List of chicken breeds

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There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence.[1] Domesticated for thousands of years, distinguishable breeds of chicken have been present since the combined factors of geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics created regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits passed on to their offspring.

Illustration of thirty-nine varieties of chicken (and one Guinea Fowl)

The physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds are size, plumage color, comb type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg color, and place of origin.[1] They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and with some considered to be dual-purpose.[1]

Difference between the sizes of a Brahma Blue rooster and a bantam rooster

In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standards set down by governing organizations. The first of such standards was the British Poultry Standard, which is still in publication today.[2][3] Other standards include the Standard of Perfection, the Australian Poultry Standard, and the standard of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam fowl.[3] Only some of the known breeds are included in these publications, and only those breeds are eligible to be shown competitively. There are additionally a few hybrid strains which are common in the poultry world, especially in large poultry farms. These types are first generation crosses of true breeds. Hybrids do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring, but are highly valued for their producing abilities.[1]


Table of contents

By place of origin:AfghanistanAlbaniaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBrazilBulgariaCanadaChileChinaCroatiaCubaCzech RepublicEgyptFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranItalyJapanKoreaKosovoMalaysiaMyanmarNetherlandsNorwayPakistanPhilippinesPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSouth AfricaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandThailandTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesVietnam

By primary use:EggsMeatDual-purposeExhibition

Other:BantamsHybrids

See also   •    References   •    Sources

By place of origin

Afghanistan

Albania

  • Commune hen[4]
  • Black Tropoja Lekbibaj[4]
  • Tirana[4]

Australia

Australian Australorp breed

Austria

  • Steinpiperl

Belgium

Belgian d'Everberg
ornamental bantam
  • Coucou des Flandres or Vlaanderse koekoek[6]
  • Famennoise or Famennehoen[6][7] (large and bantam)
  • Fauve de Hesbaye or Gele van Haspengouw[6]
  • Fauve de Mehaigne or Gele van Mehaigne[7] (bantam)
  • Herve or Hervehoen[6][7] (large and bantam)
  • Huttegem[4]
  • Malines or Mechels hoen[6][7] (large and bantam)
  • Mechelse kalkoenkop[4]
  • Naine belge or Belgische kriel[7] (bantam)
  • Naine de Waes or Waasse kriel[7] (bantam)
  • Naine du Tournaisis or Doornikse kriel[7] (bantam)
  • Pondeuse de Zingem or Zingems leghoen[6]
  • Poule d'Aarschot or Aarschots hoen[6]
  • Poule de la vallée de la Zwalm or Hoen van de Zwalmvallei[6]
  • Poule de Zottegem or Zottegems hoen[6]
  • Zingems vleeshoen[4]

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

China

Silkie hen

Croatia

Međimurje Chicken cock

Cuba

Cyprus

  • Cypriot chicken

Czech Republic

Egypt

Finland

France

Germany

The oldest German breed, the Bergische Kräher
(illustration by Jean Bungartz, 1885)
The longtailed Phoenix, a German breed derived from the Japanese Onagadori.
The auto-sexing Bielefelder, created in the 70s

Large breeds

Bantams

Greece

  • Alonissos island chicken[21]
  • Chios Fighting chicken[22]
  • Follidotes chicken[23]
  • Kalamata chicken[24]
  • Pomak Fighting chicken[25]
  • Lesvos Fillianes chicken[26]
  • Trikala chicken[27]

Iceland

India

Aseel, a fighting breed

Indonesia

  • Kedu (nationally standardized)
  • Sentul (nationally standardized)
  • Kokok Balenggek (nationally standardized)
  • Pelung (long-crower from West Java, locally standardized)

Iran

Iranian Orloff breed
  •  Black Azerbaijan Marandi

Italy

Leghorn hen

Japan

Korea

Kosovo

Malaysian serama

Malaysia

Mariana Islands

Myanmar

Netherlands

Norway

Pakistan

  • Lyallpur Silver black[4]

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Two Styrian hens with rich tufts

Russia

Serbia

  • Svrljig Black (Svrljiška kokoš)[4][36]

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Minorca rooster
A Cantabrian Pedresa rooster with no tail feathers

Sweden

Switzerland

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben, a rare Swiss crested breed

Taiwan

Thailand

Turkey

Turkish Sultan breed

Ukraine

United Kingdom

A buff Orpington cock

United States of America

Vietnam

By primary use

All chickens lay eggs, have edible meat, and possess a unique appearance. However, distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits. Any breed may be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use.

Eggs

Many breeds were selected and are used primarily for producing eggs, these are mostly light-weight birds whose hens do not go broody often.

Meat

Most farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production. Some breeds are raised mainly for meat:

Dual-purpose

dual-purpose Barred
Plymouth Rock
breed

The generalist breeds used in barnyards worldwide are adaptable utility birds good at producing both meat and eggs. Though some may be slightly better for one of these purposes, they are usually called dual-purpose breeds.

Exhibition

Since the 19th century, poultry fancy, the breeding and competitive exhibition of poultry as a hobby, has grown to be a huge influence on chicken breeds. Many breeds have always been kept for ornamental purposes, and others have been shifted from their original use to become first and foremost exhibition fowl, even if they may retain some inherent utility. Since the sport of cockfighting has been outlawed in the developed world, most breeds first developed for this purpose, called game fowl, are now seen principally in the show ring rather than the cock pit as fighting cocks.

Key

U denotes a breed primarily used for exhibition, but which is still used for utility purposes.

G denotes a game breed.

Bantams

Golden Sebright cockerel

Most large chicken breeds have a bantam counterpart, sometimes referred to as a miniature. Miniatures are usually one-fifth to one-quarter the size of the standard breed, but they are expected to exhibit all of the standard breed's characteristics. A true bantam has no large counterpart, and is naturally small. The true bantams include:

Crossbreeds

Many common strains of crossbred chickens exist, but none breed true or are recognized by poultry breed standards; thus, though they are extremely common in flocks focusing on high productivity, crossbreeds do not technically meet the definition of a breed. Most crossbreed strains are sex linked, allowing for easy chick sexing.

See also

Footnotes

References

Sources