Chicken breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association
All chicken breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association are categorized into classes. Standard-sized breeds are grouped by type or by place of origin; bantam breeds are classified according to type or physical characteristics.
Large breeds[]
The large breeds are divided into six classes – American, Asiatic, Continental, English, Mediterranean, and All Other Standard Breeds – largely according to their place of origin.
American[]
The American Class contains thirteen breeds which originated in Canada or the United States.[1]: 11 All are heavy breeds, and most lay brown eggs;[1]: 11 most are cold-hardy:[2]
- Buckeye
- Chantecler
- Delaware
- Dominique
- Holland
- Java
- Jersey Giant
- Lamona
- New Hampshire
- Plymouth Rock
- Rhode Island Red
- Rhode Island White
- Wyandotte
Asiatic[]
These three breeds originate in China; they are large, feather legged, and lay brown eggs:[1]: 21
Continental[]
This group consists of eleven breeds from Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. They are mostly sprightly birds, the Faverolles being an exception:[1]: 70
- Barnevelder
- Campine
- Crevecoeur
- Faverolles
- Hamburg
- Houdan
- La Fleche
- Lakenvelder
- Marans
- Polish
- Welsummer
English[]
This class consists of five breeds from the United Kingdom and one from Australia:[3]
- Australorp
- Cornish
- Dorking
- Orpington
- Redcap
- Sussex
Mediterranean[]
These breeds originating in Italy and Spain have white earlobes and tend to be productive layers of white eggs. In general they are flighty, and exceptional free-range birds, with both evasion and foraging skills:[1]: 178
All Other Standard Breeds[]
Other breeds are grouped in this class, which has three subclasses: Game, Oriental, and Miscellaneous. The Game subclass includes the non-oriental game birds, the Oriental subclass includes mainly birds from Asia; the Cubalaya, however, is from Cuba. The Miscellaneous subclass holds the remaining breeds.[3]
Game[]
- Modern Game
- Old English Game
- American Game
Oriental[]
Miscellaneous[]
- Ameraucana
- Araucana
- Naked-neck
- Sultan
Bantam breeds[]
Bantams are grouped according to type or physical appearance into six classes: Modern Game; Game; Single Comb Clean Legged; Rose Comb Clean Legged; Feather Legged; and All Other Comb Clean Legged.[3] The American Bantam Association classifications may be different.[citation needed]
Modern Game[]
This class consists solely of the Modern Game bantam.[1][3]
Game[]
The Game class includes the remaining game bantams:[1][3]
- American Game
- Old English Game
Single Comb Clean Legged[]
This class contains all the bantam breeds with a single comb, excluding the game bantams:[1][3]
- Ancona (single comb)
- Andalusian
- Australorp
- Campine
- Catalana
- Delaware
- Dorking (single comb)
- Dutch
- Holland
- Japanese
- Java
- Jersey Giant
- Lakenvelder
- Lamona
- Leghorn (single comb)
- Minorca (single comb)
- Naked-neck chicken
- Nankin (single comb)
- New Hampshire
- Orpington
- Phoenix
- Plymouth Rock
- Rhode Island Red
- Serama
- Spanish
- Sussex
- Welsummer
Rose Comb Clean Legged[]
This class groups breeds with both a rose comb and featherless legs:[1]
- Ancona (rose comb)
- Bearded d'Anvers
- Dominique
- Dorking (rose comb)
- Hamburg
- Leghorn (rose comb)
- Minorca (rose comb)
- Nankin (rose comb)
- Redcap
- Rhode Island Red
- Rhode Island White
- Rosecomb
- Sebright
- Wyandotte
Feather Legged[]
The breeds of this class have feathering on their legs and feet:[1][3]
- Belgian Bearded d'Uccle
- Booted
- Brahma
- Cochin
- Faverolles
- Langshan (Croad Langshan)
- Silkie
- Sultan
All Other Comb Clean Legged[]
This class includes all of the breeds that do not fall into any of the other classes:[1][3]
- Ameraucana
- Araucana
- Buckeye
- Chantecler
- Cornish
- Crevecoeur
- Cubalaya
- Houdan
- La Fleche
- Malay
- Polish
- Shamo
- Sicilian Buttercup
- Sumatra
- Yokohama
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Gail Damerow (2012). The Chicken Encyclopedia. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781603425612.
- ^ Ekarius, Carol (2007). Storey's illustrated guide to poultry breeds. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Pub. ISBN 978-1-58017-667-5.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- Poultry farming in the United States