Hamburgh chicken
The Hamburgh is an elegant light breed in spangled, pencilled or black. It was once one of the most popular show breeds.
The Hamburgh is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Netherlands / northern England. 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: Black, Silver Pencilled, Gold Pencilled, Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled. Typical adult weights: cock about 2.25 kg, hen about 1.80 kg, bantam cock about 680–790 g and bantam hen about 620–740 g.
Expect roughly 170–200 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
- Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Netherlands / northern England
- Kept for
- Exhibition or ornamental
History
Wikipedia says the pencilled varieties look Dutch, while others developed in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Birds were shown at pub gatherings before the first London show in 1845, and the Hamburgh Club formed in the 1890s.
Appearance
Black, Silver/Gold Pencilled and Silver/Gold Spangled; small to medium. Bantams exist.
Recognised colours
Black, Silver Pencilled, Gold Pencilled, Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 2.25 kg
- Hen
- 1.80 kg
- Bantam cock
- 680–790 g
- Bantam hen
- 620–740 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 170–200
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Poultrykeeper gives 170–200 eggs.
Temperament
- In short
- Active
- Keeping notes
- Active; needs free range or a large grass run.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Poultrykeeper notes it is difficult to breed.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- The Hamburgh Club, breed-specific
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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