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

Easter Eggers arecommon. StandardAmeraucanas arerare. 88%/8% (EEs/pure)

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

The chipmunkyblue-egger.

average toabove

average

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

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.

white tolight cream

single,also rose

yellow skin& shanks

white

non-setter

generally hardy; very cold hardyexcept for combs

early maturinghens

prefers free range;nervous & restlessin confinement; flyer;active, flighty,marked wildness,avoids humancontact

Much like aleghorn, with

black mottling.below average

Andalusian FS OK PP box

GO PB

Blue

Still popular as ashow bird.32%

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

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.

early maturing

semi-adaptable toconfinement, butprefers free range;active, flighty, noisy,avoids humancontact

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.

The originalblue.

aboveaverage

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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

Appenzelleror Appenzell

FS OKb OKs OmPP box GOb GOs

Spitzhauben (PointedHood)& Barthuhner (Bearded)

Spitzhaubenavailable butBarthuhner practicallyunknown8%/0% (sptz/brthr)

4 lb/1.8 kg

APA: NotrecognizedPC: Soft FeatherLight

LayerFancy:Crestedor Bearded

Developed inSwitzerland centuriesago. The name isthought to derive fromthe lace bonnets of theAppenzeller region.

white

horn, V-shaped,duplex

white skin,blueshanks

blueishwhite

can be broody

very cold hardy, except may haveproblems with freezing crestfeathers

early maturing

not very tolerant ofclose confinement;flyer; active, flighty

The nationalbreed of

Switzerland.

average

Araucana orRumplessAraucana

FS OK PP boxGO PB club

Black, White, BlackBreasted Red, Blue,Buff, Silver

Purebreds are veryrare. 0%

Standard:5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam:1.4 lb/0.65 kg

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

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Very rare.4%

Standard:5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam:2 lb/0.9 kg

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.

Famous forlarge dark

brown eggs.

average toabove

average

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try them again.Belgian

D'Anver, orAntwerpBelgian,Barbu

d'Anvers FS AR PP box

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

Uncommon33%

True bantam:1.3 lb/0.6 kg

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

very slow to maturefor full coloring

toleratesconfinement; fliers;calm, cocks lessaggressive thanother banties

The bearded,booted bantam

tiny

Booted orSabelpoot

FS PP box club

Black, Blue, Buff,Mille Fleur, Porcelain,White, Mottled, others

Very rare0%

True bantam:1.4 lb/0.65 kg

APA: Bantam: FeatherLeggedPC: True Bantam,Rare

BantamFeather Footed

One of the moreancient bantams;developed in theNetherlands.

creamywhite

single

white skin& shanks

bright red

great brooder (orannoyingly toofrequent brooder)

hardy

some reportsindicatechicks difficult torear

toleratesconfinement; fliers;hens calm, cockscan be aggressive

The booted,unbearded

bantamtiny

Breed (with links to

other sites withimages and

Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen Class and Type Origins

Egg color &productivity;

Comb Skincolor

BroodingHardiness Behavior

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images andmore

information)weigh? egg size color

Earlobes Maturing

Brahma FS OK Om AR

PP box GO PBclub

Light, Dark, Buff

Less common.48%/20% (light/allother)

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

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.

Large andregal.

average

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help shed light.

Was once the largestbreed of chicken.

Buckeye FS OK AL

Nut brown, only

Very rare. 12%

6.5 lb/2.9 kg

APA (1904): Large: AmericanPC: Notrecognized

Dual Purpose

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

Known for itscomb.

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

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Campine FS OK PP box

RB

Golden, Silver

Uncommon. 40%/32%(golden/silver)

5 lb/2.2 kg

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

The mostpopular breed

of SouthAmerica.

average

Chantecler FS OK box

White, Partridge APA (1921): Large: American

Developed in Canadain early 20th century by brown

cushion frequent brooder;good mother

bears confinementwell; calm, docile,

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FS OK boxExtremely rare. Rareeven in Canada.8%

6.5 lb/2.9 kg

Bantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Notrecognized

Dual Purpose

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;

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Indian Game FS OK Om AR

PP box GO

Laced, Red, Buff

Uncommon, 40%

Standard:8 lb/3.6 kgBantam:2.6 lb/1.2 kg

Large: EnglishBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Hard FeatherHeavy

Meat Game or Other

in 19th century. Nowprincipally usedcommercially for crossbreeding purposes forCornish X Rock.

lightbrown yellow skin

& shanks

red

protective mother

cold hardy

moderately earlymaturing

less active; verydocile for a gamebird, noisy, can bedocile or aggressive

Famed meatbird, especiallywhen crossed.

below average

Crevecoeur FS OK PP box

Black

Very rare. 16%

6.5 lb/3 kg

APA (1874): Large:ContinentalBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Heavy, Rare

Fancy:CrestedBearded & muffed

Developed inNormandy, perhapsbefore the 18thcentury.

whitehorn, V-shaped,duplex

white skin,darkshanks

red[hidden byfeathers]

non-setter

because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather; may haveproblems with freezing crestfeathers

suited for close (anddry) confinement;active; can beaggressive

Is it beautifuland elegant, orjust peculiar-

looking?

average

Cubalaya FS AL OK GO

Black-Breasted Red,White, Black

Practically unknownoutside theCaribbean untilrecently. 20%

4.5 lb/2 kg

APA (1939): Large:All OtherPC: Notrecognized

Game

Developed in Cuba in19th century fromPhillipine orIndonesian stock.

whitepea

white skin& shanks

white

great, or veryfrequent, brooder

not feathered forcold winters; veryhardy in heat

slow to mature

needs to be active;less tolerant ofclose confinement;aggressive, noisy

Cuba's fightingmeat bird.

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

White [Columbian] APA (1952): Large: American

Developed by GeorgeEllis in 1940 in

medium

single can be broody well adaptable toconfinement or free

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Delaware FS OK AL

Rare. 32%

Standard:6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam:1.8 lb./0.8 kg

Bantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Notrecognized

Dual Purpose

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.

Short legged,very ancient,very English.

below averageto average

Dutch FS Om PP

11 recognized,including Light

APA (1992): Bantam: Single

Developed in theNetherlands, perhaps light

single good, or frequent,brooder;

toleratesconfinement; fliers;

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box RF Brown, White, Black,

Blue, Blue LightBrown, Silver

Rare.0%

True bantam:1.0 lb/0.45 kg

Comb CleanLeggedPC: True Bantam

Bantam

from Dutch East Indiesstock. Introduced toNorth America afterWWII, declined,reintroduced in the 70s& 80s.

tint white skin& white orblueshanks

white

protective mother

hardy

slow to mature

active, lively, cockshave beencompared tosnapping turtles

The littlestbantam.

tiny

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

Faverolles FS OK Om PP

AR PP box club

Salmon, White

Once rare, butgaining popularity.44%

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

APA (1914): Large:ContinentalBantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy

Dual PurposeFancy:Bearded & muffedFeather footed,outside onlyFive-Toed

Developed in Francein early 19th century.

creamytint

smallsingle

white skin&shanks

red[hidden byfeathers]

can be broody

cold hardy; because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather

early maturing

bears confinementwell; alert; calm; verydocile; genteel;prone to bullying byothers

Our Birds: ourshave not thrived wellin the competitionwith mixed flock.Probably won'treplace them whenthe last one is gone.

The FrenchPoodle ofchickenbreeds.

average

Fayoumi or EgyptianFayoumi

FS PP

Gold & silverpenciled

Still rare.36%

3.5 lb/1.6 kg

APA: NotrecognizedPC: Soft featherLight

Layer

Ancient Egyptianorigins; only recentlyspread to the rest ofthe world.

off-whiteto light

tint

single

white skin,darkshanks

white

non-setter

very hardy;excellent hotweather bird

quick feathering & very earlymaturing

very economicaleater; does not likecontainment; lively;flighty, known forwildnessPrecocious

scavenger andescape artist.

below average

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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

Hamburg orHamburgh FS OK AR PP

box GO

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

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FS OK AL Rare. 12%

6.5 lb/2.9 kg

Comb CleanLeggedPC: Notrecognized

Dual Purpose

with white eggs.

Unknown in Holland &most of the rest ofworld.

&shanks

red

moderately slowmaturing

temperedThe calm

white-egger.average

Houdan FS OK Om PP

box

White, Mottled

Uncommon. 32%

Standard:6-7 lb/2.7-3.2 kg Bantam:1.75 lb/0.8 kg

APA (1874): Large:ContinentalBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Heavy, Rare

Dual Purpose Fancy:CrestedBeardedFive-Toed

Developed in Francebefore 1700, possiblyas a cross betweenPolish and Dorking orrelated breeds.

whiteleaf (or V)

white skin,darkershanks

white[hidden byfeathers]

can be broody

because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather; may haveproblems with freezing crestfeathers

early maturing

bears confinementwell; active; docile;more easily handled

The crestedFrench bird

with big eyes.

below averageto 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

Japanese orChabo (and

still called Japsin some parts of

the world) FS AR Om PP

box club

Black, White, BlackTailed, Birchen,Mottled, others

Popular86%

True bantam:1.3 lb/0.6 kg

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.

creamywhite

largesingle

white skin& shanks

bright red

excellent brooder(or annoyingly toofrequent brooder);protective mother

because of shortlegs & fancy feathering, not suited for foulweather

slow to mature

toleratesconfinement; someare fliers; generallydocile, cocks canbe aggressive

The short-legged, low-built, squirrel-tailed bantam.

tiny

Java FS OK AL

Black, Mottled APA (1874): Large: American

Developed in U.S.after being introduced brown

single good, or frequent,brooder

well adaptable toconfinement or free

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Extremely, perhapscritically rare.16%

7.5 lb/3.4 kg

Bantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Notrecognized

Dual Purpose

from Java in 1835. yellowskin,darkshanks

red

cold hardy

very slow maturing

range; calmOld breed, butendangered.

average

Jersey Giant FS OK Om PP

box GO

Black, White

Uncommon. Was indecline, but nowseems to be holdingits own. 56%/28% (black/allother)

10 lb/4.6 kg

APA (1922): Large: AmericanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Heavy, Rare

Dual Purpose [formerly Meat]

Developed in NewJersey in 1870s. Nevercommercially popular,but bird of choice forcapons

brown

smallsingle

yellowskin,darkshanks

red

occasionalbrooder; protective mother

robust; very coldhardy

very slow to mature

because of size, notan economicaleater; adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, gentle,more easilyhandled.

Our Birds: neverreached giant-sizedporportions; onegentle hen wasamong the easiestto pick up. We don'tcurrently have anybut may try themagain.

The chickenworld's largest

breed.

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

La Fleche FS OK Om PP

box GO

Black, Blue, White, &Cuckoo

Very rare. 12%

5.5 lb/2.5 kg

APA (1874): Large:ContinentalBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Heavy, Rare

Dual Purpose

Dates back to Francebefore 1660.

tintedwhite

horn, V-shaped,duplex

white skin,darkshanks

white

non-setter

hardy

early maturing

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; active, flighty,avoids humancontact

The devil bird.

aboveaverage

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Fancy:Horns for a comb

white

Lakenvelder FS OK Om PP

box GO

Black/white/blackpattern.

Rare.52%/20%(silver/gold)

4 lb/1.8 kg

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

The long-legged, high-

tailed, andfeather-footed

regal bird.

average

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(some varietiesare clean footed)

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

very early maturing

economical eater;better adaptable toconfinement thensomeMediterranean;enjoys free range;flyer; flighty; spritely,noisy, nervous,usually avoidshuman contact.

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

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A cruel-looking,elongated

giant.

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.

whitesingle &rose

white skin,darkshanks

white

non-setter

excellent hotweather bird; combs subject tofrostbite

early maturing

adaptable toconfinement, butprefers free range;restlessly active,flighty, avoidshuman contact

LargestMediterranean,

extra largeeggs.

aboveaverage

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Modern Gameor Modern

English GameFS OK AR PP

box GO

Black-Breasted Red,Silver Duckwing, RedPyle, White, Black,many others

Uncommon 16%

Standard:4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam:1.2 lb/0.55 kg

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

medium

largesingle

yellow skin&

good, oroccasional tofrequent, brooder;good mother

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm; can bedocile oraggressive; can be

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Hampshire orNew

HampshireRed

FS OK OmPPbox GO

72%

Standard:6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam:1.9 lb/0.85 kg

PC: Heavy, Rare

Dual Purpose

mediumdark brown shanks

red

robust; hardy inheat & cold; combs subject tofrostbite

very early maturing

curious

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.

NewHampshire's

answer toRhode Island.

average toabove

average

Old EnglishGame

FS OK Om ARPP box GO

Black-Breasted Red,Silver Duckwing, RedPyle, White, Black,many others

Uncommon 4%

Standard:4 lb/1.8 kg

APA (1928): Large: All OtherBantam: GamePC: Hard Feather

Game

Developed in Englandin 19th & 20th centuryfrom ancient stock

white to lighttint

productiveover short

season

largesingle(oftendubbed)

white skin& shanks

red

excellent brooder(or annoyingly toofrequent brooder); protective mother

hardy, but notfeathered forcoldest winters

slow to mature

needs to be active;less tolerant ofclose confinement;aggressive, self-sufficient; noisy

Small fightingcocks and their

mates.below average

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mates. Bantam:1.3 lb/0.6 kg

Orloff orRussianOrloff

FS PP box GO

Red, White

Very rare12%

6.0 lb/2.7 kg

APA: Notrecognized(dropped fromContinental)PC: Heavy, Rare

Fancy:Bearded & muffed

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

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Very, very rare. Onlyrecently available inNorth America.0%

4 lb/1.8 kg

LayerSpain in 20th century.Penedesenca Negradeveloped in 1980s.

brown blue-greyshanks

white

slow to matureThe dark egg

layer thatwears a crown

below average to average

Phoenix FS PP box

GO

Partridge; SilverDuckwing; White;other colors

Uncommon 36%

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

APA (1965): Large: All OtherBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Light Rare(not recognizedseparately fromYokohama)

FancyLong-tailed

Developed in Europeand the U.S. from theJapanese long-tailedbreed called theOnagadori.

white to tintedsingle

yellowskin;yellow orslateshanks

red

can be broody, protective mothers

reportedly shortlived; because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather

slow to mature

requires specialhousing or cages &high perches toaccommodate longtails; generallydocile

Honorablelong-tail.

below average

PlymouthRock

FS OK OmARPP box GO

club

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

Popular96%/84%/52%/32%(barred/white/prtg/allother)

Standard:7.5 lb/3.4 kgBantam:2.2 lb/1 kg

APA (1874): Large: AmericanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy

Dual Purpose

Developed in NewEngland in 19thcentury.

Once common on thehomestead, stillpopular in thebackyard.

light (orpinkish) tomediumbrown

smallsingle

yellow skin&shanks

red

infrequent brooder;good mother

robust; very coldhardy

somewhat earlymaturing

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm, docile;more easily handled

Our Birds: ourshave been good,solid, dependablebirds that haveblended in well withthe flock, notstanding out forgood or badreasons.

Once upon atime America'sfavorite breed.

aboveaverage

Polish orPoland

FS OK Om ARPP

Bearded &Beardless; Black,White, Golden, Silver,Buff Laced

APA (1874): Large:ContinentalBantam: All Other

Originated in Europe,but probably notPoland, before the16th century. Once

varies widely

to

small V

white skin,blue

non-setter

some subject tohealth problems;

bears confinementwell; mixed reports -- either calm orsomewhat flighty;

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PP

Popular as a showbird. 56%

4-4.5 lb/1.8-2 kg

Clean LeggedPC: Soft FeatherLight

Fancy:Crested

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

Dual Purpose

Developed in NewEngland in 19thcentury. rich

mediumbrown

largesingle;also rose

yellow skin&shanks

red

infrequent brooder;can be dutifulmother

robust; hardy inheat & cold; combs subject tofrostbite

moderately early

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; active, calm& fairly docile, canbe aggressive(cocks areespeciallynotorious)

Our Birds: we've

Best of breedsfor producingbrown eggs.

aboveaverage

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68%/44%/28%(production/red/white)

Standard:6.5 lb/2.9 kgBantam:2 lb/0.9 kg

moderately earlymaturing

Our Birds: we'vehad very limitedexperience, but thefew hens we havehad have beenmore aggressivethan most otherbreeds.

Rosecomb FS AR Om PP

Black, White, SilverLaced, others.

Common.67%

True bantam:1.3 lb/0.6 kg

APA (1874): Bantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: True Bantam

Bantam

Origins unclear &disputed. Claimed tobe direct descendantof the original Bantam,but may be related toHamburg.

white tocream

rose

yellow skin& shanks

white

non-setter

hardy in heat &cold

slow to mature?

toleratesconfinement; fliers;generally docile,cocks can beaggressiveThe original

rosecombed,clean-legged

bantam

tiny

Breed (with links to

other sites withimages & more

information)

Varieties / Rarity /What's a hen

weigh?Class & Type Origins

Egg color &productivity;

egg size

Comb Skincolor

Earlobes

BroodingHardinessMaturing

Behavior

Sebright FS AR Om PP

box

Silver, Golden

Very popular.87%

True bantam:1.3 lb/0.6 kg

APA (1874): Bantam: RoseComb CleanLeggedPC: True Bantam

BantamBoth male &female hen-feathered

Developed before1810 in England by SirJohn Sebright, afterthirty years ofbreeding.

creamywhite

rose

yellow skin& shanks

purplishred

non-setter

not robust; | chicks difficult torear

slow to mature

toleratesconfinement; fliers;jaunty, sprightly

The beautifullylaced bantam

tiny

Silkie FS OK AR Om

box

Bearded &Beardless; Black,White, Blue, Buff,Partridge, Gray

Probably the mostpopular bantam

APA (1874): Bantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Softfeathered Light &Bantam both

Already developed inChina by the time ofMarco Polo (13thcentury)

Large & Bantamclasses are

lighttint

walnut

black skin& shanks

turquoise

one of the mostbroody (or veryannoyingly toofrequent brooder)

hardy in heat &cold;

adapts well toconfinement; calm,docile

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An oddity ofoddities of thepoultry and pet

world

popular bantambreeds.100%

True bantam:2.2 lb/1 kg

Black skin, face,comb, & wattlesHair-like plumageTurquoiseearlobesFive-ToedCrestedFeather footed

recognized in somecountries

below average

cold; because of fancyfeathering, not suited for foulweather

slow to mature

Spanish,White-Faced

BlackSpanish,Spanish

White Ear, orClownfaceFS OK PP box

GO PB

White-Faced Blackonly

Very rare, &becoming even rarer. 12%

6 lb/2.7 kg

APA (1874): Large:MediterraneanBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Light, Rare

LayerFancy:White face

Oldest of theMediterranean breeds,developed in Spain.

white

largesingle

grey skin,darkshanks

white

non-setter

reportedly subjectto health problems;heat tolerant; combs subject tofrostbite

slow to develop; white face takesmore than a year

adaptable toconfinement, butprefers free range;flighty, haughty,noisy, avoids humancontact

Handsome,graceful, rare.

aboveaverage

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

Sultan FS OK PP box

White, only

Uncommon. 24%

4.0 lb/ 1.8 kg

APA (1874): Large: All OtherBantam: FeatherLeggedPC: Light, Rare

Fancy:CrestedBearded & muffedFeather-footed,fullyFive toed

Introduced from Turkeyin mid-19th century. white

horn, V-shaped,duplex

white skin& shanks

white?[hiddenunderfeathers

non-setter

not suited for foulweather; may haveproblems with freezing crestfeathers

moderately slowdeveloping

suited for closeconfinement; calm,non-aggressive;more easily handled

All for show.

below average

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Sumatra FS OK PP box GO

PB

Black, only

Uncommon40%

7 lb/ 3.2 kg

APA (1883): Large: All OtherBantam: All OtherClean LeggedPC: Light, Rare

Game

An ancient breed,introduced fromSumatra.

whiteor

light tint

productiveover very

short season

largesingle

yellow skin& shanks

dark red

can be broody

not feathered forcold winters; hardyin heat

needs to be active;intolerant of closeconfinement;pugnacious

A giant on longlegs average

Sussex

FS OK Om ARPP box GO RF

Speckled, Red, Light

Uncommon.44%/0% (speckled/allother)

Standard:7 lb/3.2 kgBantam:2.2 lb/1 kg

APA (1914): Large: EnglishBantam: SingleComb CleanLeggedPC: Soft FeatherHeavy

Dual Purpose

Developed in county ofSussex in early 19thcentury. creamy

to lightbrown

single

white skin&shanks

red

good brooder &mother

robust; very coldhardy

moderately earlymaturing

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; calm; gentle;active; can becurious; more easilyhandled

Our Birds: a fewhave been amongour favorites forpersonality.

An old Englishfavorite

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

Welsumer orWelsummer FS AR Om PPbox GO club

Red Partridge

Once little known, butgaining popularity. 12%

Standard:6 lb/2.7 kgBantam:2 lb/0.9 kg

APA (2001): Large:ContinentalPC: Soft FeatherLight

Dual Purpose

Developed in Hollandin 20th century.

richdark

terracottabrown

smallsingle

yellow skin&shanks

red

mixed reports on setting & brooding

hardy; cold hardy

moderately earlymaturing

well adaptable toconfinement or freerange; lively, butmore docile thanflighty.

Our Birds: some ofour hens have laidsolid dark browneggs. Even morepopular with manyof our customers

Backyard birdwith big brown

eggs.

aboveaverage

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have been the verylarge speckledbrown Welsumereggs.

Wyandotte FS OK Om AR

PP box GO PB

Silver Laced, GoldenLaced, White, Buff,Partridge, SilveredPenciled, Columbian

Popular. 92%/64%/24%(slver/gold/all other)

Standard:6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam:2.2 lb/1 kg

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

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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

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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?],

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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 (jhenderson@ithaca.edu), 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

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