Holland Chickens

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Photo Credit: Photo by Lynn Stone

Use: The rare Holland chicken is a wonderful dual-purpose breed that thrives in a free-range environment. Hens lay a good amount of white eggs yearly. Photo by Lynn Stone

History: Developed by Rutger’s University scientists in New Jersey in the 1930s, the American variety of the Holland chicken breed was not named after its place of origin. Instead, the bird was named after its ancestry, the result of a cross between Holland stock and several American chicken breeds. At the time, there was a high demand for white eggs, believed to be more delicate in flavor. White-egg laying chickens were lightweight and therefore not seen as dual-purpose. The Holland was the answer to this growing demand and was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1949.

Conformation: The Holland is a medium-sized, heavy chicken breed with a meaty carcass. Its single comb is moderately large and bright red with six well-defined points. The White Holland variety is a result of crossing imported Holland stock with the White Leghorn, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red and Lamona. The barred variety is the result of crossing the White Leghorn, Australorp, Barred Plymouth Rock and Brown Leghorn. Standard Holland cocks weigh 8½ pounds and hens weigh 6½ pounds; bantam cocks weigh 34 ounces and bantam hens weigh 30 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: Holland chickens grow slowly, but make up for this small disadvantage in their ability to forage for some of its food. Great for hobby farmers, the Holland thrives in backyards and barnyards and does fairly well in varying climates; however, males may encounter some comb frostbite in extremely cold conditions. The Holland chicken is listed in the Critical category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List. While it’s difficult to find to purchase, those who make the effort to breed it can help preserve the rarest of American chickens.

Animals Breeds Poultry

Houdan Chickens

Use: The Houdan chicken breed meets dual-purpose criteria as a great layer and table fowl. Hens are good layers of small white eggs, laying well into winter.

History: It’s unclear when exactly the Houdan chicken breed was first established, but it’s known to be a very old breed that originated in the village of Houdan, France. Houdan lies about 100 miles outside of Paris and has a long history of supplying both meat and eggs to the French capital. The breed is possibly a cross of the Polish or Dorking chicken breeds and Crevecoeur chicken breed along with native five-toed chickens. Houdan chickens arrived in England in 1850 and then were brought to North America around 1865. The breed was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1874.

Conformation: The APA recognizes two Houdan varieties: Mottled and White. Both have standard plumage. The crest, comb, beard and five toes characteristic of the breed make it easily identifiable, even as chicks. Its small, V-shaped comb is red and rests against the crest. The wattles are also red, and the white earlobes are hidden beneath the beard and crest. The shanks on Mottled Houdans are pinkish-white with black mottling, while the shanks of White Houdans are solid pinkish-white. Standard Houdan cocks weigh 8 pounds and hens weigh 6½ pounds; bantam cocks weigh 34 ounces and bantam hens weigh 30 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: The Houdan chicken breed has received the coveted French “Label Rouge” for excellence in production and taste. Hens are somewhat heavy and sometimes break eggs. This can be avoided by not allowing a clutch to gather. To avoid soiling their unique feathering, farmers should consider shallow water bowls and covered runs. The Houdan is known to be exceptionally gentle, an excellent choice for hobby and urban farmers as well as for children. It does well in confinement, but will also forage in yards and free range. The Houdan chicken is listed in the Watch category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry Uncategorized

Iowa Blue Chickens

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Photo Credit: Photo by Lynn Stone

Use: The nearly extinct Iowa Blue chicken breed has great dual-purpose qualities. Photo by Lynn Stone

History: Very little is known about the origins of the Iowa Blue chicken, though a folktale surrounding the breed has its lineage beginning with a Leghorn hen. The Leghorn is believed to have gone broody while under a building, reemerging with chicks like none seen before. Some of the chicks were colored basic chestnut while others appeared uniquely pheasant-like with remarkable color patterns. Those familiar with the Iowa Blue chicken breed will say that a pheasant fathered the Iowa Blue.

Conformation: Despite being called “blue,” the Iowa Blue chicken breed does not exhibit true blue feathering. Head, neck and breasts are white or silvery white, with a thin black stripe down the middle, which transitions to white-laced black feathers. The remaining plumage is bluish-black or gray with penciling. Some variation exists between males and females in the back and saddle feathers. Its comb is red, single and upright with six defined points. Its medium- to large-sized earlobes and wattle are red, too. Shanks and toes are slate. Standard Iowa Blue cocks weigh 7 pounds and hens weigh 6 pounds.

Special Considerations/Notes: The Iowa Blue chicken breed is extremely rare and can be difficult to find; however, it makes a great addition to backyard and barnyard flocks. It’s a great forager, and farmers can enjoy its dual-purpose capabilities while helping to restore a near extinct breed. The Iowa Blue is listed in the Study category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry

Japanese Bantam Chickens

Use: This extraordinary, ornamental Japanese Bantam chicken breed was originally favored by the aristocratic class of Japanese society as ornamental garden birds. Hens make wonderful mothers and will lay an average of 1 very small, creamy-white egg per week.

History: The Japanese Bantam arrived in Japan as early as the 7th century, perhaps from Indo-Chinese stock. In Japan, they are called Chabo, which translates to dwarf or bantam as well as to a type of bonsai tree. The Japanese Bantam was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1874.

Conformation: The Japanese Bantam has a large, upright tail that sits forward on the body creating a V-shaped appearance. Wings are large and held at a downward angle, which in combination with their short, yellow shanks, causes the wings to touch the ground. The APA recognizes the following color varieties: Barred, Black, Black-tailed Buff, Black-tailed White, Brown Red, Gray, Mottled, Wheaten and White. The breed’s comb, wattles and earlobes are bright- or dark-red and medium to large in size. Japanese Bantam cocks weigh 26 ounces and hens weigh 22 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: The Japanese Bantam can be a difficult chicken breed for new poultry keepers because its form and plumage is difficult to achieve and requires extra attention. It also suffers from an allele (an alternative form of a gene) combination that kills about 25 percent of chicks shortly before hatching. The breed is not cold-hardy, and during winter months, it will require insulated coops, sometimes with the addition of supplemental heat. The American Bantam Association counts them among the 10 most-popular chicken breeds, proof that poultry enthusiasts believe them to be worth the extra effort. When allowed to free-range, Japanese Bantams will happily forage and fly. They are tamed easily, though cocks might be aggressive.

Animals Breeds Poultry

Lakenvelder Chickens

Use: The Lakenvelder chicken breed lays well, hens are non-broody setters of medium-sized porcelain-white eggs. Though the breed is not very large in size, chickens produce a small amount of tasty meat. Plus, the breed, with its strong contrast of black and white feathers, resembling a dark shadow cast on a white sheet, makes a beautiful flock addition.

History: Several different stories are circulating regarding the origins of the Lakenvelder chicken breed. Some say the breed was developed near the border of Holland and Germany during the early 19th century. Others will argue that it has a far more ancient lineage, possibly having ancestors related to the first domestic chickens. What we do know of the Lakenvelder breed is that it first arrived in America around 1900 and was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1939.

Conformation: The Lakenvelder’s head, neck, saddle and tail has rich black plumage while its body is a brilliant white. This type of color contrasting is sometimes referred to as a “belt.” The chicken breed is quick to mature, yet its distinctive plumage and markings usually take until the third molting to fully appear. Atop the Lakenvelder’s black head sits a red, medium-sized single comb with five points, which stands uniquely upright on females. Its red wattles are medium-sized and well-rounded. Its earlobes are white, and its legs are slate. Standard Lakenvelder cocks weigh 5 pounds and hens weigh 4 pounds; bantam cocks weigh 24 ounces and bantam hens weigh 20 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: Flighty and willing to forage, the Lakenvelder chicken breed is most comfortable in a free-range environment. It tends to be nervous and uncomfortable in confinement, so farmers unable to offer spacious yards might not want to invest too much thought into the Lakenvelder. The Lakenvelder chicken is listed in the Threatened category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry Uncategorized

Lamona Chickens

Use: The Lamona is an extremely rare dual-purpose chicken. Hens are recorded as laying as many as 268 large, white eggs per year.

History: The story of the Lamona chicken breed begins in the early 20th century with Harry M. Lamon, senior poultryman for the government station in Beltsville, Md. Lamon wanted to create a chicken breed that would produce large, white eggs and sell at top dollar as a table fowl, capable of providing quality meat even after egg production slowed down. This was a desirable quality in a dual-purpose breed, as older layers tended to produce tough meat. Lamon also wanted the chicken breed to have a distinct appearance: white with yellow skin, beak and legs, plus a larger body and red earlobes to help to set the chicken apart from the Leghorn.

After 16 years, in 1921, Lamon introduced a new chicken breed called the Lamona, a crossing of Silver-Gray Dorkings, White Plymouth Rocks and White Leghorns. Because of Lamon’s noteworthy dedication to creating the outstanding breed, Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace honored him by approving the recommendation that the breed be named after its originator. The Lamona chicken breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1933.

Conformation: Very little is known about the current physical appearance of the Lamona chicken breed except that it has a single comb, well-rounded body, red earlobes and four toes. Standard Lamona cocks weigh 8 pounds and hens weigh 6½ pounds. Bantam cocks weigh 34 ounces and hens weigh 30 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: The Lamona chicken breed saw a strong decline up until the 1980s, when it was thought to be extinct. However, in 2005 it was discovered that two possible flocks might remain in existence. (The owners of these rare chickens wish to remain anonymous for the time being.) The Lamona chicken is listed in the Study category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry

Malay Chickens

Use: The ancient Malay is the tallest of all chicken breeds and is best suited to fanciers and breeders wishing to revive the lines of Oriental poultry. Hens make unreliable layers and typically lay for a just a few months out of the year.

History: Once intended for fighting purposes, the Malay is an extremely ancient breed descending from the great Malay or Kulm fowls of India. It’s likened to the Aseel breed of India, with origins dating back nearly 3,500 years, though it is impossible to determine which breed is older. By 1846, Malays were the first Asiatic fowl of this enormous size to arrive in America. The breed was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1883.

Conformation: Standing as tall as 26 to 30 inches in height, the Malay is one of the tallest chicken breeds. The APA recognizes six color varieties: Black, Black-Breasted Red, Red Pyle, Spangled, Wheaten and White. Malays are often described as having a cruel expression, a result of their overhanging brow bone. Shanks are typically yellow with large scales and range from dark-horn to dusky-yellow. The strawberry comb, wattles, and earlobes are small and red. Standard Malay cocks weigh 9 pounds and hens weigh 7 pounds. Bantam cocks weigh 44 ounces and bantam hens weigh 36 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: The modern Malay chicken breed still displays some aggression toward other chickens, a remnant of its fighting days. The breed is intolerant of confinement and is best kept separated or with a maximum of two hens; however, it can become quite friendly toward keepers and is wonderful for showing. Because of the Malay’s height, keepers should keep placement of food and waterers in mind. The Malay chicken is listed in the Threatened category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry Uncategorized

Manx Rumpy Chickens

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Photo Credit: Diane Jacky

Use: The dual-purpose Manx Rumpy earned its name during the 20th century, when a farmer saw a resemblance between the chicken breed and the tailless Manx cat. Fertility is notoriously low in hens, but they’re good layers of medium-sized eggs in various colors. Illustration by Diane Jacky

History: The Manx Rumpy chicken breed hails from the Persian Gulf region, where it received its original name, Persian Rumpless. Very little is known about when the Manx Rumpy arrived in North America, where breeders have worked to restore this useful dual-purpose chicken. The Manx Rumpy is not listed in the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection.

Conformation: The Manx Rumpy chicken breed, like the Aracuana, is missing the final vertebrae needed to hold tail feathers upright. Plumage color varies, as do comb types; however, small and single combs are most common. Wattles and earlobes are bright red, though earlobes sometimes have a white center. Manx Rumpy cocks weigh 5½ pounds and hens weigh 4½ pounds.

Special Considerations/Notes: As vigorous foragers, the Manx Rumpy chicken breed requires little to no additional food supplements from keepers when given free range. It’s listed in the Study category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Large Animals

Exmoor Pony

Use: An ambassador of the past, the Exmoor pony has remained relatively unchanged since prehistoric times. Eleven herds still live in a semi-feral state within Exmoor National Park in southwestern England. While traditionally used to tend and herd livestock, because of their hardiness, they excel at trail, endurance, harness and as children’s mounts.

History:

Exmoor ponies first arrived in Britain from Alaska about 130,000 years ago and were hunted by humans for their meat, skin and fat. Due to climate change the pony was restricted to mountain and moorland areas and became known as the British Hill pony. Ponies from these herds were eventually domesticated bythe Celts and used primarily to pull chariots. Later, with the introduction of horses from continental Europe, nearly all of the British Hill pony populations were diluted. Only the geographically isolated ponies on Exmoor escaped with little crossbreeding.

In 1921, the Exmoor Pony Society was established in order to preserve the ponies. The 1940s were disastrous for the pony breed. U.S. troops stationed near the herds used the ponies for target practice and others were stolen and butchered for food. By the end of the World War II, around 50 Exmoor ponies remained. Shortly after, Mary Etherington, a conservationist and supporter of the breed, helped breeders re-establish their Exmoor pony herds.

Conformation: The Exmoor pony has been shaped by nature so there is little variation within the breed. The typical Exmoor pony is squarely built. Stallions and geldings stand between 47 and 51 inches tall, while mares average about an inch shorter. The Exmoor pony’s double-layered coats are bay, brown or dun with black spots and a mealy color on the muzzles, around the eyes and inside flanks. The tail hair is short around the dock and splays outward, which helps channel rain. The pony’s large, protruding eyes are known as “toad eyes” and are protected by a raised rim of fat that helps deflect water.

Special Considerations/Notes: Every year in the Exmoor National Park, the pony herds are rounded up for inspection. Foals that don’t meet the breed standards are sold. The Moorland Mousie Trust, located within the park, is a charity dedicated to placing unwanted ponies and saving them from slaughter. With only 800 individuals in the world, the Exmoor pony is listed as Threatened on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Animals Breeds Poultry

Modern Game Chickens

Use: The Modern Game is an ornamental chicken breed that can be friendly despite its history of use in cockfighting. Hens will lay about 100 small eggs yearly.

History: Although the Modern Game chicken breed may stir up ideas of olden day cockfighting, it was never actually used in combat. In 1849, when cockfighting was outlawed in Britain, breeders were left wanting another form of competition. In response, a chicken similar in appearance to traditional game fowl with potential for showing in exhibition was created. As a way of emphasizing the chicken breed’s shape and slenderness, Modern Games once underwent a now commonly outlawed procedure called “dubbing,” in which they were stripped of their combs and wattles; however, the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection recommends a cock’s comb, wattles and earlobes be dubbed to keep the head, lower mandible and throat free from ridges. The Modern Game was recognized by the APA in 1874.

Conformation: Breeders mated the Malay with Old English game fowl, resulting in the Modern Game chicken breed. The APA recognizes several color varieties including: Birchen, Black, Black-breasted Red, Blue, Blue-breasted Red, Brown Red, Golden Duckwing, Lemon Blue, Red Pyle, Silver Blue, Silver Duckwing, Wheaten and White. All have standard plumage with some exceptions. The single comb, wattles and earlobes are small, and colors can be red, bright red, dark purple or mulberry. Shank colors vary with plumage, though yellow is most common. Standard Modern Game cocks weigh 6 pounds and hens weigh 4½ pounds; bantam cocks weigh 22 ounces and bantam hens weigh 20 ounces.

Special Considerations/Notes: The Modern Game chicken breed might exhibit aggression and noisiness; however, it’s typically gentle toward handlers. This quality along with the breed’s willingness to be trained will please chicken fanciers. The small, close-fitting feathers do not lend themselves to cold hardiness, so insulated coops are necessary. The Modern Game is listed in the Critical category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.