Poultry birds and breeds and their characteristics

Birds of distinct type and colour patterns admitted to the standard are termed as standard breed.

They are further classified as (1) Class, (2) Breed, (3) Variety, and (4) Strain.

The term "Class" is used to designate groups of breeds which have been developed in certain regions or geographical areas; thus the class name – Asiatic, Mediterranean, English, Polish, American, French, etc.

The term "bred" denotes an established group of bird having the same general body shape, weight and some common characteristics. "Varieties" represent a sub-division of a breed, distinguished either by colour pattern shape, comb type or feather pattern.

The term "strain" is used to denote a given breeder who has done the breeding on the bird and has introduced certain economic characters in the bird.

 American Class:

Rhode island reds:

1) Rhode Island Red originated from Rhode Island in New England after crossing with the red Malay Game, Leghorn and Asiatic native stock.

2) The bird has a somewhat long, rectangular body, which is also broad and deep.

3) The back is flat and the breast is carried well forward –characteristics, which make it a good meat producing, bird.

4) The plumage of the Rhode Island Red is rich dark or brownish red in colour, evenly distributed over the entire surface and is well glossed.

5) The wing when spread shows black both in primaries and secondaries. The tail coverts, sickle feathers, and main tail black both in primaries and secondaries.

6) The tail coverts, sickle feathers, and main tail feathers are also black. In the lower neck feathers of the female, there is also slight black marking at the base.

7) The usual colour of the breed is, brownish red, but buff, white and brown are not uncommon.

8) There are two varieties of this breed:

(1)Single Comb, and (2) Rose Comb. The characteristics of the varieties are identical except from the type of comb. In both cases the skin and shanks are yellow and the ear lobes red. The Single Comb is the more popular of the two.

9) The standard weight in kg is: Cock-3.8%, Hen-3.0, Cockerel-3.4 and Pullet-2.5 Colour of egg shells, brown to dark brown.

Plymouth Rock:

1) The Plymouth Rock is one of the most popular breeds in America, because it is a bird good size, with excellent fleshing properties and good egg laying abilities.

2) Birds of this breed have long bodies and have good depth of body and have single combs.

3) Mature birds weigh from 3.5 to 4.5 kg.

4) There are seven varieties of Plymouth Rocks, each distinguished by its plumage. They are (1) Barred, (2) White, (3) Buff, (4) Silver-pencilled, (5) Blue, (6) Partridge and (7) Columbian.

Barred Plymouth Rock:

1) In this variety, the male birds have black and white bars of equal width, 2)In female the white bars should be as wide as the black bars.

White Plymouth Rock:

1. White Plymouth Rocks have been used extensively in broiler production.

2. The plumage is white throughout and usually free from black ticking, brassiness and creaminess.

3. The variety was developed from a sport of the Barred variety.

New Hampshire

1) The shape of the body of the bird is less rectangular than that of the Rhode Island Red.

2) The plumage is chestnut red, it has a single comb.

3) In females the lower neck feathers are distinctly tipped with black.

4) The main tail feathers are black, edge with medium chestnut red. In both sexes the under colour is light salmon.

5) The breed is a good-producer of large brown shelled eggs.

6) The standard weight in kg Cock 3.8, Hen 2.7, Cockerel 3.4, Pullet 2.5

Asiatic Class:

Brahma:

1) The breed was developed in India and exported to America and England about one hundred years ago.

2) The original birds were light in colour and have pea comb.

3) Brahmas are massive in appearance, well feathered and well proportioned.

4) Mature birds weight from 4 to 5 kg. Three varieties of Brahmas have been produced: (1) Light, (2) Dark, and (3) Buff.

Light Brahma:

1) The light Brahma is most popular because of its colour and its size.

2) Mature birds weight about 500 gm more than birds of the other two varieties.

3) The colour pattern of the light Brahma is similar to that of the Columbian Plymouth Rock and the Colombian White, the hackle feathers are black with white edging, and the main tail feathers are black, with the exception of top feathers of the female, which are laced with white.

4) The shanks, toes and beak are yellow.

Dark Brahma:

1)In the male, the hackle is greenish black with an edging of white.

2)Plumage in front of the neck is black.

3) The wing bow is white and the primary wing feathers and tail feathers are black.

4) In the female, the head and the upper neck are silver grey, the wing bows are steel-grey with black pencilling and the primary wing feathers are black with a narrow edge of steel –grey.

5) The back is steel-grey, with the same black pencilling as on the breast, body and fluff.

6) The tail is black except for the top two feathers, which are grey underneath. The shanks, toes and beak are yellow.

English Class:

Sussex:

1) The breed developed in England about 200 years ago primarily as table birds. It has a long body, shoulders are broad with a good depth from front to rear and the bird in general has excellent fleshing qualities.

2) Males of this breed have a single comb and coloured beaks, shanks and toes.

3) The standard weights in kgs are Cock 4.0, Hen 3.1, Cockerel 3.4, Pullet 2.7, The varieties are described below

Light Sussex:

1) The plumage is quite similar to that of the Columbian Plymouth Rock and Columbian Wyandote.

2) This variety appears to lay well during summer months in India.

Red Sussex:

1) The plumage is deep rich red in both sexes.

2) The only exception to the Red are found principally in the primaries where the lower webs are black with a narrow edging of red, and in the secondaries, where the upper webs are black like that of the tail colour. 3) The under colour of all sections in both sexes is red with a slight bar of slate.

Australorp:

1) The breed was developed in Australia where for many years it has been bred principally for egg production rather than meat.

2) It is also very fleshy which makes it a good dual purpose breed.

3) The back is somewhat long, and the body slopes gradually towards the tail.

4) It has a good depth of body, and more closely feathered than the Orpington.

5) The comb is single, the body is black, plumage is lustrous greenish black in all the sections, the under colouring is dull black.

6) The standard weight of Australorp in kg is : Cock 3.8, Hen 3.0; Cockerel 3.4; Pullet 2.5.

Orpington:

1) Orpingtons were developed in Kent in England.

2) They are long, deep and broad and well rounded, with a full breast and a broad back.

3) They are little more loosely feathered than breeds of American Class. Orpingtons have single combs.

4) Mature birds weigh from 4.5 kg.

5) There are four varieties: (1) Buff, (2) Black; (3) White, (4) Blue. Only the Buff Orpington has made much popularity in America.

Mediterranean Class

Leg horn:

1) One of the important breeds classified as Mediterranean breeds, the Leghorn is by far the most popular.

2) It is the word’s number one egg producer. The breed originated in Italy and so far there are 12 varieties. Only three varieties, however, have become popular. They are (1) Single Comb White; (2) Single Comb Buff and (3) Single Comb Light Brown.

3) The breed is small, active, and reputed for the harmony of its various parts.

4) It is small and very compact in form, carries the tail rather low and has a small head with well set comb and wattles.

5) It has a relatively long back, prominent breast, and comparatively long shanks.

6) Leghorns are known for their stylish carriage and mature birds weigh from 2.0 to 2.7 kg.

Minorca:

1)Minorcas, originally called red-faced Black Spanish, are the largest and heaviest of Mediterranean breeds of poultry.

2) Long strong bodies, large combs, long wattles, large white ear lobes, large and full tail moderately elevated with firm muscular legs set squarely under the powerful looking body, are the distinct characteristics of this breed.

3) The beak, shanks and toes are black.

4) An excellent producer of large white eggs. Colour of skin white; the eggshell is chalk white in colour.

5) The standard weight in kg: Cock 4.1; Cockerel 3.4; Hen 3.0; Pullet 2.8.