FAVEROLLES
Uses:
Exhibition. Utility: Eggs
Origin: France.
Eggs: 160 - 200 Tinted.
Weight: Cock: 4.08 - 4.98Kg
Hen: 3.4 - 4.3Kg
Bantam Cock: 1130 - 1360g,
Hen: 907 - 1133g.
Colours: Black, Laced
Blue, Buff, Cuckoo, Ermine, Salmon, White (Standardised UK).
Useful
to Know: The name Faverolles comes from a village name, much like the
Marans. This means there is always an 's' on the end of the spelling, even if we
are talking about a single Faverolles.
The Faverolles Chicken takes its name from a Village found to the West of Paris in France. This village is very close to the town of Houdan from which another breed also takes its name. The make up of the Faverolles starts with farm yard flocks around Faverolles. Most of these were Houdan and Dorking crosses of some description. Imported
chickens from Asia are thought to have been kept by the wealthy in the
surrounding areas. It is thought that the odd cock bird from these Asian fowl
would have been mixed with the farm yard flocks which is how the Faverolles got
its large size and feathered feet. The farmers started sending birds to the
markets of Paris since they had a rapid growth rate and were a good size. To
identify them, the dealers started giving them the name Faverolles, long before
there was any conformity in type or plumage colour, they were still cross breeds, but soon
became very popular for their meat and slowly started outselling the pure bred
Houdan.
The Faverolles reached the UK in the 1890's and by 1900, the British Faverolles club was formed and a new breed standard was written. In the UK, poultry breeding was mainly for show, the British wanted to see uniform looking birds and the Faverolles still had a
lot of variability. The English fanciers were prepared to pay more for birds
that were closer to the standard so slowly, the farmers became more selective in
their breeding to satisfy market demands in England.
Deutscher Lachshühner In Germany, the Faverolles is called the Deutscher Lachshühner. It was split from the French and the British Faverolles as early as 1905 into a seperate breed. The Bantam (the first Bantam of the Faverolles Breed) followed in 1925. Unlike the British Faverolles, which traditonally needs double pen mating to produce show quality
cocks and hens, the German Faverolles only needs a single pen to breed both
sexes to show quality.
The standard for the Deutscher Lachshühner is: Large Fowl Cock 3-4Kg Hen 2.5 - 3.25Kg Egg lay must be 160 in the first year minimum (this is tested nationaly in Germany for all
breeds). Hatching egg weight is 55 g minimum and eggs are a pale yellow to
tinted in colour.
Bantam Cock 1200g, Hen 1000g. Egg lay must be 140 in the first year minimum. Hatching egg weight is 40g (this is a maximum/minimum weight, larger eggs from bantams are not wanted as that gives larger fowl. Eggs are a pale cream to tinted in colour.
Breeding Hints The British Faverolles needs double pen mating to produce the best show birds in both sexes.
INDIAN GAME (BANTAM CORNISH)
Uses:
Utility: Hybrid crosses for table birds.
Origin:
Cornwall, England. Eggs: 60 - 90
tinted.
Weight: Cock: 3.6 Kg, Hen: 2.7
Kg
Bantam Cock: 2.0 Kg, Hen: 2.0
Kg.
Colours: Dark, Jubilee, Double Laced Blue (Standardised
UK).
Useful to Know: Grass in the diet helps to keep their
feet rich yellow-orange. Exercise and diet is important, avoid too much corn /
treats to stop excess body fat which reduces fertility and egg production.
Despite their name, they are not recognised as a Game bird in the British
Poultry Standards.
Indian Game (called the Cornish in the U.S.) is thought to have first
originated from birds bred for cock fighting descended from the Asiatic fighting
cocks. These were thought to have been imported by the Phoenicians to Cornwall,
South West England around 850 BC. They frequently visited Cornwall to purchase
tin, supplied by the mines in the region. During the 18th century, ships that
visited for trade would often carry a supply of birds for food during the voyage
and would sell surplus birds on arrival. Old poultry books mention crosses of
this bird with Malays, Asils and many other possible breeds that eventually made
up the Indian Game of today but it is still a matter for debate as there were so
many exotic breeds and crosses arriving around this time, there could have been
all sorts of breeds or crosses used.
Indian Game were first imported into the U.S. in 1877 and first standardised there in 1893 as 'Cornish' since breeders were keen to promote them as table birds and the Indian Game name was associated with cock fighting. Smaller build White Cornish were created in
the U.S. (unrelated to the original Cornish) and were then standardised in the
U.S. in 1898.
Since the mid 1800's,
they have not been used for cock fighting (banned in the U.K. in 1849) but
Indian Game have been used extensively for creating birds for the table due to their broad breasted
build, that provides a bird with a large proportion of breast meat. Most
commercial broilers in the U.K. have originally come from Indian Game cocks
crossed with Dorking or White Rock hens.
Utility: Hybrid crosses for table birds.
Origin:
Cornwall, England. Eggs: 60 - 90
tinted.
Weight: Cock: 3.6 Kg, Hen: 2.7
Kg
Bantam Cock: 2.0 Kg, Hen: 2.0
Kg.
Colours: Dark, Jubilee, Double Laced Blue (Standardised
UK).
Useful to Know: Grass in the diet helps to keep their
feet rich yellow-orange. Exercise and diet is important, avoid too much corn /
treats to stop excess body fat which reduces fertility and egg production.
Despite their name, they are not recognised as a Game bird in the British
Poultry Standards.
Indian Game (called the Cornish in the U.S.) is thought to have first
originated from birds bred for cock fighting descended from the Asiatic fighting
cocks. These were thought to have been imported by the Phoenicians to Cornwall,
South West England around 850 BC. They frequently visited Cornwall to purchase
tin, supplied by the mines in the region. During the 18th century, ships that
visited for trade would often carry a supply of birds for food during the voyage
and would sell surplus birds on arrival. Old poultry books mention crosses of
this bird with Malays, Asils and many other possible breeds that eventually made
up the Indian Game of today but it is still a matter for debate as there were so
many exotic breeds and crosses arriving around this time, there could have been
all sorts of breeds or crosses used.
Indian Game were first imported into the U.S. in 1877 and first standardised there in 1893 as 'Cornish' since breeders were keen to promote them as table birds and the Indian Game name was associated with cock fighting. Smaller build White Cornish were created in
the U.S. (unrelated to the original Cornish) and were then standardised in the
U.S. in 1898.
Since the mid 1800's,
they have not been used for cock fighting (banned in the U.K. in 1849) but
Indian Game have been used extensively for creating birds for the table due to their broad breasted
build, that provides a bird with a large proportion of breast meat. Most
commercial broilers in the U.K. have originally come from Indian Game cocks
crossed with Dorking or White Rock hens.
JAPANESE BANTAM
Uses:
Exhibition / Ornamental.
Origin: Japan. Eggs:
80 - 160 white, cream or brown eggs per year.
Weight:
Cock: 510 - 600g, Hen: 400 - 510g.
Colours:
Black Tailed White, Black Tailed Buff, Buff Columbian, White, Black,
Birchen Grey, Silver Grey, Dark Grey, Millers Grey, Mottled Black, Mottled Blue,
Mottled Red, Blue, Lavender, Cuckoo, Red, Tri-coloured, Wheaten Bred, Partridge
Bred, Brown Red, Blue Red, Silver and Gold Duckwing (All are Standardised).
Useful to Know: A true Bantam that is easy to tame but suffers
with a lethal gene combination that causes 25% of chicks to be unable to hatch.
Not a hardy bird, can be good fliers. Breeding for good type (especially short
legs and correct tail angle) is not easy. For these reasons, not recommended as
a beginners bird. Hens make a good broody and can make good mothers. For
showing, shape is very important. Only 10 points (out of 100) are available in
the British Poultry Standard for colour.
Japanese (or Chabo) Bantams are real show birds and go back a long way in history. It is
thought that they first arrived in Japan from China in the early 1600's when
they started to appear in Japanese paintings. In Japan, they are called "Chabo"
which means "bantam" or "dwarf" in Japanese but is also the old Japaneses name
for South East Asia. They are thought to have reached the UK in the 1860's and
the first Japanese Bantam Club was formed at
the Crystal Palace (London) show on 12th November 1912. The club didn't have any
activity during the two World Wars but resumed activities afterwards. The club
was briefly amalgamated to the Frizzle club in 1946 but this didn't last for
long. The present Japanese Bantam Club of Great Britain was formed in 1961.
The annual club show is held at the Reading Bantam Club show and has a strong
presence of exhibitors as in recent years the breed has become very
popular. They are a true bantam which means they don't have large fowl
counterparts and are very distinctive with very short legs and very long
straight vertical tail feathers with a relatively large comb and wings that are
held low, touching the ground.
Japanese Bantams should be kept inside on clean, dry bedding in all but the best weather to maintain good feather condition. Feathers (especially white) will stain easily on the
wing tips that drag on the floor if let out in the wet. During cold weather, it
is often necessary to provide some additional heat unless they are kept in a
reasonably well insulated building.
Breeding Hints
Japanese Bantams carry the dominant creeper gene Cp which gives the breed short legs. If two short legged birds are bred together, according to Mendals law, 25% of the
offspring will be pure for Cp, a lethal gene combination which causes a
disability making them unable to hatch. 50% of the offspring will carry one
Cp gene and are therefore short legged as per the breed standard and
the final 25% will not carry the gene and be long legged. Breeding a short
legged with a long legged will produce 50% short legged, 50% long legged without
any lethal embryos.
Exhibition / Ornamental.
Origin: Japan. Eggs:
80 - 160 white, cream or brown eggs per year.
Weight:
Cock: 510 - 600g, Hen: 400 - 510g.
Colours:
Black Tailed White, Black Tailed Buff, Buff Columbian, White, Black,
Birchen Grey, Silver Grey, Dark Grey, Millers Grey, Mottled Black, Mottled Blue,
Mottled Red, Blue, Lavender, Cuckoo, Red, Tri-coloured, Wheaten Bred, Partridge
Bred, Brown Red, Blue Red, Silver and Gold Duckwing (All are Standardised).
Useful to Know: A true Bantam that is easy to tame but suffers
with a lethal gene combination that causes 25% of chicks to be unable to hatch.
Not a hardy bird, can be good fliers. Breeding for good type (especially short
legs and correct tail angle) is not easy. For these reasons, not recommended as
a beginners bird. Hens make a good broody and can make good mothers. For
showing, shape is very important. Only 10 points (out of 100) are available in
the British Poultry Standard for colour.
Japanese (or Chabo) Bantams are real show birds and go back a long way in history. It is
thought that they first arrived in Japan from China in the early 1600's when
they started to appear in Japanese paintings. In Japan, they are called "Chabo"
which means "bantam" or "dwarf" in Japanese but is also the old Japaneses name
for South East Asia. They are thought to have reached the UK in the 1860's and
the first Japanese Bantam Club was formed at
the Crystal Palace (London) show on 12th November 1912. The club didn't have any
activity during the two World Wars but resumed activities afterwards. The club
was briefly amalgamated to the Frizzle club in 1946 but this didn't last for
long. The present Japanese Bantam Club of Great Britain was formed in 1961.
The annual club show is held at the Reading Bantam Club show and has a strong
presence of exhibitors as in recent years the breed has become very
popular. They are a true bantam which means they don't have large fowl
counterparts and are very distinctive with very short legs and very long
straight vertical tail feathers with a relatively large comb and wings that are
held low, touching the ground.
Japanese Bantams should be kept inside on clean, dry bedding in all but the best weather to maintain good feather condition. Feathers (especially white) will stain easily on the
wing tips that drag on the floor if let out in the wet. During cold weather, it
is often necessary to provide some additional heat unless they are kept in a
reasonably well insulated building.
Breeding Hints
Japanese Bantams carry the dominant creeper gene Cp which gives the breed short legs. If two short legged birds are bred together, according to Mendals law, 25% of the
offspring will be pure for Cp, a lethal gene combination which causes a
disability making them unable to hatch. 50% of the offspring will carry one
Cp gene and are therefore short legged as per the breed standard and
the final 25% will not carry the gene and be long legged. Breeding a short
legged with a long legged will produce 50% short legged, 50% long legged without
any lethal embryos.
LEGHORN
Uses:
Utility - Eggs.
Origin: Italy. Eggs: 180 -
250 large white.
Weight: Cock: 3.4Kg.Hen:
2.5Kg.
Bantam Cock: 1.02Kg. Hen:
910g.
Colours: Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Cuckoo, Golden
Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, Exchequer, Black Mottled, Red Mottled, Partridge,
Pile, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Also
available as a bantam. Can be prolific egg layers that rarely go broody. Early
to mature, hardy birds, with the best egg to feed ratio of any pure breed. Light
weight, can fly well.
The Leghorn originates from Italy, being sent to America around 1830 and it
is quite often thought of as an American bird since it was refined and perfected
into a stable breed in the United States before being shipped back to Europe. It
arrived in the UK in 1869 . White Leghorns have been the main Egg producers in
the US, as the American marketplace has demanded white eggs and has been used
extensively in Battery cage systems over there.
Commercial strains of white Leghorns can be very good egg layers, laying around 250 or more eggs per year. Show strains will lay far less than this though. Even though Leghorns
started off as the same birds in the US and UK back in the 1870's, and there
were many shipments to and from America of different colour varieties and
gradually over time, they went in opposite directions according to the fashions
of the time. The British went for bigger birds, larger combs and lobes with tight tails and the
Americans went for exactly the opposite. By the end of the first World War, the
shipments stopped as they were of no use to one another. Leghorns effectively
became two different breeds maintaining the same name. Today, the breeds still
maintain these differences and it is clear to see the differences when looking
at photos of the Leghorn in American and British written books.
In Germany, Leghorns are called Italieners and in Holland, they are called Leghorns. The standards are very similar there and are very close to the original birds that came from Italy
with the exception of a few features. These European birds look far more like
the Utility type Leghorns that you find in the UK.
Utility - Eggs.
Origin: Italy. Eggs: 180 -
250 large white.
Weight: Cock: 3.4Kg.Hen:
2.5Kg.
Bantam Cock: 1.02Kg. Hen:
910g.
Colours: Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Cuckoo, Golden
Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, Exchequer, Black Mottled, Red Mottled, Partridge,
Pile, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Also
available as a bantam. Can be prolific egg layers that rarely go broody. Early
to mature, hardy birds, with the best egg to feed ratio of any pure breed. Light
weight, can fly well.
The Leghorn originates from Italy, being sent to America around 1830 and it
is quite often thought of as an American bird since it was refined and perfected
into a stable breed in the United States before being shipped back to Europe. It
arrived in the UK in 1869 . White Leghorns have been the main Egg producers in
the US, as the American marketplace has demanded white eggs and has been used
extensively in Battery cage systems over there.
Commercial strains of white Leghorns can be very good egg layers, laying around 250 or more eggs per year. Show strains will lay far less than this though. Even though Leghorns
started off as the same birds in the US and UK back in the 1870's, and there
were many shipments to and from America of different colour varieties and
gradually over time, they went in opposite directions according to the fashions
of the time. The British went for bigger birds, larger combs and lobes with tight tails and the
Americans went for exactly the opposite. By the end of the first World War, the
shipments stopped as they were of no use to one another. Leghorns effectively
became two different breeds maintaining the same name. Today, the breeds still
maintain these differences and it is clear to see the differences when looking
at photos of the Leghorn in American and British written books.
In Germany, Leghorns are called Italieners and in Holland, they are called Leghorns. The standards are very similar there and are very close to the original birds that came from Italy
with the exception of a few features. These European birds look far more like
the Utility type Leghorns that you find in the UK.
NEW HAMPSHIRE RED
Uses:
Utility - eggs & meat. Exhibition.
Origin: New
Hampshire, U.S. Eggs: 160 - 240 tinted /
brown.
Weight: Cock: 3.85Kg.Hen:
2.95Kg.
Bantam Cock: 980g. Hen:
737g.
Colours: Red (Standardised UK) Blue Tailed, White
(Non Standardised).
Useful to Know: Fast to mature, a good
size and early to feather up. Active birds. Bantam weights vary between
different standards.
The New Hampshire Red Chicken takes its name from the State of New Hampshire in the
U.S which neighbours the State of Rhode Island that developed the well known
Rhode Island Red (RIR). It was developed initially as a commercial breed by
Professor 'Red' Richardson, a poultry lecturer at the University of New
Hampshire around 1918 from selected strains of RIR, without introducing any
other breed. He was trying to improve upon some of the qualities of the RIR to
improve profitability of the broiler industry that was starting to evolve
locally to supply the markets of New York. He ignored colour and kept selections
of slightly different colour varieties, primarily selecting for faster
feathering birds which meant they would retain heat and increase feed
conversion. Good hatchability of eggs was another one of his selection criteria
which in the days where incubators were still new on the market and could be
somewhat temperamental, was necessary for farms to be successful. During the
1920's, many farms took them up and during the mid-1930's the New Hampshire Red
reached the U.K. They were used as a commercial bird by a handful of farms but
the RIR was more popular being used after the war as a hybrid cross with the
Light Sussex. Along with a few other breeds (like the Plymouth Rock / Amrock),
they were introduced into Germany as part of the post war reconstruction
efforts. They became popular in Germany and the Netherlands, as exhibition birds
during the 70's and by the 1980's they started to gain popularity in the U.K.
They joined the Rare Poultry Society until 1997 when the New Hampshire Red
Poultry Club was formed.
The RIR is distinctly different in both colour and type to the Rhode Island Red and the differences in colour are clearly defined. The New Hampshire Red was first standardised by the American Poultry Association in 1935, some years after its creation. There are
two very rare colour varieties that are not standardised in the U.S or U.K,
these are Blue Tailed New Hampshire Reds (created in the Netherlands during the
late 1980's) and New Hampshire Whites (created by crossing New Hampshire Reds
with White Barnevelders during the early 1950's in Germany).
ORPINGTON
Uses:
Exhibition / ornamental.
Origin: Kent, G.B..
Eggs: 100 - 180 white / tinted.
Weight: Cock:4.5 Kg
min.Hen: 3.6 Kg min.
Bantam Cock: 2 Kg,
Hen: 1.6 Kg.
Colours: Blue, Black, Buff,
White (Standardised UK) Birchen, Chocolate (Bantam only), Cuckoo, Gold Laced,
Jubilee, Lavender, Lemon Cuckoo, Partridge, Red, Spangled (Non
Standardised).
Useful to Know: Docile and a good choice to
have around with children.
The Orpington was originally created in 1886 by William Cook in the villiage of
Orpington in Kent, UK as a dual-purpose utility breed but its popularity as a
show bird has removed many of these original utility traits. Over the years they
were thought to have been out-crossed to other breeds to increase the amount of
feathering that make them look distinctively large. The large size and docile
nature of the Orpington has made them a very popular bird to keep. They were
even kept and shown by the Queen Mother when she was alive.
There are 4 standardised colours in the UK (Black,
Buff, Blue and White) the Buff Orpington is one of the most popular varieties,
the Blue and Black Orpington are the largest. They are heavy birds and carry
alot of fluffy feathering. The show strains have feathering that covers their
legs, almost to their feet. There are still some utility Orpingtons around that
look destinctively different (see photos of Buff Orpingtons for an example) but
it is very hard to find strains that will lay more than about 160 eggs per year.
These days, White Orpingtons are usually the best layers, some good strains
laying up to 200 eggs per year. Orpington Hens usually go broody easily and make
very good mothers.
Breeding Hints
Some exhibition males
require their feathers trimming in order to allow successful mating.
Exhibition / ornamental.
Origin: Kent, G.B..
Eggs: 100 - 180 white / tinted.
Weight: Cock:4.5 Kg
min.Hen: 3.6 Kg min.
Bantam Cock: 2 Kg,
Hen: 1.6 Kg.
Colours: Blue, Black, Buff,
White (Standardised UK) Birchen, Chocolate (Bantam only), Cuckoo, Gold Laced,
Jubilee, Lavender, Lemon Cuckoo, Partridge, Red, Spangled (Non
Standardised).
Useful to Know: Docile and a good choice to
have around with children.
The Orpington was originally created in 1886 by William Cook in the villiage of
Orpington in Kent, UK as a dual-purpose utility breed but its popularity as a
show bird has removed many of these original utility traits. Over the years they
were thought to have been out-crossed to other breeds to increase the amount of
feathering that make them look distinctively large. The large size and docile
nature of the Orpington has made them a very popular bird to keep. They were
even kept and shown by the Queen Mother when she was alive.
There are 4 standardised colours in the UK (Black,
Buff, Blue and White) the Buff Orpington is one of the most popular varieties,
the Blue and Black Orpington are the largest. They are heavy birds and carry
alot of fluffy feathering. The show strains have feathering that covers their
legs, almost to their feet. There are still some utility Orpingtons around that
look destinctively different (see photos of Buff Orpingtons for an example) but
it is very hard to find strains that will lay more than about 160 eggs per year.
These days, White Orpingtons are usually the best layers, some good strains
laying up to 200 eggs per year. Orpington Hens usually go broody easily and make
very good mothers.
Breeding Hints
Some exhibition males
require their feathers trimming in order to allow successful mating.
PEKIN BANTAM
Uses:
Exhibition.
Origin: Peking, China. Eggs:
120 - 160 White / Cream.
Weight: Cock: 680g
Max.Hen: 570g Max.
Colours: Black, Blue,
Buff, Cuckoo, Mottled, Barred, Birchen, Columbian, Lavender, Partridge, Silver
Partridge, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Known
as Cochin Bantams outside of the U.K. although there are differences between
them.
Pekin Bantams are true bantams, they have no large counterpart. They were
originally Cochin Bantams when they arrived in the UK, however they had no
relationship to large Cochins and looked quite different. They came from a
different place (Peking in China) so after much debate over many years, they
were renamed as 'Pekin Bantams'. Around the rest of the World, Cochin Bantams
are similar in appearance to the British Pekin Bantams although breed standards
are slightly different.
The first (Buff) Cochin Bantam were originally thought to have been found in Peking in the gardens of the Emperor's palace that was looted in 1859 by some of the 11'000 British and
6'700 strong French forces during the opium wars. Further birds were imported in
later years and further colours followed, some, like the white being from white
'sports' that hatched from Buffs, crossed with white Booted Bantams.
Breeding Hints
The Pekin 'Type' requires the selection of birds with short shanks to encourage the forward
tilt.
Origin: Peking, China. Eggs:
120 - 160 White / Cream.
Weight: Cock: 680g
Max.Hen: 570g Max.
Colours: Black, Blue,
Buff, Cuckoo, Mottled, Barred, Birchen, Columbian, Lavender, Partridge, Silver
Partridge, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Known
as Cochin Bantams outside of the U.K. although there are differences between
them.
Pekin Bantams are true bantams, they have no large counterpart. They were
originally Cochin Bantams when they arrived in the UK, however they had no
relationship to large Cochins and looked quite different. They came from a
different place (Peking in China) so after much debate over many years, they
were renamed as 'Pekin Bantams'. Around the rest of the World, Cochin Bantams
are similar in appearance to the British Pekin Bantams although breed standards
are slightly different.
The first (Buff) Cochin Bantam were originally thought to have been found in Peking in the gardens of the Emperor's palace that was looted in 1859 by some of the 11'000 British and
6'700 strong French forces during the opium wars. Further birds were imported in
later years and further colours followed, some, like the white being from white
'sports' that hatched from Buffs, crossed with white Booted Bantams.
Breeding Hints
The Pekin 'Type' requires the selection of birds with short shanks to encourage the forward
tilt.
PLYMOUTH ROCK
Uses:
Utility - meat and eggs.
Origin: America.
Eggs: 190-240 eggs / year.
Weight: Cock: 3.4
Kg. Hen: 2.95 Kg.
Bantam Cock: 1.36 Kg
Max. Hen: 1.13 Kg Max.
Colours: Barred,
Black, Buff, Columbian, and White (Standardised UK). Blue, Partridge, Silver
Pencilled (Non Standardised). Bantams standardised in Blue and Partridge
only.
Useful to Know: British and American Standards are
very different. A useful dual purpose utility hen that can be used in Sex-Linked
hybrid crosses. American type Plymouth Rocks are known as Amrocks in Europe.
Plymouth Rock chickens are available in a relatively small number of colours but
by far the most well known is the (utility) barred Plymouth Rock that has been
used commercially in Sex-Linked Hybrid Crosses that allow the chicks to be sexed
at a day old. The most famous of these in the UK is the Black Rock hybrid.
Barred Plymouth Rock chickens are often described as a larger version of the
Dominique chicken and were created during the 1860's. They are named after the
"Plymouth Rock" a large granite boulder off the shore of Plymouth Bay,
Massachusetts.
The Plymouth Rock first reached the UK in 1870 and there were many exchanges of birds in both directions across the Atlantic up until the early 1900's. After this time, as with many
other breeds, the UK and US fanciers were working in different directions and
the standards for the breed in the two countries were so different, there was no
point in further exchanges as they were effectively two separate
breeds.
Post WW2, utility type American barred Plymouth Rocks were sent to Germany to help in the reconstruction of the country. Since they were so different to the UK / European
barred Plymouth Rocks, they standardised them in 1958 as Amrocks.
Plymouth Rocks are standardised in the UK, US and Europe. In the US, they are one of the most popular dual purpose utility breeds that mature early and are generally have a
placid temperament. They also exist in a bantam size.
Breeding Hints
Partridge and Silver Pencilled Plymouth Rock require double mating to achieve the correct colours as is done with some Wyandottes.
RHODE ISLAND RED
Uses:
Utility - eggs. Sex-linked hybrid production.
Origin: Rhode
Island State, USA. Eggs: 250+ light brown eggs per year in good
utility strains.
Weight: Cock: 3.85 Kg.
Hen: 2.95 Kg.
Bantam Cock: 790 - 910
g. Hen: 680 - 790g.
Colours: Dark Red
almost Mahogany. A Rhode Island White does exist but is not very well known.
Useful to Know: Rhode Island Reds are a prolific layer of light
brown eggs. Males of some strains can be aggressive during the breeding
season.
Rhode Island Red chickens (or RIR as they are often called for short) were
developed in the early 1890's and have often been described as 'bricks' due to
their rectangular shape. Rhode Island Red chickens reached the UK in 1903 when
Sidney Risdon brought some eggs back to Somerset. They are one of the most well
known around the World due to their use in hybrid hen production. Originally,
the Rhode Island Red was created as a dual purpose utility bird but their use in
hybrid layer production far outweighs their popularity as a meat bird. The light
brown colour of their eggs has made them the most popular choice in the UK and
Europe. Rhode Island Red hens are generally very placid and easily tamed, but
some strains of cocks can be quite aggressive. If more than one cockerel is
kept, they are better in a free range environment where they have plenty of
space.
The Rhode Island Red entered the American Standard of perfection in 1904 and the British Poultry Standards in 1909.
Breeding Hints
Rhode Island Reds (genetically 'gold' plumage) are used to create sex-linked hybrid layers,
crossing with genetically 'silver' hens like the White Leghorn, White Wyandotte
or Light Sussex. Chicks from such a cross can be identified at a day old by the
colour of their plumage.
Utility - eggs. Sex-linked hybrid production.
Origin: Rhode
Island State, USA. Eggs: 250+ light brown eggs per year in good
utility strains.
Weight: Cock: 3.85 Kg.
Hen: 2.95 Kg.
Bantam Cock: 790 - 910
g. Hen: 680 - 790g.
Colours: Dark Red
almost Mahogany. A Rhode Island White does exist but is not very well known.
Useful to Know: Rhode Island Reds are a prolific layer of light
brown eggs. Males of some strains can be aggressive during the breeding
season.
Rhode Island Red chickens (or RIR as they are often called for short) were
developed in the early 1890's and have often been described as 'bricks' due to
their rectangular shape. Rhode Island Red chickens reached the UK in 1903 when
Sidney Risdon brought some eggs back to Somerset. They are one of the most well
known around the World due to their use in hybrid hen production. Originally,
the Rhode Island Red was created as a dual purpose utility bird but their use in
hybrid layer production far outweighs their popularity as a meat bird. The light
brown colour of their eggs has made them the most popular choice in the UK and
Europe. Rhode Island Red hens are generally very placid and easily tamed, but
some strains of cocks can be quite aggressive. If more than one cockerel is
kept, they are better in a free range environment where they have plenty of
space.
The Rhode Island Red entered the American Standard of perfection in 1904 and the British Poultry Standards in 1909.
Breeding Hints
Rhode Island Reds (genetically 'gold' plumage) are used to create sex-linked hybrid layers,
crossing with genetically 'silver' hens like the White Leghorn, White Wyandotte
or Light Sussex. Chicks from such a cross can be identified at a day old by the
colour of their plumage.