List of chicken breeds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred by farmers and hobbyists according to predetermined breed standards set down by governing organizations. The most commonly-used of such standards is the Standard of Perfection published by the American Poultry Association (APA), the oldest livestock organization in the New World. Others include European standards and that of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam fowl. Only some of the known breeds are included in these publications, and only those breeds are eligible to shown competitively.

Chicken breeds are grouped by several factors. First, large (or standard) size breeds and the smaller bantam breeds are separated. Most standard breeds have a bantam version miniaturized from them. But there are few naturally diminutive chickens with no large relation, these are known as true bantams. The next subdivision is that of the Class, which is used by published standards to classify breeds according to region of origin. The Standard of Perfection Classes are American, Asiatic, Continental, English, Mediterranean, and "All Other Standard Breeds". Within breeds, there are subdivisions called varieties which are differentiated though physical characteristics such as color and comb type.

There are additionally a few hybrid strains which are common in the poultry world. 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.

Table of contents
By place of origin: Australia • Belgium • Canada • Chile • China • Cuba • Egypt • France • Germany • India • Italy • Japan • Malaysia • Netherlands • Norway • Persia • Russia • Spain • Sumatra • Switzerland • Transylvania • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States
By primary use: Eggs • Meat • Dual-purpose • Exhibition
See also       Footnotes       References

[edit] By place of origin

[edit] Australia

• Australorp

[edit] Belgium

Barbu de Watermaal Bearded d'Anvers (or Antwerp Belgian) Bearded d'Uccle Belgian d'Everberg

Campine Brabanter Braekel

[edit] Canada

• Chantecler

[edit] Chile

• Araucana

[edit] China

• Cochin
• Croad Langshan
• Nankin
• Pekin
• Silkie

[edit] Cuba

• Cubalaya

[edit] Egypt

• Fayoumi

[edit] France

Bresse Crèvecœur Faverolles

Houdan La Flèche Marans

[edit] Germany

• Kraienkoppe
• Phoenix
• Vorwerk

[edit] India

• Asil (or Aseel)

[edit] Italy

• Ancona
• Leghorn
• Minorca
• Sicilian Buttercup

[edit] Japan

• Japanese Bantam (or Chabo)
• Shamo (or Ko-Shamo)
• Tuzo
• Yokohama

[edit] Malaysia

• Malay
• Serama

[edit] Netherlands

Barnevelder Booted Bantam Dutch Bantam

Hamburg Lakenvelder Polish Welsummer

[edit] Norway

• Jærhøne

[edit] Persia

• Manx Rumpy (or Rumpless Game)
• Orloff

[edit] Russia

• Yurlov Crower

[edit] Spain

Andalusian Asturian Painted Hen Catalana

Penedesenca White-Faced Black Spanish

[edit] Sumatra

• Sumatra

[edit] Switzerland

• Appenzeller (Barthuhner and Spitzhauben)

[edit] Transylvania

• Naked Neck

[edit] Turkey

• Sultan

[edit] Ukraine

• Poltava

[edit] United Kingdom

Derbyshire Redcap Dorking Indian Game (or Cornish) Ixworth Marsh Daisy Modern Game Norfolk Grey

Old English Game Orpington Rosecomb Scots Dumpy Scots Grey Sebright Sussex

[edit] United States

Ameraucana American Game Blue Hen of Delaware Brahma Buckeye California Gray Delaware Dominique Holland

Iowa Blue Java Jersey Giant New Hampshire Plymouth Rock (or Barred Rock, Rock) Rhode Island Red Rhode Island White Winnebago Wyandotte

[edit] See also

• List of birds
• List of domesticated animals

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• American Standard of Perfection. American Poultry Association. 
• Ekarius, Carol (2007). Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. 210 MAS MoCA Way, North Adams MA 01247: Storey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58017-667-5. 
• Graham, Chris (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. 2-4 Heron Quays London E14 4JP: Octopus Publishing. ISBN 9780793806010. 
• Heinrichs, Christine (2007). How To Raise Chickens. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780793806010. 
• Percy, Pam (2006). The Field Guide to Chickens. Suite 200, 380 Jackson St, St Paul MN 55101: Voyageur Press. ISBN 0760324735. 

[edit] External links

• List of Chicken Breeds at the University of Oklahoma Dept. of Animal Science website
• Chicken Breeds at feathersite.com
• Chicken Breed Selector Tool at mypetchicken.com