Chapter – 4 Common Breeds of poultry
Breeds of chicken
The modern breeds of chicken have known to be descended from the wild jungle fowl. India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia are the homeland to these
jungle fowls. There are four known species of jungle fowl viz. Gallus gallus (Red jungle fowl),
Gallus lafayetti (Ceylon jungle fowl), Gallus sonnerati (Grey jungle fowl) and Gallus varius
(Java jungle fowl). The domestic breeds of chicken/fowl have originated from Gallus gallus.
The British Poultry Standard listed more than 225 breeds and varieties of chicken, ducks and
turkeys. They are further classified as follows:
1. Class - Relates to official or standard classification with which various groups of birds can
be distinguished largely on the basis of geographical regions from where they originated. Most
important of various Classes are American, Asiatic, English and Mediterranean; other minor
ones are Game Class, Continental Class (North European), Continental Class (Polish),
Continental Class (French), Oriental Class and Miscellaneous Class. Ex: American, English,
Mediterranean, Asiatic etc.
2. Breed: Breed is a sub-division under Class, referring to a group of fowls, all members of
which are descended from common ancestry, are similar in shape and conformation and breed
true to type. Each breed will have its distinctive characteristics and are developed for some
special purpose. Ex: Plymouth Rock, Brahma, Leghorn etc.
3. Variety: This is a sub-division of a breed; mostly differentiated by plumage color and/or
special formation of comb. Ex: White Cornish, Red Cornish, Single Comb White Leghorn,
Rose Comb White Leghorn etc.
4. Strain: A group of birds within a variety usually named after the breeder responsible for its
development and bred for certain special characteristics (like size, maturity, egg production
etc.) in view. Ex: Babcock strain of Single Comb White Leghorn.
5. Lines - These are sub classes of strains which are engaged for production of
commercial hybrids.
Classification of chicken
1. Standard or official classification based on the place of origin.
2. Classification based on utility, economics or commercial value.
I. Classification based on the place of origin
1. American class - Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte
2. Mediterranean class - Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona
3. English class - Orpington, Sussex, Cornish
4. Asiatic class - Brahma, Langshan, Cochin, Kadaknath, Aseel
American class:
i. Plymouth Rock: It originated as early as 1865 from the crosses of Dominique and Black
Cochin. Barred and White Plymouth Rock are two most popular varieties of this breed.
The birds belonging to this breed are of good body size with excellent fleshing properties and
good laying abilities. The body is long, fairly broad with pronounced breast, good body depth
and has a single comb. The standard weights of these birds are cock - 4.3 kg, hen - 3.4 kg.
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 1
,Fig: Barred Plymouth rock Fig: White Plymouth rock
ii.Rhode Island: It was developed from Asiatic black red fowls of Shanghai, Malay and
Jawa types at Rhode Island of New England in The United States. The Rhode Island Red has
a long rectangular body. The plumage colour of this breed is rich brownish red, which should
be as even as possible over the entire surface. The exception in brownish colour is usually on
lower webs of the primaries which are mostly black. The upper webs of the secondaries are
partly black but the tail coverts, sickle feathers and main tail feathers are black. This is a dual
type breed. Several breeders have tried to develop egg laying strains out of this breed. The loss
of popularity of this breed has been due to slow feathering character. Standard weight of cock
is 3.8 kg and that of hen is 2.9 kg. Annual hen housed egg production is 225-260 eggs.
Fig: Rhode Island Red
iii.New Hampshire: This breed was developed by selection from the Rhode Island Red
without introduction of any other breed. Early maturity, quick feathering and plump carcass
are particular features of this breed. Its body shape and colouring are very different from those
of the Rhode Island red. The body is less rectangular than Rhode Island Red and the
plumage colour is chest nut red. The comb is single. Standard weight of cock is 3.8 kg and that
of hen is 3.1kg. Several broiler strains have been developed from New Hampshire breed and
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 2
, this breed has done very well in several different crosses including with Barred Plymouth Rock
and Cornish.
Fig: New Hampshire
Mediterranean class
i.Leghorn: It is originated in Italy. White Leghorn is highly reputed as world’s No.1 egg
producer. It is popular on egg producing farms because of its small body size and hence less
feed requirement for maintenance. Standard weight of cock is 2.7 kg and that of hen is 1.8 kg.
Annual hen housed egg production is 290-320 eggs.
Fig: White Leghorn chicken
ii.Ancona. This breed is originated from the city of Ancona in Italy. It resembles to Leghorn in
shape and size. Ancona are small, active, alert and black with white tipped feathers. They are
good foragers and non-broody and lay fairly good but small size eggs.
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 3
Breeds of chicken
The modern breeds of chicken have known to be descended from the wild jungle fowl. India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia are the homeland to these
jungle fowls. There are four known species of jungle fowl viz. Gallus gallus (Red jungle fowl),
Gallus lafayetti (Ceylon jungle fowl), Gallus sonnerati (Grey jungle fowl) and Gallus varius
(Java jungle fowl). The domestic breeds of chicken/fowl have originated from Gallus gallus.
The British Poultry Standard listed more than 225 breeds and varieties of chicken, ducks and
turkeys. They are further classified as follows:
1. Class - Relates to official or standard classification with which various groups of birds can
be distinguished largely on the basis of geographical regions from where they originated. Most
important of various Classes are American, Asiatic, English and Mediterranean; other minor
ones are Game Class, Continental Class (North European), Continental Class (Polish),
Continental Class (French), Oriental Class and Miscellaneous Class. Ex: American, English,
Mediterranean, Asiatic etc.
2. Breed: Breed is a sub-division under Class, referring to a group of fowls, all members of
which are descended from common ancestry, are similar in shape and conformation and breed
true to type. Each breed will have its distinctive characteristics and are developed for some
special purpose. Ex: Plymouth Rock, Brahma, Leghorn etc.
3. Variety: This is a sub-division of a breed; mostly differentiated by plumage color and/or
special formation of comb. Ex: White Cornish, Red Cornish, Single Comb White Leghorn,
Rose Comb White Leghorn etc.
4. Strain: A group of birds within a variety usually named after the breeder responsible for its
development and bred for certain special characteristics (like size, maturity, egg production
etc.) in view. Ex: Babcock strain of Single Comb White Leghorn.
5. Lines - These are sub classes of strains which are engaged for production of
commercial hybrids.
Classification of chicken
1. Standard or official classification based on the place of origin.
2. Classification based on utility, economics or commercial value.
I. Classification based on the place of origin
1. American class - Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte
2. Mediterranean class - Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona
3. English class - Orpington, Sussex, Cornish
4. Asiatic class - Brahma, Langshan, Cochin, Kadaknath, Aseel
American class:
i. Plymouth Rock: It originated as early as 1865 from the crosses of Dominique and Black
Cochin. Barred and White Plymouth Rock are two most popular varieties of this breed.
The birds belonging to this breed are of good body size with excellent fleshing properties and
good laying abilities. The body is long, fairly broad with pronounced breast, good body depth
and has a single comb. The standard weights of these birds are cock - 4.3 kg, hen - 3.4 kg.
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 1
,Fig: Barred Plymouth rock Fig: White Plymouth rock
ii.Rhode Island: It was developed from Asiatic black red fowls of Shanghai, Malay and
Jawa types at Rhode Island of New England in The United States. The Rhode Island Red has
a long rectangular body. The plumage colour of this breed is rich brownish red, which should
be as even as possible over the entire surface. The exception in brownish colour is usually on
lower webs of the primaries which are mostly black. The upper webs of the secondaries are
partly black but the tail coverts, sickle feathers and main tail feathers are black. This is a dual
type breed. Several breeders have tried to develop egg laying strains out of this breed. The loss
of popularity of this breed has been due to slow feathering character. Standard weight of cock
is 3.8 kg and that of hen is 2.9 kg. Annual hen housed egg production is 225-260 eggs.
Fig: Rhode Island Red
iii.New Hampshire: This breed was developed by selection from the Rhode Island Red
without introduction of any other breed. Early maturity, quick feathering and plump carcass
are particular features of this breed. Its body shape and colouring are very different from those
of the Rhode Island red. The body is less rectangular than Rhode Island Red and the
plumage colour is chest nut red. The comb is single. Standard weight of cock is 3.8 kg and that
of hen is 3.1kg. Several broiler strains have been developed from New Hampshire breed and
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 2
, this breed has done very well in several different crosses including with Barred Plymouth Rock
and Cornish.
Fig: New Hampshire
Mediterranean class
i.Leghorn: It is originated in Italy. White Leghorn is highly reputed as world’s No.1 egg
producer. It is popular on egg producing farms because of its small body size and hence less
feed requirement for maintenance. Standard weight of cock is 2.7 kg and that of hen is 1.8 kg.
Annual hen housed egg production is 290-320 eggs.
Fig: White Leghorn chicken
ii.Ancona. This breed is originated from the city of Ancona in Italy. It resembles to Leghorn in
shape and size. Ancona are small, active, alert and black with white tipped feathers. They are
good foragers and non-broody and lay fairly good but small size eggs.
Dr Deepak Nelagonda, Asst Professor, SVVU 3
