List of chicken breeds

The White Leghorn is the most ubiquitous breed in commercial egg production.

There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence. 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 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 (especially British ones), 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 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.

By place of origin

This d'Everberg rooster is one of a profusion of Belgian ornamental bantam chickens

Australia

• Australorp
• Australekin

Belgium

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

Campine Brabanter Braekel (Brakel)

Brazil

Balazēo Cealio Brazilian Grey Kalabèo

Bulgaria

Black Shumen chicken Canada Chantecler Red Shaver Chile Araucana China Cochin Croad Langshan The Silkie is iconic for its unusual fur-like plumage Nankin Pekin Silkie Cuba Cubalaya Egypt Fayoumi France Bresse Crèvecœur Faverolles Houdan La Flèche Marans Germany Hamburg Kraienköppe (Twentse) German Langshan Vorwerk Lakenvelder India Asil (or Aseel) Giri Raja(The ForestKing) A Minorca rooster Indonesia Bekisar (interspecific hybrid) Sumatra Kedu (nationally standardized) Nunukan/Tawao Pelung (locally standardized) Bali Iran Manx Rumpy (or Rumpless Game) Orloff Italy Ancona Leghorn Sicilian Buttercup Japan Japanese Bantam (or Chabo) Shamo (or Ko-Shamo) Phoenix Tomaru Yokohama Korea Kenhong Teong Hum Jung Malaysia Malay Serama Marianas Saipan Jungle Fowl Netherlands Barnevelder Booted Bantam Dutch Bantam Hamburg North Holland Blue Polish Welsummer A Barnevelder trio New Zealand Bawu Hawu New Zealand Junglefowl Waki Waki Hawa Norway Jærhøne Pakistan Afghan game fowl Philippines Philippine game fowl Poland Green-legged Chicken Portugal Pedrês Portuguesa Amarela Preta Lusitânica Romania Transylvanian Naked Neck Russia Orloff Yurlov Crower Spain Andalusian Asturian Painted Hen Castilian Catalana or Prat Leonada Empordanesa Euskal oiloa Extremaduran Flor d'Ametller Ibiza Indio de León Majorca Minorca Murciana Pardo de León Pedresa Penedesenca Pintarrazada Serrana de Teruel Sobrarbe Spanish game Sureña Utrerana White-Faced Black Spanish Switzerland Appenzeller (Barthühner and Spitzhauben) Turkey Sultan Hint Horoz Ukraine Poltava United Kingdom The Buff variety of Orpington, here a rooster, is quite popular breed for smaller flocks. Derbyshire Redcap Dorking Indian Game (or Cornish) Ixworth Marsh Daisy Modern Game Muffed Old English Game Norfolk Grey Old English Game Old English Pheasant Fowl Orpington Rosecomb Scots Dumpy Scots Grey Sebright Sussex 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 Vietnam Ac Ga Noi 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. Eggs File:Whitetufts.jpg Araucanas are one of the only breeds to lay blue or green eggs, and can be recognized by their lack of tail and distinctive ear tufts 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 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 Dual-purpose The Barred Plymouth Rock is a very popular dual-purpose breed 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 Red Shaver Rhode Island Red Rhode Island White Scots Dumpy Scots Grey Sussex Winnebago Wyandotte 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. Modern Games were developed purely for exhibition 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 Bantams Sebrights, such as this Golden cockerel, are among the most popular of 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 Cross-breeds 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, cross-breeds do not technically meet the definition of a breed. Most cross-breed 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 Broiler See also List of birds List of duck breeds List of goose breeds List of turkey breeds Chickens as pets Footnotes 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) Graham, Chris (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. 2-4 Heron Quays London E14 4JP: Octopus Publishing. ISBN 9780793806010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) 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 Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart Main Breed Chart at backyardchickens.com