Yamato-Gunkei chicken
The Yamato-Gunkei is a squat, heavily muscled Japanese game bird with an almost reptilian look: deep wrinkled face skin, upright stance and sparse plumage.
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The Yamato-Gunkei is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Asian Hard Feather class. Its origin is given as Japan.
It is kept in bantam form. Recognised colours: Black, Black-red (with wheaten / partridge females), Duckwing, Blue, Ginger, Splash, Spangle, Cuckoo, White. Typical adult weights: cock about 1.8–2.7 kg, hen about 1.35–2.25 kg, bantam cock about 1130 g and bantam hen about 910 g.
Expect roughly 5–20 eggs a year, with tinted shells. It is mainly kept for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Asian Hard Feather
- Also known as
- Yamato Gunkei
- Origin
- Japan
- Kept for
- Exhibition or ornamental
History
Developed in Japan as a fighting breed and protected there as a natural monument. It came to Britain in the late 20th century and is standardised in large and bantam sizes.
Appearance
Short, very thick body, upright carriage, short tail, pea comb and wrinkled facial skin. Colours include black, black-red, duckwing, blue, ginger, splash, spangle, cuckoo and white.
Recognised colours
Black, Black-red (with wheaten / partridge females), Duckwing, Blue, Ginger, Splash, Spangle, Cuckoo, White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Bantam
- Cock
- 1.8–2.7 kg
- Hen
- 1.35–2.25 kg
- Bantam cock
- 1130 g
- Bantam hen
- 910 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 5–20
- Egg colour
- Tinted
- Notes
- Lays very few eggs (around 5–20 a year), white or tinted.
Temperament
- In short
- Tolerant of people; males fight
- Keeping notes
- Not a bird for a beginner: it lays little, stock is costly and cocks fight. Usually tolerant of handling.
Hardiness
Moderate; bare skin needs protection from extremes
Broodiness
Broody; good mother (unconfirmed)
Flying
Poor flyer
Suitability
- Beginners
- Not suitable for beginners
- Good to know
- Bare patches on breast and neck are normal for the breed.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Asian Hardfeather Club, umbrella
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
Some details are still being checked. In particular: broodiness.
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