%
Standard:4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam:1.5 lb/0.7 kg
APA (1898): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherLight
Layer
Developed in Italy inmid-19th centuryprobably from leghornssporting mottledfeathers. Once rivaledthe Leghorn in Europe,but never caught on inNorth America.
APA (1874): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Light, Rare
LayerFancy:Blue feathered
Developed in Spain &England in mid-19thcentury. Studied byGregor Mendel inexperiments ingenetics & heredity. Blue color does notbreed true. Black &Splash (White) arenecessary forbreeding, but are notpermitted to be shown.
chalk tocreamy white
single
white skin,slate blueshanks
white
mostly a non-setter
heat tolerant;combs subject tofrostbite; ours werenot robust, but thatmay not berepresentative ofthe breed.
Our Birds: ours,received as adults,never fit in well withthe rest of the flock& were nervous allthe time. Our onecock crowed louderthan any other we'veever had. We'vebeen hesitant to trythem again, but wemight, since theyare such beautifulbirds.
APA (1976): Large: All OtherBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Light, Rare
Layer Fancy:Rumpless Ear Tufts
Introduced from Chilein 1921, from one ofseveral different blueegg-laying chickenbreeds, none calledAraucana there. Likelythat some"mongrelization"occurred beforestandardization. Truestbred carry a "lethalgene" which is alsoconnected to the tuftingcharacteristic.Standards differ fromcountry to country.
blueonly
pea
yellowskin,willowshanks
red
good, or frequent,brooder
cold hardy
moderately earlymaturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, non-aggressive
The rumpless,tufted blue-
egger.
below average
Aseel or Asil FS AR Om PPbox GO PB
Black, White,Duckwing, RedSpangled, Pyle,others
APA: Large: All OtherPC: Hard FeatherHeavy
Developed in Indiamore than 2000 yearsago, perhaps even3500 years ago.Thought to be the
lightlytinted
productive
small pea
yellow skin& shanks
can be broody, protective mothers
hardy, but notfeathered for cold
bears confinementbetter than mostother game breeds;extremely fierce &pugnacious, but
GameThought to be thebreed from which theCornish was primarilydeveloped.
over shortseason
redfeathered for coldwinters; very hardyin high heat
slow to mature
pugnacious, butdocile & easilyhandled when awayfrom other cocks
Ancient Indianathlete.
below average
Australorp or Black
Australorp FS OK Om PPAR box GO
Black, only(standard); also blue& white
Common88%
Standard:6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam:2 lb/0.9 kg
APA (1929): Large: EnglishBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
Dual Purpose
Developed in 20thcentury in Australia,primarily from theOrpington. Gainednotoriety when one henin the 1920s laid arecord 364 eggs in365 days. Thatperformance has neverbeen matched bysubsequentAustralorps.
brown
single
white skin,darkshanks
red
great brooder (orannoyingly toofrequent brooder);good mother
very hardy; verycold hardy
moderately earlymaturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, docile;more easily handled
The egg-layingchampion table
bird from Oz
average
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Barnevelder FS OK Om PP
box GO
Double-laced, Blue-laced, White, Black,others
Little known untilrecently. 4%
Standard:6-7 lb/2.7-3.2 kg Bantam:2.25 lb/1.0 kg
APA (2001): Large:ContinentalPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
Dual Purpose
Developed in late 19thcentury and early 20thcentury in Holland fordark egg laying.Developed from anolder local variety thatmay date as early asthe 12th century. Inrecent history, somestrains have been bredfor show and others forthe darkness of theireggs.
very darkreddishbrown,
with mattefinish
single
yellow skin&shanks
red
mixed reports on setting & brooding
less cold hardy; developed inregion known fordamp conditions
slow to mature, & some chicks canbe easily bullied
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, docile
Our Birds: ours fitin well with the flock,but shied away withhuman contact. Ourslaid reddish browneggs, but most werenot especially dark.None currently in ourflock, we will likelytry them again.
APA (1949): Bantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: True Bantam
BantamBearded
Developed in Anverregion of Belgiummany decades ago.Rumpless versions arecalled De Grubbe.Breed is often referredto simply as the Quailbantam, after the mostpopular variety.
creamywhite
rose
white skin,darkshanks
white
good, or frequent,brooder
robust
chicks difficult torear
active, flyer; henscalm, cocks can beaggressive
The beardedbantam.
tiny
BelgianD'Uccle or
Barbud'Uccle
FS AR PP boxclub
Mille Fleur, Porcelain,Black, Buff, White,Blue Mottled, Splash,Golden Neck, others
One of the mostpopular bantams93%
True bantam:1.3 lb/0.55 kg
APA (1914): Bantam: FeatherLeggedPC: True Bantam /Rare
BantamBeardedFeather Footed
First bred in Uccle(Belgium) before 1900by Michel Van Gelder.Breed is often referredto simply as MilleFleur, the mostpopular variety.
creamywhite
smallsingle withlargespikes
white skin& shanks
white
great brooder (orannoyingly toofrequent brooder)
hardy; because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather
APA (1874): Large: AsiaticBantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Soft featherHeavy
Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] Fancy:Feather Footed,outside only
Origin has been indispute for more than acentury and a half.Introduced in mid-19thcentury (whether first toNew York City orLondon is also inquestion). Probablyimported from the portcity of Shanghai, butmay have originated inChinda, India, orelsewhere in the EastIndies. Another claim isthat the breed wasdeveloped in theUnited States usingCochins, Malays, andDorkings. For moreinformation on theorigins, see LewisWright's 1873monograph on theBrahma fowl.
Before the nameBrahma was settledon, they were alsocalled Chittagongs,Shanghais (as werethe Cochins), andBrahmapootras. Sincethe Brahmaputra Riverflows through China,India, and Bangladesh,even the name doesn't
brown
pea
yellow skin&shanks
red
good, or frequent,brooder
robust; very hardyin heat & cold
slow to mature
adaptable toconfinement or freerange; mostlygentle; more easilyhandled.
Our Birds: somehens were amongthe gentlest birdswe've owned; onerooster became tooaggressive towardhumans and otherchickens in his olderage. Some hens atea lot, got fat, andnever laid that manyeggs, and we do notcurrently have any inour flock.
Developed by Mrs.Nettie Metcalf ofWarren, Ohio, in late19th century. Neverwidely popular.
varies
to
brown
pea
yellow skin& shanks
red
can be broody
very cold hardy
moderately slowmaturing
adaptable toconfinement, veryadaptable to freerange; calm, docile;can be curious;more easilyhandled.
Our Birds: somehave been amongthe "friendliest."Perhaps because ofdocileness, nonehave risen high inthe pecking order.Our first Buckeyehens were lowproducers, but morerecent hens havebeen much better.
Buckeye brownbird from the
Buckeye state.
average
Buttercup orSicilian
Buttercup FS OK Om PP
box PB
Golden, only
Rare, even as a showbird 36%
5 lb/2.3 kg
APA (1918): Large:MediterraneanPC: Light, Rare
Layer Fancy:Large buttercupcomb
Developed in Sicily, inmid-19th century.
white
buttercup
yellow skin&shanks
white
non-setter
heat tolerant;combs subject tofrostbite
early maturing, but full comb takeslonger
does not do well inclose confinement;very fidgety; active,flighty, wild even fora Mediterreanbreed; avoidshuman contact
APA (1914): Large:ContinentalBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft featherLight
LayerFancy: Somemales are hen-feathered
May have ancientancestry, but refined &further developed inBelgium in the 19thcentury. Braekel is aclosely relatedEuropean breed.
white
largesingle
white skin,blueshanks
white
non-setter
hardy; combsubject to frostbite
quick feathering but late maturing
economical eater;semi-adaptable toconfinement, butprefers free range;flyer; alert, lively; canbe curious; someare rather wild,others can be quitetolerant of humans
Our Birds: one henfree ranges even tolay eggs -- never ina standard nestingarea. Our cockrefused to beconfined when wetried to initate abreeding program.Some have been"friendly" enough toeat out of a hand orbe a gardencompanion. Ourfavorites among thewhite egg layers.
Beautiful birdwith uniquepencilling.
average
Catalana FS OK box PB
Buff
Very rare.8%
6 lb/2.7 kg
APA (1949): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Notrecognized
Layer
Developed in Spain inlate 19th century as ameat & egg bird.
white tolight tint
single
yellow skin&shanks
white
non-setter
very hardy in heat
early maturing
less tolerant ofclose confinement;active, vigorous,avoids humancontact
Brother Wilfred as agood meat & egg birdthat could stand theextreme cold.
yellow skin&shanks
red
extremely coldhardy
early maturing
although there arereports ofskittishness.
Our Birds: ourpartridges haveblended in so wellthey remainedrather anonymousfor a long time. Onewas a successfulmother hen andreturned to the flockonly to go broodyagain immediately.We have two nowand both have beenbroody much of theirsecond year.
Canada'sbreed.
average toabove
average
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Cochin FS OK Om AR
PP box GO PBclub
Buff, White, Black, &Partridge
Still popular as ashow bird.64%
Standard:8.5 lb/3.8 kg Bantam (aka Pekin):1.3 lb/.6 kg
APA (1874): Large: AsiaticBantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Soft featherHeavy
Fancy:Feather Footed,fully
Introduced from Chinain early 19th century.Originally known as theShanghai (a namealso used for theBrahma). The breedthat launched interestin poultry shows.Pekins are recognizedas a separate bantambreed in somecountries, rather thanas bantam Cochins.
tinted oryellowybrown
smallsingle
yellow skin& shanks
red
excellent brooder(or exceedinglyannoying as a toofrequent brooder); good mother; often used as afoster mother
robust, cold hardy
slow to mature
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, docile;more easily handled
Big ball of fluffand feathers.
below average
Cornish or White, Dark, White APA (1893): Developed in Cornwall pea can be broody; easily contained;
Delaware whileexperimenting withcrossing breeds forbroilers. An off-coloredsport of a Barred Rock/ New Hampshirecross that bred true.
Unknown in most ofthe world.
mediumto rich brown
yellow skin&shanks
red
robust; hardy inheat & cold
early maturing
range; calm, docile.
Our Birds: Whereours have stood outhas been for decentproductivity of verylarge eggs.
A broiler crossthat became a
breed.
well aboveaverage
Dominique or Dominiker
FS OK GO PPclub
Barred only
Rare, but now hasnew interest. 52%
Standard:5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam:1.5 lb/0.7 kg
APA (1874): Large: AmericanBantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy, Rare
Dual Purpose
Developed in NewEngland in early 19thcentury. Notdistinguished from theBarred Rock until APAStandards weredeveloped. Mostmodern Dominiquesmay be traced to stockdeveloped by A. Q.Carter after 1900.
brownrose
yellow skin&shanks
red
good. or frequent,brooder; goodmother
robust; cold hardy
early maturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm mostly,but more flighty thanother dual purposebreeds
Claimant to title"America's first
breed."
average
Dorking FS OK Om ARPP box GO RB
club
Silver Gray, White,Colored
Extremely rare. 16%/4% (silver/allother)
Standard:6.5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam:1.0 lb/0.8 kg
APA (1874): Large: EnglishBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft featherHeavy
Dual Purpose Fancy:Five-ToedShort legs
Ancient; believed tohave been introducedto England by Romans-- based primarily on adescription by aRoman writer of achicken with five toes.
creamywhite tolight tint
rose &single
white skin&shanks
red
great brooder (orannoyingly toofrequent brooder); good mother
less hardy ingeneral, but cold hardy
chicks delicate & slow to mature
adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm; docile;stately or awkward;fattens easily; moreeasily handled
Our Birds: firstbatch were quietcalm, but nextgeneration includedat least one veryflighty hen. One henhas beenparticularly broody.
Silver-Spangled,Golden-Spangled,Golden-Penciled,Silver-Penciled,White, Black
Less common.56%/24% (slvr-spng/all other)
Standard:4 lb/1.8 kg Bantam:1.5 lb/0.7 kg
APA (1874): Large:ContinentalBantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherLight
Layer
Developed in Holland(not Germany) before1700; may be ancient.Historical namesinclude Pheasants,Moonies, Crescents,Corals & Everlayers
low-glosswhite
rose
white skin,slate blueshanks
white
non-setter (or veryrarely broody)
hardy; cold hardy
very early maturing
very economicaleater; likes widerange; less tolerantof closeconfinement; highflyer; very flighty;spritely, active;mostly avoidshuman contact
Our Birds: ourshave been veryeconomical eaters,and in their primelaid well; eventhough smaller thanmost other hens,they have held theirown in a mixedflock. We have onehen left that waseight years old as ofspring 2009.Because smallwhite eggs are notespecially popularwith mostcustomers, weprobably won't begetting more.
The spritely,little "everyday
layer."
below average
Holland orAmericanHolland
White & Barred
Rare.
APA (1949): Large: AmericanBantam: Single
Established in 1949 asan improved, yellowskinned, heavy breed white
single
yellow skin
can be broody
cold hardy
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, good
APA (1874): Bantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: True Bantam
BantamShort legs
Developed in Japanas early as the 7thcentury perhaps fromIndo-Chinese stock.First introduced toEurope in 1860. Truestbred carry a "lethalgene" which is alsoconnected to theshortened legcharacteristic.
APA (1939): Large:ContinentalBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft featherLight
Layer
Developed in Germanyin early 19th century.Golden Lakenveldersare not standard.Vorwerk is a bantamwith theblack/gold/blackpattern.
white tolight tint
single
white skin,darkshanks
white
non-setter
hardy
early maturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; flyer; flighty,avoids humancontact.
Our Birds: neversociable, but noteasily startled,either. If we getmore, it will bebecause they arehandsome birds.
Shadow on asheet.
below averageto average
Lamona FS OK
White
Extinct or verging onextinction.0%
6.5 lb/2.9 kg
APA (1933): Large: AmericanBantam: SingleComb CleanLegged PC: Notrecognized
Dual Purpose
Developed by HarryLamon in 1912specifically to be ayellow skinned heavybreed with white eggs.
whitesingle
yellow skin&shanks
red
The rare,possibly
extinct, yellow-skinned, red-
ear-lobed,white-egg-laying table
bird.
average
Langshan FS OK box GO
PB
Black, White, & Blue.
Uncommon. 32%/16% (black/allother)
7.5 lb/3.4 kg
APA (1883): Large: AsiaticBantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Soft featherHeavy
Dual Purpose[formerly Meat] Fancy:Feather Footed,outside only
Introduced from Chinain mid-19th century.Major Croadintroduced them toEngland & gave hisname to an earlyvariety of Langshans.In Europe &elsewhere, distinctionsare made betweenCroad & ModernLangshans.
brown [Croad
Langshansonce lay very
darkbrown]
single
greyishwhite skin,darkshanks
red
can be broody
very hardy; coldhardy
slow to mature
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; active fortheir size; graceful;not as calm ordocile as other largebreeds
Our Birds: Onerooster was verypersonable and hada lovely, deepcrowing voice. We
liked him better thanthe hens who havenot stood out eitherin egg-laying norpersonality.
Leghorn FS OK Om AR
PP box GO PBRF club
Dark Brown, LightBrown, White, Buff,Black, Silver, Red,Black-Tailed Red,Columbian
Common. 84%/80%/32%white/brown/all other
Standard:4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam:1.75 lb/0.8 kg
APA (1874): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherLight
Layer
Ancient, but greatlydeveloped in 19th &20th centuries.Honored by theRomans, and the whitevariety was reportedlydeveloped for use inceremony andforetelling the future.One of the mostpopular birds aroundthe globe.
pearlwhite
(non-whitefeathered
varieties areless prolific.)
largesingle;also rose
yellow skin&shanks
white
non-setter (or veryrarely broody)
hardy; heat tolerant(esc. white variety);combs subject tofrostbite
Our Birds: Flightydoes describe thempretty well, but theyaren't withoutpersonality. One ofour first whiteLeghorns wouldlead the pack ingreeting us when wecame home.
The ultimateegg machine.
aboveaverage
[commercialwhites' areespecially
large]
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Malay FS OK PP GO
PB
Black Breasted Red,White, Spangled,Black, and Red Pyle
Very rare 4%
APA (1883): Large: All OtherBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Hard Feather,Rare
An ancient breedrelated to birdsindigenous to southernAsia from the Indiansub-continent toIndonesia. One of thefirst breeds to be
brown
productiveover short
season
strawberry
yellow skin& shanks
rich red
can be very broody
hardy, but notfeathered for coldwinters; very hardyin heat
needs to be active;intolerant of closeconfinement; amongthe mostaggressive, butmore placid thanmost game birds
7 lb/3.2 kg Game introduced from Asiato Europe, the breedspread quickly wherecock fighting wasenjoyed. It wasstandardized in the U.K. before beingintroduced to NorthAmerica.
average
very slow to mature
Marans FS Om PP box
GO RF
Dark, Cuckoo, others
Once little known, butnow becoming trendy.4%
Standard:7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam:2.2 lb/1.0 kg
APA: NotrecognizedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
LayerFeather or CleanFooted,dependingon countrystandard or strain
Developed in Francein early 20th century.Since French andEnglish standards aredifferent, and bothhave been importedinto North America,standardization in theUnited States may notoccur any time soon.
darkchocolate
brown
single
white skin&shanks
red
great brooder (orannoyingly toofrequent brooder)in some strains
some strains lesshardy
varies widely byindividual and strain.
Our Birds: Although"cuckoo" was meantto describe featherpattern, we thoughtit fit the personalityas well. Not exactlywild, some havebeen very activeand somewhatdifficult to manage.Others have beenquite calm. None ofours have laidespecially darkbrown eggs.
Known for onething --
chocolatecolored eggs.
average toabove
average
Minorca FS OK AR PPbox GO PB
Black, White, Buff
Rare to uncommon. 44%/28% (black/allother)
Standard:7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam:1.75 lb/0.8 kg
APA (1888): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherLight
Layer
Developed in Spain(and Minorca?) Onceknown as the Red-faced Black Spanish.
APA (1874): Large: All OtherBantam: GamePC: Hard Feather
Game
Developed in Englandin 19th century forexhibibiton, not forcockfighting.
white to lighttint
productiveover short
season
largesingle(oftendubbed)
yellow skin& shanks
red
can be broody; protective mother
not feathered forcoldest winters;hardy in heat; some subject tohealth problems
slow to mature
needs to be active;less tolerant ofclose confinement;aggressive, noisy
The game birdwith style and
carriage.below average
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Naked Neckor
TransylvanianNaked Neck
or Turken FS OK Om PP
box GO
Black, White, Red,and Red arerecognized by theAPA, but othervarieties include Blueand Cuckoo orBarred.
Uncommon. 44%
Standard:6 lb/2.7 kgBantam:1.5 lb/0.7 kg
APA (1965): Large: All OtherBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Heavy, Rare
Fancy: Bare neck
Originated in theTransylvanian region ofCentral Europe that isnow part of Romaniaand further developedin Germany. Firstshown in Vienna in1875 by breeders fromcounties that are nowpart of Romania.
creamylight
brown
single
yellow skin&shanks
red
can be broody; good mother
hardy in cold; does well in highheat because of fewerfeathers, but can getsunburned
slow to mature
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; active; calm,docile; more easilyhandled
No, it's not aturkey / chicken
cross.
average toabove
average
NewHampshire or
Light brownish red,only
Fairly common72%
APA (1935): Large: AmericanBantam: SingleComb CleanLegged
Developed in NewHamphire from theRhode Island Red inearly 20th century. light to
Our Birds: a fewhave been amongour favorites.Addled Adelaidewas our first hen toraise a brood ofchicks. She earnedher name forappearing to bescatter-brained attimes as a pullet, butwhen older couldalmost seemaffectionate --maybe she was justvery hungry. Severalenjoyed keepingclose to us whilegardening. Somehave beenaggressive inmaintaining theirposition in thepecking order.
Reportedly developedin Russia in 18thcentury from Persianstock. Once calledChlianskaia, currentname probably derivesfrom Count Orloff-Techesmensky, aRussian breeder
lightbrown
walnut
yellow skin&legs
red
non-setter
hardy
slow to mature
adapts toconfinement; calm,but not docile,avoids humancontact
Wild-lookingthing
below average
Orpington FS OK Om ARPP box GO
Buff, Black, Blue,White
Only buffs are stillpopular. 88%/8% (buff/allother)
Standard:8 lb/3.6 kgBantam:2.2 lb/1 kg
APA (1902): Large: EnglishBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
Dual Purpose [formerly Meat]
Originally developedby William Cook inOrpington (CountyKent) the 1880s.Some varietiesdeveloped by hisdaughter.
brown
single
white skin&white ordarkshanks
red
good, or frequent,brooder; excellent mother
hardy; very coldhardy
moderately earlymaturing
adaptable to freerange; veryadaptable toconfinement; docile;more easilyhandled; can bebullied
Our Birds: ourshave been docileenough, and somehave fit pretty low inthe pecking order,but none of ourshave shown the"friendliness" thatothers have claimedfor the breed.
Big gentle bird. average toabove
average
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
PenedesencaFS GO club
Creole, Partridge,Wheaten, Black
Very, very rare. Only
APA: Notrecognized PC: Notrecognized
Rescued, or somewhatdeveloped, fromancient stock inCatalan district of
verydark red-
clavell(carnation)
white skin,
non-setter
very hardy in heat
well adaptable tofree range; active;flighty; avoidshuman contact
known for good eggproduction, now almoststrictly ornamental.
white shanks
white
because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather; | may haveproblems with freezing crestfeathers; special care maybe needed since plumageblocks vision
obstructed visioncan hinder someactivities; can bebullied
Perhaps theoldest of the
crestedbreeds.
below average
Breed (with links to
other sites withimages and
moreinformation)
Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen
weigh?Class and Type Origins
Egg color &productivity;
egg size
Comb Skincolor
Earlobes
BroodingHardinessMaturing
Behavior
Redcap orRed Cap orDerbyshire
Redcap FS OK PP box
Red & black pattern,only
Very rare. 8%
6 lb/2.7 kg
APA (1888): Large: EnglishBantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft featherLight
Layer Fancy:Large rose comb
Developed inDerbyshire.
white
very largespikedrose
white skin,blueshanks
red
non-setter
hardy
moderately earlymaturing
can adapt toconfinement; active
Think hugerose comb.
below average
Rhode Island FS OK AL Om
AR PP box club
Rhode Island Red& Rhode IslandWhite (two separatebreeds)
Popular, butpurebreds areuncommon.
APA (1904/1922):Large: AmericanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
APA (1883): Large: AmericanBantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy
Dual Purpose
Developed in NewYork State &Wisconsin in late 19thcentury.
lightto richbrown
rose
yellow skin&shanks
red
infrequent brooder;excellent mother
robust; very coldhardy
moderately earlymaturing
well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm.
Our Birds: Most ofours have beendocile, but someindividuals havebeen aggressive.Most have beenaloof in terms ofhuman contact.
The "bird ofcurves."
above
Yokohama FS PP box
GO
Red shouldered &white; White; othercolors
Rare4%
4 lb/ 1.8 kg
APA: Large: All OtherBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Light Rare
Fancy:Long-tailed
Called Yokohama fromthe port of origin.Developed in Germanyin the 19th century fromthe Japanese long-tailed breed called theMinohiki.
tintedwalnut orpea
yellow skin& shanks
white
can be broody, protective mothers
because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather
slow to mature
requires specialhousing or cages &high perches toaccommodate longtails; generallydocile; cocks canbe pugnaciousaround other cocks
Elegant long-tail.
below average
Numerous books (new and old, and including those by authors Harry Lewis, Lewis Wright, Alanna Moore, H. S. Babcock, Caleb N. Bement, FrankL. Platt, Louis M. Hurd, James E. Rice and Harold E. Botsford, Joseph Batty, Ian Kay, Eric Bailey, Page Smith and Charles Daniel, and TamaraStaples), articles from Mother Earth News , Organic Gardening, and Science News, the Murray McMurray and Glenn Drown's Sand HillPreservation Center catalogs, the websites in the "KEY TO LINKS" section below, and multiple other Web sites were consulted in creating thechicken chart. Sources, of course, do not always agree, so personal judgments, common sense, and some personal knowledge were also usedin 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
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 thiswebsite.
= portrait (illustration rather than photograph) available on the Web. Illustrations are either by Diane Jacky, found either on her site orin 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 BreedsAL = The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Priority ListOm = Omlet UKAR = Poultry Photos, a collection of black and white photographs taken during the early 1900s by Arthur Rice, of Lincolnshire.PP = PoultryPage from Britainbox = Johan Opsomer's Chickenbox from the Nederlands. Links are to the main page. You will have to explore the site to find individualbreeds.GO = Hühnerrassen from Geflugel Online. Text is in German, but photos at the bottom of the pagePB = 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 StevensonRB = Rare Breeds Trust of Australiaclub = 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 anddifferent varieties within the same breed are accepted. Not all breeds listed here are recognized by the American Poultry Association, but forthe 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 andCanadian hatchery catalogs and breeder lists. For standard breeds, 25 hatcheries/breeders were used; for bantams 15 hatcheries/breederswere 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 meatand eggs. These days, most of these breeds are only found in backyards and small farms. [formerly Meat] indicates that in the days beforeCornish X Rock dominance (post World War II), this breed was highly prized as a meat bird. Layers are those breeds that are principallyused 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 arenoisy and pugnacious, but some can be docile toward toward humans, and hens can be very protective mothers. As a rule they have low egg
production. Fancy breeds are those with special features, such as crests, feathered feet, unusual colors, beards, muffs, or five toes. Somefancy breeds are strictly ornamental, but many others are will also be found among the layer and dual purpose breeds, as well. Bantambreeds 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 miniatureversions 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 intying fishing flies, especially when natural, undyed feathers are desired. In addition, long-tailed breeds are also used and special crossbredshave 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 haveseen 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, yourAustralorp may not reach half that number in her best year. Different lines of the same variety have been bred for different reasons, someemphasizing breeding to standard, others emphasizing egg-laying.
= winter layerChickens tend to be much better layers in the spring and summer; winter layers are those hens whose weekly egg rate show significantly lessdrop 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 frombird to bird. This is especially true of the dark brown egg laying breeds, many of which, disappointingly, will lay much lighter shades thanlisted. 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 eggsaverage 55 grams or less (under 2 ounces). Average eggs average 55 to 60 grams (about 2 ounces). Above average eggs are 60 grams ormore (more than 2 ounces). Egg sizes for bantams, except True Bantams that have their own listings, are not provided, but they fit the labelTINY. 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 layincreasingly larger eggs. Size of eggs will vary by both variety and individual hen. Perhaps the best example of this is the leghorn, since thecommercial 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 placeson 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 thelarge 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?],
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, soespecially for commercial egg producers, this is a bad trait. On the other hand, for some backyard chicken enthusiasts, the opportunity ofhaving a natural hatching experience is very desirable, so having a broody hen is a good thing. The range of broodiness goes from non-setters to great brooders. The Mediterranean breeds are notorious for not setting on their eggs. Silkies, on the other end of scale, have bothgreatly frustrated some owners for going broody so often and been prized for so often being available for hatching out eggs. Hens of allbreeds 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 withdifferent 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 asfriendly 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 thatwill 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, 2010All chicken portraits are by Diane Jacky and are used by permission. Photograph of egg assortment (before they became chipotle scrambled eggs) by Kelda BrownThis page was formerly known as the ICYouSee Handy Dandy Chicken Chart URL: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html