Friesian chicken
The Friesian (Fries Hoen) is an old, small Dutch laying breed from the isolated North Sea coast of Friesland.
The Friesian is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Rare Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Friesland, Netherlands.
It is kept in large form. Recognised colours: Gold Pencilled, Silver Pencilled, Chamois Pencilled. Typical adult weights: cock about 1.4–1.6 kg, hen about 1.2–1.4 kg, bantam cock about 550–650 g and bantam hen about 450–550 g.
Expect roughly 150–180 eggs a year, with white shells.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Rare Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Friesland, Netherlands
History
It is related to neighbouring breeds such as the Groninger Meeuw, Drentse Hoen and Ostfriesische Möwe. The earliest written description may be Houwink's of 1909. From the early 1900s more productive layers displaced it, and numbers fell during the First World War. The Fryske Hinne Klub formed in 1922, and Hoogeveen published a monograph in 1947.
Appearance
Not recorded yet.
Recognised colours
Gold Pencilled, Silver Pencilled, Chamois Pencilled
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large
- Cock
- 1.4–1.6 kg
- Hen
- 1.2–1.4 kg
- Bantam cock
- 550–650 g
- Bantam hen
- 450–550 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 150–180
- Egg colour
- White
Temperament
- Keeping notes
- An active forager.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Wikipedia notes it is apparently related to other regional breeds such as the Groninger Meeuw, Drentse Hoen, Hollands Hoen and Ostfriesische Möwe.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Rare Poultry Society, umbrella · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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