Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Polish
Crevecoeurs are a black-crested breed of chicken that has a muff — a growth of
feathers under the chin. They are of French origin, and though still a bit larger than the
Polish, in days gone by they were a much larger breed than the representatives we see
today. In their day, they were a nice-sized table fowl as well as an excellent layer of
white eggs. The lack of a dedicated following of purists to keep them up to standard has
allowed them to slip; they are now a smaller bird — still beautiful, but not the impress-
ive fowl of the 1800s.
The Houdans not only have a crest, but also a fifth toe — a genetic mutation spe-
cifically selected for by breeders. They, too, are of French origin and also a bit larger
than Polish. They come in White and Mottled varieties.
Although many people think Houdans and Polish are some new creations, consider-
ing them “hippie” birds, they have been around longer than many of the more common
breeds of today, dating back to the 1500s. All members of the crested fowl breeds pro-
duce a decent-sized carcass for meat, despite their relatively small bodies. They don't
appear large, and really are not very large, but their carcass is a respectable size — 2½
to 4 pounds (1-2 kg) of dressed weight. Their inability to see much makes them great
pets for young children because the children can swoop down and pick them up without
the bird getting incredibly stressed.
Cochins
Another group of ornamental birds are the Cochins . These are large, feather-footed,
bulky-bodied birds. Existing in a variety of colors, some of the more common include
White, Silver Laced, Golden Laced, Black, Blue, Partridge, and Buff. These birds are
Search WWH ::




Custom Search