Poultry Breeds : Jersey Giant

Varieties: Black, White.

Standard Weights: Cock-13 pounds; hen-10 pounds; cockerel-11 pounds; pullet-8 pounds.

Skin Color: Yellow.

Egg Shell Color: Brown.

Not surprisingly, the Jersey Giant is a large bird that was developed in the 1870's in New Jersey to meet the demand for heavy fowl. Developed by the Black brothers, it was originally called the Jersey Black Giant. Giants were bred from crosses of Orpingtons, Javas, and Langshans, becoming and remaining the largest chickens developed in America. They are rugged birds but because they grow a large frame first and have little meat until about 6 months, they have not been used in industry, which prizes a rapidly growing bird.

Characteristics: Jersey Giants are the largest breed in the American Class. They should be rugged, with an angular shape, single comb and black (with willowish tinge) shanks in the Black variety and dark willow shanks in the White variety. The Jersey Giant will go broody but is not the best choice for incubating and brooding because of their size. Their tendency to grow a big frame first and cover it with meat later make them a poor fit for today's conditions. The meat yield is disappointing until they are 6 months or older. No fowl with black plumage or dark or willow shanks has ever remained popular in this country for long, although they used to be more widespread. However, good specimens do have an appeal, mainly because of their size.

Content:

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Miller's Jersey Giant Farm, Bern, Kansas

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Poultry Breeds : Java

Varieties:

Black

Mottled

A medium-sized, angular bird which was a common farm chicken in the U.S. in the 19th century. Javas possess single combs.

Content:

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Poultry Breeds : Holland

Varieties:

Barred

White

Developed in the 1930s and '40s in an attempt to provide a medium-sized fowl with good meat properties that laid white-shelled eggs.

Content:

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Poultry Breeds : Hamburg

Varieties:

Golden Spangled

Silver Spangled

Golden Penciled

Silver Penciled

Black

White

Standard Weights: Cock-5 pounds; hen-4 pounds; cockerel 4 pounds; pullet-3-1/2 pounds.

Skin Color: White.

Egg Shell Color: White.

Use: An ornamental fowl capable of laying fair number of relatively small eggs.

Origin: Hamburgs carry a German name, but are generally considered to have originated in Holland. Characteristics: Hamburgs are active, flighty birds. They are trim and stylish with delicate features, and wild in nature. They forage well and are capable of flying long distances. Although good egg producers, their eggs are often very small.

Content:

Dr. Joe Berry, Extension Poultry Specialist, Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Poultry Breeds : Golden Montazah

An attempt was made to develop a variety of chickens, which could be utilized as a foundation stock for the process of establishing a hybrid for egg production. The Golden Montazah is the name given to the new variety which had been developed in the Montazah Poultry Research Farm from a cross between the Rhode Island Red and Dokki4, using systems of breeding coupled with selection. The down color of the Golden Montazah chicks is yellowish red. Sex could be easily detected at hatching. Light bars cross each feather. While the red and the light bars of the males are of approximately equal width, in the female the light bars are approximately one-half of the width of the red bars. This variety of chickens has a Colombian pattern. The beak is yellowish brown; the shanks and the skin are yellow. This variety has a single comb and red ear lobes. The Golden Montazah was found to be superior to Dokki4 with respect to average annual egg production and average egg weight. This variety of chickens could be more adapted to the unfavorable conditions imposed in the Egyptian farm.

Reference:

Taha.H.Mahmoud et al. Agric.Res.Rev.June, 1974:51-60.. (submitted by Prof. Dr. Taha Hussein Mahmoud, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt)

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Poultry Breeds : Gimmizah

The Gimmizah is a breed of chicken which had been developed in El-Gimmizah Poultry Research Farm, Ministry of Agriculture, Gharbia. The White Plymouth Rock and Dokki 4 were utilized for developing this breed through selection and breeding system. This breed, which is auto-sexed, resembles the Barred Plymouth Rock in body shape and plumage color. The down color of Gimmizah chicks is black over dorsal surface and on the sides, except that there is a light grayish white patch on the head, and the ventral surface is creamy white.

Adult birds of Gimmizah have a characterized plumage-color, which is a grayish white, each feather is crossed by dark bars. While the dark and the light bars of the males are approximately of equal width, in the female, light bars are approximately one-half width of the dark bars. The beak, shanks and skin are yellowish white. This breed has a single comb and red ear lobes. Comprehensive studies showed that this breed was superior to many other local breeds in productive and reproductive traits.

Reference:

Taha.H.Mahmoud et al. Agric.Res.Rev.Cairo 1989 vol  :51. (submitted by Prof. Dr. Taha Hussein Mahmoud, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt)

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Poultry Breeds : Gallus Inauris

This is the name given by Professor Salvador Castello of Spain, to a breed of chickens, that he had discovered in Chile, South America, in 1914. The breed has yellow or white shanks, red eye, small comb, is tailless and is especially characterized by a muff on each side of the face, near the ear. "These tufts originate in a small epidermic protuberance which is connected with the head by a thread of elastic skin which allows the protuberance to be stretched to a certain length from the head." The ear tuft on the male is raised at time of mating. These ear muffs have been called "earrings." The Latin word "inauris" corresponds to that of rings.

The most peculiar trait of the breed is the blue eggs, sometimes spotted like those of a turkey hen, which are laid by the females. The birds have shanks that are free from feathers. The breed is indigenous to South America and has been bred to some extent in Argentina. There are two varieties, a red, and one that is mostly white. Their eggs are indistinguishable from other hen eggs when cooked. When crossed with other breeds, the blue torquoise color of the egg shells has proven to be a dominant character.

Reprinted from:

All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by American Poultry Journal, Chicago, Illinois.

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Poultry Breeds : Frizzle

While listed in the Standard as a breed, frizzling is a genetic modification that can be easily introduced into any population of chickens. It causes each feather to curl back toward the bird's head instead of lying naturally pointed toward the tail.

Content:

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Poultry Breeds : Frieslands

Friesland fowls are one of the oldest of the Dutch breeds. Dutch authorities have claimed that both the penciled Hamburgs, and in later years the Belgian Silver Campine, arose from the old Friesland fowl of Holland.

 The Friesland is bred in several varieties, to wit: Silver Penciled, Golden Penciled, Yellow Penciled, White, Black and Cuckoo. It has a grayish white skin, slatey -blue shanks an white ear lobes. The females lay a white shelled egg an are non-sitters.

 The majority of the Friesland fowls have single combs, but they have existed in Holland for a long time, two rose comb varieties of the breed, known as Hollanders; and it was these silver and golden rose combs that were incorporated into the Hamburg breed.

 The Frieslands were the original Dutch "every day layers," an appellation that has since been applied to Hamburgs, Campines and Lakenvelders. Unquestionably all of these breeds trace back to the old Friesland foundation. Breeds derived from the Friesland root are very quick to feather and mature early. Because of this strong growth impulse and precocity, the chicks should be given vitamin rich feed, such as green stuff, and bread soaked with whole milk; and it is important that they should be kept free of head and body lice. 

The Friesland is a good layer, but the eggs are inclined to run small; the birds are easily scared by strangers but are tame with those who tend them; in size, the cocks run to about 5 1/2 lbs. and the hens to 4 1/2 lbs. 

The yellow penciled variety is produced by crossing the Silver and Golden Penciled or White on Golden Penciled. This cross produces a soft buff ground color in the female; and in the male the black of the tail is affected by the cross, and the black of the Golden Penciled becomes white in the Yellow Penciled. The ground color also comes of a lighter hue. 

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Poultry Breeds : Faverolles

Varieties:

Salmon

White

An interesting breed that combines a beard and muffs with a single comb and feathered legs and feet. Faverolles are a medium sized breed and fairly loosely feathered, giving them a rather large appearance. They also have a fifth toe on each foot and while chiefly ornamental, do possess some utility characteristics as well.

Faverolles Organizations

Reference:

 Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Images:

 Watt Publishing, 122 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 USA

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Poultry Breeds : Dutch Bantam

A History of Dutch Bantams in North America

European articles indicate that the bantams we know today as Dutch were first introduced into Holland by Dutch seamen through trading of the East India Company from islands near Indonesia in the seventeenth century. At the time, Bantam Island in the Dutch East Indies was a meeting point for the trade routes between Asia and the western world. The native fowl of the regions were used by the sailors as a source of meat and eggs during their voyages. At the time it was common to call any small birds “bantams” regardless of whether they originated from the Bantam islands or not.

 The bantams most likely gained their popularity in early days as it was customary for the landlords of Europe to demand the larger eggs produced by their fowls of their tenants as rent. The smaller eggs of the bantams were used by the tenants for their own use.

 Old Dutch paintings of farmyard scenes often included fowl of striking similarity to the appearance of present day Dutch bantams. A British painting of 1865 also depicts fowl of close resemblance to Dutch birds of today.

 The Dutch Poultry Club first standardized the Dutch bantam in 1906, and today their standard recognizes over twenty varieties of the Dutch breed. The breed rapidly became very popular in Holland as it was possible to accomplish good conformity of type, color, comb and earlobes. Today the Dutch bantam is one of the most popular breeds in Holland, and is also a very popular breed in England.

 Dutch bantams are hardy, active and lively, and should be first small, second of good type, and third of good color. These gentle and quaint little birds often display attachment to their owners and are characterized by their smallness and elegance.

 Dutch birds are good layers, good setters, and good broodies. Because of their small size, Dutch females are only capable of covering a small clutch of eggs.

 Indications are that Dutch birds were first imported into this country shortly following World War II. Dutch bantams were first shown in this country in some of the larger eastern shows during the early 1950’s. The Dutch bantam did not acquire the attention of the fanciers and therefore soon disappeared from the exhibition. Perhaps due to the lack of interest, it is believed that the breed was either lost, or bred into other breeds as they begun to lose their fertility.

 Dutch bantams were again imported into this country in 1969 and 1970 into the Wisconsin area, and again in the 1980’s into the Tennessee region. These importations are most certainly the ancestral lineage of the lines of Dutch presently being bred in both the United States and Canada.

 As interest in Dutch bantams increased, several breeders in the southeast chartered the first breed club in August of 1986. The club was known as the American Dutch Bantam Society. The club and the breed has steadily grown and prospered during the late 80’s and into the 90’s. Several shows have had in excess of 100 bantams shown in the Dutch class. At present the Dutch club has over seventy members in most states and provinces. Some of the primary goals of the club are promotion, education and continued standard recognition of Dutch bantams in the standards of the A.B.A. and the A.P.A. The club prints a quarterly Newsletter to promote communication among the membership of the breed and the club.

Physical descriptions of Dutch bantams:

Dutch bantams are very small birds with the male weighing less than 20 ounces and the female weighing less than 18 ounces. The head of both sexes are pronounced by a medium sized single comb, and by the presence of medium sized white earlobes that are almond shaped.

 Males carry their bodies in a stately position in which the head is above their main body with a nice display of their breast region. The hackle and saddles are covered with flowing feathers that help to enhance their character and appearance. The tail is gracefully accented with long, cardioid curved sickle feathers that drape around their nicely spread tails. The females also carry their bodies with a statuesque display of head above the body and a nicely displayed breast. The tail should be nicely spread to accent their body.

 All varieties of Dutch bantams should have slate leg colors except for the Cuckoo and Crele varieties which have light legs which may have a few dark spots of color. The varieties of Dutch bantams that are most commonly found on this continent are:
 
 

Light Brown	Silver	Blue Light Brown	Blue Silver
Blue Light Brown Splash	Blue Silver Splash	Black	Cream Light Brown
Blue	Cream Blue Light Brown	Blue Splash	Cream Blue Light Brown Splash
Self Blue	White	Golden	Cuckoo
Blue Golden	Crele

Content providers:

 American Dutch Bantam Society

President, Gloria (Dusty) Miller, HC 67 Box 416, Ash Flat AR 72513, Phone: 870-994-2477, email: dustym@pokynet.com

Secretary, Roy Schell, HC 65 Box 196, Wagarville, Alabama 36585 Phone: (334) 246-5810

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Poultry Breeds : Dorking

Varieties:

White

Silver Gray

Colored

Standard Weights (White): Cock-7-1/2 pounds; hen-6 pounds; cockerel-6-1/2 pounds; pullet-5 pounds.

Standard Weights (Silver Gray and Colored): Cock-9 pounds; hen-7 pounds; cockerel-8 pounds; pullet-6 pounds.

Skin Color: White.

Egg Shell Color: White.

Use: A good, general purpose fowl for producing meat and eggs. It was developed for its especially fine quality meat.

Origin: The Dorking is believed to have originated in Italy, having been introduced into Great Britain at an early date by the Romans. Much of its development took place in England where it gained much acclaim for its table qualities. The Dorking is one of our oldest breeds of chickens.

Characteristics: The Dorking has a rectangular body set on very short legs. It is five toed and has a relatively large comb, thus requiring protection in extremely cold weather. Dorkings are good layers and are one of the few instances where a bird with red earlobes lays a white shelled egg. Most Dorking hens will go broody, make good mothers and are quite docile. Because of their white skin, Dorkings are not as popular in the U.S. as in Europe.

Content:

Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Poultry Breeds : Dominiques

The Dominique breed developed from the fowl introduced during the early settlement of New England. These were of the type predominating in the south of England and from which the Sussex and Dorking descended. This stock was widely distributed in the Eastern half of the United States by mid 19th century. The breed was generally known as Dominiques except in the region of origin where they were known as Plymouth Rock and occasionally as Pilgrim Fowls. The differentiation between Plymouth Rock and Dominique was not made until 1870 when the management of the New York state poultry show ruled that only rose combed fowl of intermediate size could compete as Dominiques, and that all medium and large single combed fowl of this color would be known as Plymouth Rocks. A small single combed bird of this color was called a Dominique Leghorn.

A great increase in popular interest began in 1875 with the "improved" type finding an enthusiastic response among exhibitors and farmers. The breed was never used commercially, and was eventually eclipsed on the farm by the gradual shift to "Plymouth Rocks" when the preferred type of "Dominique" had been transformed into the "Plymouth Rock." 

Dominiques have many advantages besides their handsome appearance. They are hardy, do well on open range as well as in confinement, are generally calm by nature and are easy to work with and show. They hatch well, are early feathering, mature young, and are of moderate size. The American Poultry Association's Standard of Excellence indicates that cocks run 7 pounds; cockerels, 6 pounds; hens, 5 pounds; and pullets, 4 pounds. The females are good mothers, reasonably good layers of light to dark brown, and show less tendency toward broodiness than many other exhibition breeds. There are both large and bantam Dominiques. Dominiques are also good meat birds.

While for many years Dominiques were very rare, they are no longer a "lost breed". There has recently been a revival of interest in them which has placed them in a unique category of their being uncommon enough to be interesting and unusual, but not so common as to be a "me, too" breed.

The Dominique is a medium sized bird with black and white barring over the entire body. The rose comb is characteristic. A dual propose breed, these birds were kept to produce brown eggs and chicken for the pot. The heavy plumage not only protected the birds in cold weather, but provided material for pillows and featherbeds. The plumage coloration also made them less conspicuous to predators. They were expected to make a part of their living by foraging and to raise a clutch or two of chicks each year.

For additional information:

Dominique Club of America

 Reference:

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27312

Illustration:

Watt Publishing, 122 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 USA

Photographs:

Dominique Club of America, Mark A. Fields, Clark, Missouri.

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