2. Q: WHAT IS A BREED?
A group of birds which are similar in shape ,size
and body conformation , and descendants of
common ancestry is known as breed .
Example of some breeds of chicken are White
Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Sussex,
Aseel, etc.
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPORTANT
BREEDS OF CHICKENS
White Leghorn:
Origin: leghorn village of Italy
Class: Mediterranean class
General appearance: small and very compact, small
head with well set comb , long black, prominent breast ,
tail lowered down , it is neatest of all birds
Plumage color : white , evenly distributed over the entire
body surface
Comb: Red ,Single or some have rose comb
4. CONTINUE...
Standard weight : Cock 2.7 kg , Hen 2.0 kg
Skin color : Yellow
Color of ear lobe : Yellowish white
Shank : Yellow colored, clean
Color of beak: Yellow
Egg shell color : White
Commercial importance: Egg type bird . Lay up to 300
medium white eggs per year .
Lifespan: 4-6years Laying age:18 20 weeks
6. AUSTRALOP:
Origin : Australia
Class: English
General appearance : Very fleshy, body slopes
gradually towards tail , deep body ,closely
feathered, long back, more upright and less
massive look
Plumage color: Black or greenish black in all the
sections of the body
Comb: Single red comb
7. CONTINUE…
Standard weight : Cock 3.8 kg, Hen 3.0 kg
Skin color : white
Color of ear lobe : Red
Shank : Black or dark slate colored , clean
Color of beak : Black
Egg shell color : Brown
Commercial importance : Dual purpose for egg
and meat . Lay 250 eggs per year .
Lifespan:6-10years Laying age:16-20 weeks
9. LIGHT SUSSEX :
Origin: This breed is originated in sussex
Class: English
General appearance : Deep body with very good
fleshing quality , broad shoulder.
Plumage color: White plumage with black feathers
on neck and tail
Standard weight: Cock 4.0 kg , Hen 3.0 kg
Skin color : White
10. CONTINUE…
Color of earlobe: Red
Shank : White colored , clean
Color of beak : Colored
Egg shell color: Brown
Egg production: 200-250 per year (large size)
Comb: Single, red
Commercial importance: Meat type
Lifespan:8+ years Laying time:18-20 weeks
12. RHODE ISLAND RED (RIR):
Origin : Rhode Island state of America
Class: American class
General appearance : Long rectangular body , and
deep and broad breast, flat back , massive look
Plumage color : Brownish red . Main tail feathers
and sickle feathers ( in male ) are black . In females
, neck feather shows slight black at the base .
Lifespan:5yearsLaying age:6months
13. CONTINUE…
Standard weight : Cock 3.8 kg ,Hen 3.0 kg
Skin color: Yellow
Color of earlobe : Reddish
Shank : Yellow colored ,clean
Color of beak : Blackish
Comb: Rosy red comb
Egg shell color : Brown( Large)
Commercial importance : Dual purpose for egg
(250-300 per year) and meat . More resistant to
diseases than other breeds .Used for upgrading the
local / desi stock .
15. BRAHMA :
Origin : America
Class: Asiatic
General appearance: Large chicken with feathers
on their shank and toes, reddish brown eyes , wide
head with skull projecting over the eyes termed “
Beetle brow”.
Plumage color: Dark , light and buff
Lifespan:5-8 yearsLaying age:6-7 months
16. CONTINUE…
Standard weight : Cock 5.5 kg, Hen4.5 kg
Color of ear lobe: Red
Shank : Yellow
Egg shell color :Medium Brown
Color of beak: Yellow
Comb: Pea comb
Commercial importance: Extremely hardy
chickens. They are also good egg layer for their
size ,producing 200 large , medium brown eggs per
year . Consider superior winter layer (Oct – May )
18. SILKIE:
Origin: True origin unknown ,Hailing from China ,
India or Japan
General appearance: Flightless, furry –looking bird
of small stature , hair or fur than feather on body ,
dark face ,5 toes instead of 4 . Back is short ,and
breast is full.
Standard weight: Male 1.8 kg, female 1.4 kg
Plumage color: White, buff , black and blue
Lifespan:7-9 years
19. CONTINUE…
Skin color : Black or bluish skin ,bones and
greyish black meat
Color of ear lobe : Light blue
Color of beak: Grey or black
Comb: Walnut shape ,deep red
Egg shell color : Small size , White or cream (100
egg per year)
Commercial importance : Silkies are the most
popular and beloved ornamental breed.
21. BREESE ( BBQ SPECIAL):
The Bresse is hailed as the best tasting chicken in the
world.
Origin: France
General appearance: The Bresse Chicken has a bright red
comb on top of their head. Their bodies are medium-size
and compact, and their legs have a steel-colored tint. Their
eyes are large, round, and alert.
Egg shell color : Medium – large size cream color egg (
260 + eggs per year )
Lifespan:12 years
22. CONTINUE…
Plumage color: White, black, gray (silver-
penciled), and blue.
Skin color: White
Standard weight: Cock 2.5-3 kg , Hen 2-2.5 kg
Color of ear lobe: White
Color of beak : Dark blue
Comb: Single, red
Commercial Importance: Bresses are considered
the most delicious chicken in the whole wide world
(hence the nickname “Queen of Chickens”). They
are mainly raised for meat, but also produce an
average amount of medium cream-colored eggs as
well.
24. ASEEL OR ASIL :
Origin: Indian subcontinent
Class: Indian
General appearance : It has a long and slender
face that is not covered with a feather, compact
eyes, a long neck, and a small tail and has strong
and straight legs.
Plumage color: Dark brown ,black , golden etc.
Standard weight : Cock 4-5 kg, Hen 3-4 kg
25. CONTINUE…
Skin color: White 98% , yellow 2% and reddish
color on chest region
Comb: Pea shape
Ear lobe color: Red
Color of beak: Half red and front half yellow
Egg shell color : Light brown , produce small size
40 eggs per year .
Commercial importance: It is a game breed . For
sole purpose of cock fighting.
Lifespan:10years
Care level: Moderate
Climate tolerance: cold and heat Hardy
27. MINORCA:
Origin: Span or Netherland
Class: Mediterranean
General appearance: long, angular birds that
appear larger than they are. They have long tails,
large wide feathers closely held to narrow bodies.
The Black variety has medium-length, dark slate,
stout shanks.
Plumage color: Greenish – black
Comb: Rose comb
Standard weight : Cock 2.8 kg , Hen 2.2 kg
28. CONTINUE…
Skin color : White
Ear lobe color: Red
Beak color : Black
Egg shell color: White
Egg production: produce large , 140-220 eggs
year
Commercial importance: It is kept for ornamental
breed . As a farm bird, it is an egg – laying breed.
Lifespan: 6-8years
Laying age: 26 weeks
30. NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Origin: New Hampshire state of America
Class: American class
General appearance: Less rectangular than RIR
Plumage color: Chestnut red ,main tail feathers
are black. In females, lower neck feathers are
distinctly tipped with black
Standard weight: Cock 3.8 kg , Hen 3.0 kg
Lifespan: 7 years
Laying age: 23-28 weeks
31. CONTINUE…
Skin color: Yellow
Color of ear lobe: Reddish
Color of beak: Yellow
Egg shell color: Brown
Egg production: Medium – large 280 egg per year
Comb: Single ,red
Commercial importance: Dual purpose for egg
and meat