Spanish chicken
The Spanish (White-Faced Black Spanish) is an old Mediterranean breed with an enormous white face.
The Spanish is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Rare Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as 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: Black with a beetle-green sheen, Some blue bantams exist in North America, White in Australia. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.2 kg, hen about 2.7 kg, bantam cock about 1075 g and bantam hen about 910 g.
Expect roughly 120–160 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for eggs.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
Photos
From keepers' flocks
No keeper photos yet.
Keep this breed? Add your birds on Flockstock and share a photo from the bird's page. Go to my flock
Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Rare Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Spain
- Kept for
- Eggs
History
One of the oldest Mediterranean breeds, known in Britain since the 1700s and once very popular.
Appearance
Tall black bird with a beetle-green sheen and a large white face and ear lobes that grow with age.
Recognised colours
Black with a beetle-green sheen, Some blue bantams exist in North America, White in Australia
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.2 kg
- Hen
- 2.7 kg
- Bantam cock
- 1075 g
- Bantam hen
- 910 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 120–160
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Lays roughly 120–160 large white eggs a year; slow to mature.
Temperament
- In short
- Active
- Keeping notes
- Active; the white face is easily damaged by cold or sun.
Hardiness
Not hardy; face sensitive to cold and sun
Broodiness
Rarely broody
Flying
Good flyer
Suitability
- Beginners
- Not ideal for beginners
- Good to know
- A rare and striking breed, best for experienced keepers.
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
Nothing is flagged on this page at the moment. Breeds and strains vary, so check with a breeder or club too.
Suggest a change
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us what it should say, and we'll review it.