Andalusian chicken
The Andalusian is a Spanish Mediterranean breed famous for its laced blue plumage and its role in early genetics.
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The Andalusian is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Rare Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Andalusia, Spain. It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Blue with black lacing. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.2–3.6 kg, hen about 2.25–2.7 kg, bantam cock about 680–790 g and bantam hen about 570–680 g.
Expect roughly 160–200 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Rare Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Andalusia, Spain
- Kept for
- Exhibition or ornamental
History
Developed from Spanish stock and refined in England in the mid-1800s; its blue colour was used to illustrate incomplete dominance in Mendelian genetics.
Appearance
Elegant, upright light breed with a large single comb and white ear lobes; slate blue with darker lacing.
Recognised colours
Blue with black lacing
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.2–3.6 kg
- Hen
- 2.25–2.7 kg
- Bantam cock
- 680–790 g
- Bantam hen
- 570–680 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 160–200
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Good layer of large white eggs, about 160–200 a year.
Temperament
- In short
- Active, can be flighty
- Keeping notes
- Active and lively, rarely broody.
Hardiness
Hardy; large comb at risk of frostbite
Broodiness
Rarely broody
Flying
Good flyer
Suitability
- Beginners
- Suitable for beginners with space (unconfirmed)
- Good to know
- Blue does not breed true: blue × blue gives roughly 50% blue, 25% black and 25% splash.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- The Rare Poultry Society, umbrella · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
Some details are still being checked. In particular: beginner suitability.
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