Show Poultry Breeds
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Andalusian
Strong egg layers but flighty birds, Andalusians are a rather active breed and can run very fast. They also tolerate cold climates very well. They also make for good show birds. |
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Appenzeller Spitzhauben The Appenzeller Spitzhauben thrives in cold weather as it was bred in Switzerland. They are known to have a very distinct personality and are enjoyable to watch as they climb trees and search endlessly for bugs. |
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Araucana Though they have high mortality rates in the egg, the Araucana breed is a good dual purpose chicken with strong egg producing qualities and enough meat for a meal. No other birds look like the Araucana does. |
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Aseel
The Aseel is a very strong and aggressive breed, known to fight at all times. However, they are very docile toward humans. They serve as a good foundation stock for meat producers. |
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Barnevelder A triple threat, the Barnevelder is great for egg laying, meat production, and even has a following as a show bird. A large bird, they are known to be calm and easy to handle, even considered shy by some. |
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Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam The Belgian Bearded d-Uccle Bantam functions as a decent layer and makes for a good meat bird, as well as being unique enough to be popular as a show bird. They’re very tame and even ride on your shoulder. |
Booted Bantam Suited best as an ornamental breed, the Booted Bantam is easy to tame to the point of becoming a pet since they are calm and very friendly. They come in many varieties of colors. |
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Brahma
The Brahma can do everything, from lay eggs to become a filling dinner to win awards at a breed show. This is one of the largest breeds in the world and is an ideal chicken for newcomers as they’re easy to manage. |
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Campine Campines, despite their small size, make good egg layers, though their primary use is as a show favorite. They love the summer months but don’t too well in winter, though they don’t mind confinement. |
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Cochin Cochins will eat anything, causing them to be rather large birds. However, they aren’t fantastic layers and mature too slowly to be good meat birds. Instead, they’re renowned for their unique personalities. |
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Crevecoeur Though once known for being a great dual purpose chicken, the Crevecoeur is now best suited as a show bird as it is considered endangered. Despite this, they are calm and easy to handle. |
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Cubalaya Used in Cuba as dual purpose birds but mostly as ornamental in the US, the Cubalaya can do it all. They do great in heat and humidity and make a great choice for first-time chicken owners. |
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Easter Eggers Easter Eggers are the most-loved breed in the US as they can produce eggs in colors such as green, blue, and even pink. The APA still doesn’t recognize them as a breed however. |
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Faverolles
A chicken bred in France, the Faverolles is a dual purpose bird and succeeds as such. Their finely packed feathers allow them to withstand cold climates well and are considered the most docile breed in the world. |
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Fayoumi The Fayoumi is best as an ornamental bird, as well as a research subject as they are resistant to many diseases. They are as close as possible to being wild, so they don’t make very good domestic birds. |
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Houdan The Houdan is loved as a meat bird, loved as an egg-producing bird as they have amazing longevity, and loved as a show bird because of their unique feathering style. They can do it all! |
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Japanese Bantam The Japanese Bantam is a breed that only comes in the one size: Small. They serve as great pets and show birds, but that’s it. Still, they live to be 13 and are helpful by eating weed seeds and insects in the yard. |
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Malay Malays can stand up to three feet tall and are incredibly strong birds known for their fighting prowess. However, they don’t lay often and don’t have much meat, so they’re primarily ornamental and show birds. |
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Minorca
Though Minorcas used to have mythical-like egg laying abilities, the current breed has slowed down production just a bit, however not enough to make them anything less than one of the strongest laying breeds. |
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Modern Game
Modern Games are skinny and lengthy, so they aren’t good for eggs or meat, but they’re great for showing off. They’re a challenge to tame, but once they’re attached to you they may even offer presents. |
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Old English Game Old English Game are poor layers and poor meat producers, but they’re the number one most popular show breed. Just be ready to face tough competition since hundredss of these birds compete each year. |
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Orpington Orpingtons can do it all, whether it be laying 200 eggs a year, offering a lot of meat when matured, or being easy to handle and show. These are just a good chicken for all occasion. |
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Phoenix The Phoenix breed is famous for its incredibly long tail, making them wonderful in the show circuit. They aren’t, however, very good at anything else and do require a lot of care to keep their tails undamaged. |
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Polish The Polish breed is best known for their magnificent V-shaped crest, making them great as show birds. They also have a decent egg laying ability, though this isn’t as reliable as other breeds. |
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Rhode Island Red The Rhode Island Red can be used for anything. They’re prized for their 220 eggs a year production, but are hearty meat birds and popular in shows. There’s nothing this chicken can’t do. |
Rosecomb Rosecombs are a true bantam and as such are used primarily on the show circuit since they don’t lay much and aren’t large enough for a meal. Expect to see a lot of these if you go to a show. |
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Sebright The Sebright is a bantam built for the show world. They are very active birds, but they aren’t aggressive and aren’t very loud, so this is a great chicken for someone needing an easy time. |
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Sicilian Buttercup The Sicilian Buttercup is classified as an egg laying breed despite having poor egg laying abilities. They are most popular as show chickens, so if you want an egg layer with a better purpose, these are your bird. |
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Silkie Bantam Silkie Bantams look like a little ball of fluff due to their unique feathers. They are small, as the bantam name suggests, and do not work as anything but a show bird. Still, they’re considered very friendly. |
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Star Stars are very special, working as egg layers, meat producers, and excellent show birds. Their best talent may be as a sex link for breeding purposes. If you want specific characteristics in other breeds, use a Star. |
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Sultan The Sultan breed is all about the shows due to their odd feather placement like a turban on theri head and long tufts coming from their feet. They’re also very placid, adding to the reasons for being show birds. |
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Sumatra Sumatras are best when they’re shown around, but can’t really provide you with a decent meal either with eggs or meat. They’re prized due to their many feathers, glorious tails, and uniquely colored faces. |
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Sussex The Sussex breed is magnificent as egg layers, able to keep egg production high even through the winter months. They also have quite a following as show birds because of their easy-going temperament. |
Yokohama
Yokohamas work best as show birds since they don’t lay very well and just simply have too good of an appearance to waste. They aren’t very friendly though, so they don’t do well with humans and other chickens. |