Ultimate Breeds Of Chickens You Didn’t Know About

One thing that has fascinated me is how different species have evolved throughout time, and it is no different for the different breeds of chickens, whether it has been through geological or interference by man.

Different breeds evolve.

So let’s get into the story of chicken evolution, shall we?

The Evolutionary Breeds Of Chickens

Did you know that there are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence domesticated for thousands of years?

Such distinguishable breeds of chicken have been around since the combined factors which are geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics.

Where created regional types with distinct physical and behavioural traits passed on to their offspring.

Such physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds are:

• size of plumage
• colour comb-type
• skin colour
• amount of feathering
• number of toes
• egg colouring
• place of origin

They are also roughly divided by primary use whether it was for eggs meat or ornamental purposes.

And with some chickens, were also considered to be dual-purpose…

In the 21st century, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standards set down by governing organizations.

The first of such standards was the British poultry standard which is still in publication today.

There are also other standards include:

• standard of the American Bantam Association which deals exclusively with Bantam fowl only
• Australian poultry standard
• standard of perfection

Some of the known breeds are included in these publications and only those breeds are eligible to be shown competitively.

However, there are additionally a few hybrid strains of chicken breeds which are common in the poultry world, especially in large poultry farms…

These types of birds are first-generation crosses of true breeds/hybrids that do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring.

See also Become An Insider On Different Chicken Breeds

Yet they are highly valued for their producing abilities.

The primary use of all chickens by man is their ability to lay eggs and have edible meat and possess a unique appearance.

Selective Breeding

However distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits.

Any breed of chicken may technically be used for general agricultural purposes and all breeds are shown to some degree.

But each chicken breed is known for the primary use for eggs.

Many breeds were selected and are used primarily for producing eggs these are mostly lightweight birds whose hens do not go broody often.

Yet chickens are also used for eggs as well meat, most farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production some breeds are raised mainly for meat.

The generalist chicken breeds used in barnyards worldwide 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 topic exhibitions 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 these days.

In fact, many breeds have always been kept for ornamental purposes and others have been shifted from their original use to become first and foremost an exhibition fowl.

Even if they might retain some inherent utility since the sport of cockfighting has been outlawed in the developed world.

As most breeds first were developed solely for this purpose called game fowl are now seen principally in the show ring rather than the cockpit for fighting.

See also Why Do Roosters Crow? And Other Frequently Asked Questions about Cockerels

Which is good don’t you think…

Most larger breeds of chickens actually have a bantam counterpart sometimes referred to as a miniature.

Which are usually one-fifth to one quarter the size of the standard breed, but they are expected to exhibit all the standard breeds characteristics.

A true Bantam has no large counterpart to itself and is naturally small, the true bantam also includes topic crossbreeds.

There are many common strains of crossbred chickens that exist today, but none of these breeds are recognised by Poultry Breed Standards.

These crossbreed chickens are extremely common, focusing on high productivity, yet do not technically meet the definition of a breed most crossbreed strains are sex-linked allowing for easy chick sexing.

So the evolution and selective breed of chicken by man has given us breeds of chickens that we probably have not seen before.

If we really look into the breeds, and such an array of chicken breeds are like us walking into a chocolate shop, trying to pick the most attractive lollies.

Breed of every colour and kind to choose from.

So How Many Varieties Of Chickens Are There In The World You Might Ask?

There are said to be 500 chicken breeds in the world today unless we keep on breeding new strains, which is quite possible.

These Chickens are categorized as:

• hybrids
• pure breeds
• bantoms

In fact, there are more than 500 chicken breeds throughout the world.

Apparently, in North America, the designation of poultry breeds is now recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) and/or the American Bantam Association (ABA).

So breeds of chickens are coming out of the woodworks, luckily for us…