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, 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 first of such standards was the British Poultry Standard, which is still in publication today. Other standards include the Standard of Perfection, the Australian Poultry Standard, and the standard 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

Afghanistan

Albania

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

China

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Egypt

Finland

France

• Aquitaine • Ardeale • Ardennaise, or Sans-queue des Ardennes • Barbezieux • Blanzac • Bourbonnaise • Bourbourg • Bresse Gauloise • Caumont • Caussade • Charollaise • Cocherelle • Combattant du Nord • Contres • Cotentine • Coucou des Flandres • Coucou de France • Coucou de Rennes • Coucou Picarde • Coucou Soie • Cou-nu du Forez • Courtes-Pattes • Crèvecœur • Estaires • Faverolles clair (light) • Faverolles foncée (dark, or "German" Faverolles) • Favoris • Gasconne • Gâtinaise • Gauloise dorée • Géline de Touraine • Gournay • Hergnies • Houdan • Ivanaise • Janzé • Javanaise • La Flèche • Landaise • Le Mans • Le Merlerault • Meusienne • Limousine (coq de pêche) • Lyonnaise • Mantes • Marans • Noire du Berry • Noire de Challans • Pavilly • Poule d'Alsace • Poule de Caux • Poule de Marquise • Poule de Saint-Omer • Poule des Courrières • Poule des haies, see Ardennaise • Provençale

Germany

Large breeds

• Annaberger Haubenstrupphühner • Augsburger • Bergische Kräher, • Bergische Schlotterkämme • Bielefelder Kennhuhn • Deutsches Lachshuhn, see Faverolles • Deutsche Langschan, see German Langshan • Deutsches Reichshuhn • Deutsche Sperber • Dresdner • German creeper • Hamburger, see Hamburg • Kraienköppe (Twents hoen) • Lakenfelder, seeLakenvelder • Nackthalshühner, see Naked-neck • Niederrheiner • Ostfriesische Möwen, seeEast Frisian Gull • Pfälzer Kämpfer • Phoenix • Ramelsloher • Rheinländer • Sachsenhuhn • Strupphuhn, see Frizzle • Sultanhuhn, see Sultan • Sundheimer • Thüringer Barthuhn • Vogtländer • Vorwerkhuhn, seeVorwerk • Westfälische Totleger, seeWestphalian chicken

Bantams

• Bergische Zwerg-Kräher • Bergische Zwerg-Schlotterkämme • Bielefelder Zwerg-Kennhühner • Brügger Zwerg-Kämpfer • Deutsche Zwerghühner • Deutsche Zwerg-Lachshühner, see Faverolle Bantam • Deutsche Zwerg-Langschan, see German Langshan Bantam • Deutsche Zwerg-Reichshühner • Deutsche Zwerg-Sperber • Frankfurter Zwerghühner • Ostfriesische Zwerg-Möwen • Ruhlaer Zwerg-Kaulhühner • Siamesisches Zwerg-Seidenhühner • Thüringer Zwerg-Barthühner • Zwerg-Altsteirer • Zwerg-Amrocks • Zwerg-Andalusier, see Andalusian • Zwerg-Araucana, see Rumpless Araucana Bantam • Zwerg-Asil, see Asil Bantam • Zwerg-Augsburger, see Augsburger Bantam • Zwerg-Australorps, see Australorp Bantam • Zwerg-Barnevelder, see Barnevelder Bantam • Zwerg-Brahma, see Brahmas • Zwerg-Brakel, see Brakel Bantam • Zwerg-Créve Coeur, see Crevecoeur Bantam • Zwerg-Dominikaner, see Dominique Bantam • Zwerg-Dresdner • Zwerg-Hamburger, see Hamburg Bantam • Zwerg-Italiener, see Leghorn Bantam • Zwerg-Kastilianer • Zwerg-Krüper • Zwerg-La Fléche, see La Fleche Bantam • Zwerg-Lakenfelder, see Lakenfelder Bantam • Zwerg-Minorka, see Minorca Bantam • Zwerg-Nackthalshühner, see Naked-neck bantam • Zwerg-New Hampshire see New Hampshire Bantam • Zwerg-Niederrheiner • Zwerg-Orloff, see Orloff Bantam • Zwerg-Orpinglon see Orpington Bantam • Zwerg-Phönix, see Phoenix • Zwerg-Plymouth Rocks, see Plymouth Rock Bantam • Zwerg-Rheinländer • Zwerg-Rhodeländer • Zwerg-Sachsenhühner • Zwerg-Sulmtaler, see Sulmtaler Bantam • Zwerg-Sundheimer • Zwerg-Sussex, see Sussex Bantam • Zwerg-Vorwerkhühner see Vorwerk Bantam • Zwerg-Welsumer see Welsumer Bantam • Zwerg-Yokohama see Yokohama Bantam

Greece

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran

Italy

Japan

Korea

Kosovo

Malaysia

Mariana Islands

Myanmar

Netherlands

Norway

Pakistan

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Thailand

Turkey

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States of America

Vietnam

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 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

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

Meat

Most farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production. Some breeds are raised mainly for meat:

Dual-purpose

The generalist 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.

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 as fighting cocks.

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:

Crossbreeds

Many common strains of crossbred 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, crossbreeds do not technically meet the definition of a breed. Most crossbreed strains are sex linked, allowing for easy chick sexing.

Footnotes

Sources