The breeds of poultry

By Al Lowe
Contributor

Did you ever go to a poultry show? I mean a really big one, like the Royal Winter Fair or the CNE. If you ever get a chance, visit one of these displays of chickens. You will be amazed at the different kinds of 'hens' there are.
You will see bantams which weigh in at about a pound and a half, and the giants (which are called Giants) of 15 or 16 pounds. Some have feathers on their feet, and some have feathers on their heads, like hoods. Some of the roasters have beautifully curved tail feathers, some have no tails at all, and one Japanese variety can have a tail 25 feet long!
Chickens have been bred for egg production, others for meat, and some for both - the dual-purpose types. Some have been bred for cock fighting, and other just because they are pretty or unusual. There is even a 'negro' chicken, which has purple skin and feathers which are almost like fluffy hair.
We should take note that all of these are the same species - no matter how different they appear to be. They have the same scientific name - Gallus domesticus. The variations are all because of man's breeding and interbreeding them over many centuries. All breeds of chickens can interbreed with each other.
All domestic fowl originated from the Indian Jungle Fowl of central Asia. These are fairly small birds, about the size of a grouse. The hen bird is mottled buff and brown, but the rooster has gleaming gold and red hackles and back feathers to complement his jet black breast, wing and tail feathers - a very resplendent bird.
Some of the breeds of poultry have very ancient lineage. Among these are the stately Brahmas, formerly called Shanghais, and the massive Cochins, whose ancestry is lost in the dim past of ancient China. The English Dorkings were actually a Roman breed, and were taken to England at the time of Julius Caesar. The stocky, short-legged, five toed breed has remained essentially the same for over 2000 years.
As far as I know, only one breed of poultry ever originated in Canada. This was the Chantecler, a good sized variety with heavy feathering and a very small comb, characteristics which were intended to help it withstand the rigors of the Canadian winters. It never became very popular or widespread, although some larger flocks did exist at one time in Quebec. Perhaps our only claim to fame in the poultry world will fade away, as have so many other notable Canadian achievements.
Chickens are not just 'hens' any more. They may be in egg factories, where each bird has its own pen, and never sets foot in the earth at all. Or they may be in broiler factory, where thousands of frying chickens are turned out, all precisely the same size, with the same amount of fat, and the same government stamp.
The lucky ones are those which are cared for by the fancier. These are the aristocrats, who carry their ancient lineage with pride and dignity in the poultry world.