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.^[2]

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.^[3] They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and with some considered to be dual-purpose.^[4]

In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred 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.^[5][6] Others include European standards (especially British ones), and that of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam fowl.^[7] 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.^[8]

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

[edit] By place of origin

[edit] Australia

• Australorp

[edit] Belgium

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

Campine Brabanter Braekel (Brakel)

[edit] Canada

• Chantecler

[edit] Chile

• Araucana

[edit] China

• Cochin
• Croad Langshan
  

  

  The Silkie is iconic for its unusual fur-like plumage
• Nankin
• Pekin
• Silkie

[edit] Cuba

• Cubalaya

[edit] Egypt

• Fayoumi

[edit] France

Bresse Crèvecœur Faverolles

Houdan La Flèche Marans

[edit] Germany

• Hamburg
• Kraienköppe (Twentse)
• German Langshan
• Phoenix
• Vorwerk
• Lakenvelder

[edit] India

• Asil (or Aseel)

[edit] Indonesia

• Bekisar
• Sumatra

[edit] Iran

• Manx Rumpy (or Rumpless Game)
• Orloff ^[9][10]

[edit] Italy

• Ancona
• Leghorn
• Sicilian Buttercup

[edit] Japan

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

[edit] Malaysia

• Malay
• Serama

[edit] Marianas

• Saipan Jungle Fowl

[edit] Netherlands

Barnevelder Booted Bantam Dutch Bantam Hamburg

North Holland Blue Polish Welsummer

[edit] Norway

• Jærhøne

[edit] Poland

• Green-legged Chicken

[edit] Romania

• Transylvanian Naked Neck

[edit] Russia

• Yurlov Crower

[edit] Spain

Andalusian Asturian Painted Hen Catalana

Minorca Penedesenca White-Faced Black Spanish

[edit] Switzerland

• Appenzeller (Barthühner and Spitzhauben)

[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 Old English Pheasant Fowl 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 Lamona New Hampshire Plymouth Rock (or Barred Rock, Rock) Rhode Island Red Rhode Island White Winnebago Wyandotte

[edit] Vietnam

• Ga Noi

[edit] 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 technically be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use.

[edit] 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.

Ameraucana Ancona Andalusian Araucana Asturian Painted Hen Barnevelder Campine Catalana Easter Egger Fayoumi Jærhøne Kraienköppe (Twentse) Lakenvelder

Leghorn Marans Minorca Orloff Penedesenca Sicilian Buttercup White-Faced Black Spanish Welsummer

[edit] Meat

Some breeds are preferred for meat alone, though the commercial broiler market is currently monopolized by the Cornish-Rock (a hybrid of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock). Many smaller farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production.

• Bresse
• Indian Game (or Cornish Game)
• Ixworth
• Jersey Giant

[edit] Dual-purpose

The generalist breeds used in barnyards the world over 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.

Australorp Brahma Braekel (Brakel) Buckeye California Gray Chantecler Cubalaya Derbyshire Redcap Dominique Dorking Faverolles Holland Iowa Blue Java

Jersey Giant Marsh Daisy Naked Neck New Hampshire Norfolk Grey Orpington Plymouth Rock Poltava Rhode Island Red Rhode Island White Scots Dumpy Scots Grey Sussex Winnebago Wyandotte

[edit] 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.

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

American Game G Asil G Appenzeller U Barbu de Watermael Bearded d'Anvers Bearded d'Uccle Belgian d'Everberg Blue Hen of Delaware G Booted Bantam Cochin Crèvecœur U Croad Langshan U Dutch Bantam Frizzle Ga NoiG Hamburg U Houdan U Japanese Bantam La Flèche U Malay G Modern Game

Nankin Old English Game G Pekin Phoenix Polish U Rosecomb Sebright Serama Shamo G Silkie Sultan Sumatra Vorwerk U Yokohama

[edit] Bantams

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:

Belgian Bearded d'Anvers Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Belgian d'Everberg Booted Bantam Dutch Bantam

Japanese Bantam Nankin Pekin Rosecomb Sebright Serama Silkie

[edit] Hybrids

See also Category:Chicken hybrids

Many common strains of cross-bred 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, hybrids do not technically meet the definition of a breed. Most hybrid strains are sex linked, allowing for easy chick sexing.

• Black Sex Link (also called Black Stars)
• Red Sex Link (also called Red Stars)
• ISA Brown
• Lohmann Brown
• Daisy Belle
• Cream Legbar
• Cornish-Rock
• Easter Egger

[edit] See also

• List of birds
• List of duck breeds
• List of goose breeds
• List of turkey breeds

[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. http://books.google.com/books?id=m2YXUOJEMeIC&dq=field+guide+to+chickens&client=firefox-a&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chicken breeds

• 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
• Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart