List of chicken breeds

Summary

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 edit

Afghanistan edit

Albania edit

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

Australia edit

 
Australian Australorp breed

Austria edit

  • Steinpiperl

Belgium edit

 
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 edit

Bulgaria edit

 

Canada edit

Chile edit

China edit

 
Silkie hen

Croatia edit

Cuba edit

 

Cyprus edit

  • Cypriot chicken

Czech Republic edit

Egypt edit

Finland edit

France edit

 
 
 

Germany edit

 
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 edit

Bantams edit

Greece edit

  • Alonissos island chicken[20]
  • Chios Fighting chicken[21]
  • Follidotes chicken[22]
  • Kalamata chicken[23]
  • Pomak Fighting chicken[24]
  • Lesvos Fillianes chicken[25]
  • Trikala chicken[26]

Iceland edit

India edit

 
Aseel, a fighting breed

Indonesia edit

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

Iran edit

 
Iranian Orloff breed
  •  Black Azerbaijan Marandi

Italy edit

 
Leghorn hen

Japan edit

Korea edit

Kosovo edit

 
Malaysian serama

Malaysia edit

Mariana Islands edit

Myanmar edit

Netherlands edit

 

Norway edit

Pakistan edit

  • Lyallpur Silver black[4]

Philippines edit

Poland edit

Portugal edit

Romania edit

 
 
Two Styrian hens with rich tufts

Russia edit

Serbia edit

  • Svrljig Black (Svrljiška kokoš)[4][35]

Slovakia edit

Slovenia edit

South Africa edit

Spain edit

 
Minorca rooster
 
A Cantabrian Pedresa rooster with no tail feathers

Sweden edit

Switzerland edit

 
The Appenzeller Spitzhauben, a rare Swiss crested breed

Taiwan edit

Thailand edit

Turkey edit

 
Turkish Sultan breed

Ukraine edit

United Kingdom edit

 
A buff Orpington cock

United States of America edit

Vietnam edit

By primary use edit

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 edit

 

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 edit

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

Dual-purpose edit

 
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 edit

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 edit

 
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 edit

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 edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Czech language names Czech gold brindle chicken include Česká slepice zlatě kropenatá, Česká zlatá kropenka, and Češka.[10][11]
  2. ^ The original breed of bantam chicken is ancestor to all "bantam" breeds. It originated in Indonesia and there is called Ayam Kate.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Ekarius (2007), p. 23
  2. ^ a b Ekarius (2007)
  3. ^ a b Heinrichs (2007)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em
    "Domestic Animal Diversity Information System". Food and Agriculture Organization. United Nations. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
    see also Domestic Animal Diversity Information System
  5. ^ "Altsteirer". Poultry. Feathersite.com. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p
    Rousseau, Jaak. "Grandes volailles". Large poultry breeds. telenet.be. Association pour la Promotion des Animaux de Basse-cour Belges (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t
    Rousseau, Jaak. "Volailles naines". Dwarf poultry breeds. telenet.be. Association pour la Promotion des Animaux de Basse-cour Belges (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Croatian hen". Poultry. Feathersite.com. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ^ Croatia Country Report (PDF). rfp-europe.org (Report). European RFP. 2009.
  10. ^ a b Gardianova (PDF). EAAP Annual Meeting. eaap.org. Papers. Vol. 01. Barcelona, ES. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-25. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  11. ^ a b c "Czech chicken breeds". ceske-slepice.eu. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Biodiversity in the Czech Republic". Animal genetic resources. Enrin.grida.no. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Nikkonen, Terhi (14 June 2011). Finnish AnGR conservation programme: What and how? (PDF). MTT Agrifood Research Finland. Workshop 14 June 2011. documents.plant.wur.nl. Seminars. Retrieved 1 January 2012 – via Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NL.
  14. ^ "Finnish chickens". Poultry. Feathersite.com. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Finnish National Animal Genetic Resources Program". Each country's efforts / Nordic conservation. Nordgen.org. InnehĂĽll / Farm Animals. Nordic Genetic Resource Center. Archived from the original on 2012-01-22. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao
    "French fowl". pagesperso-orange.fr. Fédération française des volailles. Volaille Poultry. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w
    "Hühner 2011". Chickens 2011. Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce
    "Listing of European poultry breeds and colours [for] 2013". entente-ee.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2013-06-16.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au
    "Zwerghühner 2011". Dwarf chickens 2011. bdrg.de (media archive). Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Alonissos island chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2023. local name 'double-yolk chicken'
  21. ^ "Chios fighting chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2023. local name 'Nysiriotiko'
  22. ^ "Follidotes chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Kalamata chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Pomak fighting chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Lesvos Fillianes chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Trikala chicken". Arca-Net.info. Breed Atlas. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-01. local name Gyftokokoras ("gypsy chicken")
  27. ^ Percy (2006), p. 17
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u
    "Atlante delle razze * di polli" [Atlas of chicken breeds]. agraria.org (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Kosova long-crowing rooster". Poultry. feathersite.com. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t
    "Hoenders en dwerghoenders". Chickens and dwarf chickens. Nederlandse Bond van Hoender, Dwerghoender, Sier- en Watervogelhouders (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  31. ^ a b c d e
    "Chicken breeds reported by Philippines". dad.fao.org. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization. United Nations. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  32. ^ a b c d e
    Bejar, Feleciano R.; Baylon, Manuel J.; Fabillar, Jaime B.; Mante, Lagrito Ebert B.; Ultra, Arturo A.; Aquino, Reynaldo R.; Bejar, Elvie T. (2012). Management Practices and Morphological Characterization of Indigenous (Native) Chickens in Samar Province. searca.org (Report). Agriculture & Development Discussion Paper. Vol. 2012–3. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2014-06-15.
  33. ^ a b c d
    "Aves" [Birds]. amiba.com.pt. Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Barrosã (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Banatski gološijan standard" (in Serbian). Sremska Mitrovica: Udruzenje za zastitu i odgoj sitnih zivotinja [Association for the protection and upbringing of small animals]. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  35. ^ "Svrljig Kokos". agrobiodiversity.net. Balkan Network for Agrobiodiversity (in Bosnian). Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  36. ^ a b c d
    Slovenske avtohtone in tradicionalne pasme domačih živali [Slovenian native and traditional breeds of farm animals] (PDF). genska-banka.si (Report). Oddelek za zootehniko, UL BF (in Slovenian). 2014. Retrieved 22 Oct 2021.
  37. ^ Holcman, Antonija (19 July 2021). "Styrian chickens". Poultry breeds / Breeds of Livestock. afs.okstate.edu. Department of Animal Science. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  38. ^ a b c
    Strelec, Alenka; Terčič, Dušan; Malovrh, Špela; Holcman, Antonija (2009). "Prireja in fizikalne lastnosti jajc slovenskih tradicionalnih pasem kokoši lahkega tipa" [Preparation and physical properties of eggs of Slovenian traditional breeds of light-type hens]. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica (in Slovenian). 1: 5–12.
  39. ^ Kobold, Primož (2017). "Primerjava proizvodnosti piščancev ross 308 in slovensko pozno operjene kokoši v pogojih ekološke reje" [Comparison of productivity of Ross 308 chickens vs. Slovenian late-plucked hens under organic farming conditions]. dk.um.si (in Slovenian). Maribor, SL: University of Maribor. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  40. ^ a b c
    "The indigenous poultry breeds of South Africa". Agricultural Research Council. Pretoria, ZA: Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l
    "Catálogo oficial de razas de ganado de España" [Official catalog of Spain's livestock breeds]. Ganaderia [livestock] (in Spanish). Madrid, ES: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Asociacion Cántabra ..." (main page). Asociacion Cántabra para la Conservación y Fomento de la Gallina Pedresa.
  43. ^ "Taiwanese Shamo". United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (chicken) (breed data sheet). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization. United Nations. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  44. ^ a b c "Chicken". Breeds reported by Thailand. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization. United Nations. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  45. ^ "Pradu Hang Dam Chiangmai" ไก่ประดู่หางดำเชียงใหม่ [Chiang Mai black-tailed Pradu chicken]. Chicken breed. Poultry Research and Development Section (in Thai). Thailand: Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Genetic Improvement, Department of Livestock Development. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  46. ^ Roberts (2008), p. 296
  47. ^ "Denizli rooster". Kultur.Gov.Tr. Department of Culture and Tourism. Republic of Turkey. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

Sources edit

  • Ekarius, Carol (2007). Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds (complete ed.). North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781580176675 – via archive.org.
  • Heinrichs, Christine (2007). How to Raise Chickens. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7938-0601-0 – via archive.org.
  • Percy, Pam (2006). The Field Guide to Chickens. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN 0-7603-2473-5 – via Google Books.

Roberts, Victoria (2008). British Poultry Standards. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424. Complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain.