Percy - The field guide to chickens [over 60 detailed breed profiles, glossary, classification table & resource list, fascinating 8,000-year history]

By Pam Percy

First published in 2006 by Voyageur Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA

Copyright 2006, 2010 by Pam Percy

Softcover edition published in 2006. Digital edition 2010.

All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purposes of review, no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Publisher.

The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of this data or specific detail.

We recognize, further, that some words, model names, and designations mentioned herein are the property of the trademark holder. We use them for identification purposes only. This is not an official publication.

MBI Publishing Company titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial or sales-promotional use. For details write to Special Sales Manager at MBI Publishing Company, 400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA

Digital edition: 978-1-61060-078-1

Softcover edition: 978-0-7603-2473-8

On the front cover: Photograph Lynn M. Stone

On the back cover: top: Courtesy of William A. Suys, Jr.

Editor: Danielle J. Ibister

Designer: Maria Friedrich

Printed in China

: Single Comb White Leghorn. (Photograph Norvia Behling)

: Lakenvelder. (Photograph Lynn M. Stone)

: Silver Penciled Wyandottes. (Photograph Lynn M. Stone)

: White Dorking. (Photograph Lynn M. Stone)

To Doris (20012005). Doris was a White Bantam Leghorn who appeared on television and the radio. She was kind and beautiful and is missed by all who knew her.

I would like to thank the many chicken experts who helped me with advice, editing, and contributing information and images, including Ric Ashcraft, Jim Finger, Barry Koffler, Jean Robocker, Hans Schippers, John Skinner, Loyl Stromberg, and a special thanks to Don Schrider from the ALBC for his editing and advice. I would also like to thank my editor Danielle Ibister for her thorough and diligent work. I am also thankful to the wonderful artists and photographers past and present whose beautiful works are featured in this book: artists Edwin Megargee, Mashime Murayama, Arthur O. Schilling, Franklane Sewell, William Suys, Diane Jacky, and photographers Thomas A. Naegele, D.O., and Martin Hintz. I am also grateful to the Steenbock Memorial Library in Madison, Wisconsin, for the use of their wonderful collection of chicken books and to the many chicken sites throughout the Internet for their input.

The Brahma shares its name with the Hindu god known as the Lord of Creationquite an honor in the world of chickens. (Photograph Alan and Sandy Carey)

The Delaware is a dual-purpose fowl, famed both for laying large brown eggs and making tasty broilers. (Photograph Lynn M. Stone)

Although there are more chickens than people in the world, chicken watching is not a common activity. How often do you grab your binoculars off the windowsill to identify a chicken that has crossed the road and roamed into your backyard? Even dedicated bird watchers probably dont run across stray roosters or footloose hens wandering the wind-swept wilds. Even more unlikely is the possibility of encountering a flock of domestic fowl while hiking or driving through the countrysideunless, of course, you detour through a barnyard.

For the most part, chickens are housed and protected from their many predators, yet they do range free throughout the world and feral chickens do exist.

Keep this guide handy, because you never know when youll have an auspicious sighting. You might want this guide if youre attending a state fair or poultry show to check out the wonderful array of exotic and familiar chicken breeds. You may want it in your glove compartment if youre visiting Key West or other chicken-friendly towns.

This guide is for the farmer and breeder, as well as the non-farmer who simply loves chickens. There are a myriad of reasons to be a chicken enthusiastas many reasons as there are to use this guide. Depending on where you live and local ordinances, you may even want to start raising chickens. They are the ideal pet, needing only food, water, and a safe place to be locked up at night. Luckily, I live in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and our neighbors do not object to chickens. In fact, I have been raising them for twenty years!

Chicken watching can be a wonderfully satisfying, yet admittedly time-consuming, passion. Like people who are mesmerized by the graceful movements of fish within an aquarium, we chicken people are entertained for hours by the constant activities of our fair flock. Unless they are sleeping or laying eggs, chickens rarely stay still. They are constantly moving and doing chickeny thingsscratching, pecking at food (or each other), taking dust baths, perching, preening, and having chicken sex. Regarding the latter, roosters wont disappoint any chicken watcher.

Its relaxing.

You can be out in the fresh air and get a back to nature feeling.

It gives you a sense of timelessness. Most likely, some of your forefathers or foremothers spent times in their yards with their chickens.

Its entertaining. Chickens have personalities and constantly interact with each other. They form what appear to be friendships, yet they also can be prone to bickering amongst themselves. Yes, the pecking order is alive and well.

Approach chickens slowly. Chickens startle easily and any sudden movement will make them flee.

Lure them with food. Chickens can easily be bribed with almost any food. They are great recyclers, and ours enjoy many of our leftovers.

You can try attracting them with clucking noises, but they prefer a handful of munchables.

Even though chickens may approach you out of curiosity, dont be discouraged if they run when you try to pet them. They have a natural tendency to flee. But with patience, you can usually train a chicken to eat out of your hand.

Chicken Details