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Hamburg Information
Hamburg
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Egg Laying
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| Meat Production |
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| Show Status |
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| Aggressiveness |
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| Broodiness |
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| Space Needs |
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| Bantam Version? |
Yes
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| Prefererd Climate |
Any
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Hamburg Qualities
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Hamburgs lay four small, white, flavor-packed eggs a week. What they lack in egg size, they
make up in longevity. Hamburgs consistently lay for many years. In fact, the Dutch called them
“everlayers.” Hamburg hens mature early and start laying at four months of age. The chicks have
a delicate constitution, but once established, the breed proves quite robust. Hamburgs like to
forage and will fly the coop to do so. Fortunately, they tolerate cold and can endure a night
away from the coop. An active breed they often refuse to sit long enough to hatch their
brood.
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Hamburg Temperament
| Hamburgs have a wild disposition. They like to fly, forage, and roost in trees. Owners have
awaken to find their whole flock in the trees. Humans easily spook the Hamburg chicken. Given
these traits, the breed has little toleration for confinement. They enjoy free-range freedom
and free-range food in the form of grain. Hand raised Hamburgs will tolerate humans more than
those left to grow up on their own. Like most foragers that survive, Hamburgs develop a keen
awareness of their environment. |
Hamburg Appearance
| The Hamburg parades for the world ten different plumages: Silver-Spangled,
Golden-Spangled, Golden-Penciled, Silver-Penciled, White, Black and Citron Spangled.
Although small to start with, the Hamburg breed has both a standard and bantam size. The
standards average four to five pounds while the bantams top out at one and half. Hamburgs
sport red rose combs, medium matching wattles, and white earlobes. Their unique horn
colored beak has gray shanks. Unlike most chickens Hamburgs wear pink soles on the bottom
of their feet. Butchered Hamburgs display a white meat on dark colored bones. |
Hamburg Upkeep
| Build a run with high fences or even a wire cover to keep Hamburgs in the run.
Otherwise, clip their wings to curb their innate flying behavior. They like to forage.
Give them plenty of room. Flighty to the extreme, Hamburgs often refuse to sit on their
eggs. Provide your Hamburgs with a hen from a broody breed to hatch their eggs. Many
Hamburg owners use Brahmas for that purpose. Pay special attention to new chicks as
Hamburg young have a high mortality rate. After the first four months, they usually
fend for themselves. |
Hamburg History
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Many of the breeds historians trace their heritage to Hamburg Germany or
Holland prior to 1700. In Holland the breed had many names: Pheasant fowl,
Pheasants, Yorkshire Pheasant, Silver Pheasant-fowl of Yorkshire. One well
noted expert on the breed cites 14th century Turkey as the origins of the
breed. The Hamburg chicken has a literary connection to L. Frank Baum the
author of the Oz books including the famous Wizard of Oz. All six of the
Hamburg strain earned induction into the American Poultry Association's
Standard of Perfection in 1874. The size of the fowl, their contentious
temperament, and their dark bones worked against the breed's popularity in
America. Today fewer than a 1000 fowl live in the US.
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Hamburg Pictures
Hamburg Videos
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