Langshan: Great Chicken From China

Langshans is a chicken breed from China. Langshan is an ancestor of Orpington chicken, Bernevelders, and Marans. As guest its name,the origin of this chicken is Langshan, near Yang-Tze River, China. Now the breed is spreaded to the world. First time who introduced Langshan to British is Major Croad.

The chicken is a heavy breed chicken due its size. The rooster weighs 9.5 pounds (4.25 kg) and the hen weighs 7.5 pounds (3.5 kg). The body is big with deep and long breast. The tail is short. Some Langshan has no feather tail or rumpless.  The comb is red single with upward point. The head is proportional with its big body.  The back shape is U shape. The feet and the shanks has feather. German Langshan which is also Langshan descendent has no feather in legg or clean legged. This breed has long leg. The beak, feet and shank are black-yellow in color.

This bird is suitable for backyard pen because it is docile and friendly to the people. The bird does not like fly to so they safe in a large rank.

The hen has ability in sitter and broody. We can use the chicken to hatch other chicken eggs. It can lay in winter too. The hen can lay 140-150 dark brown eggs in a year. The egg is very big or weighs 58 gram.

This bird is a dual purpose chicken. It can produce much delicious meat that texture is fine and excellent.  

The origin color of the bird is black with a brilliant green sheen. It is recognize by American Poultry Association (APA). America is success to develop white Langshan from Black Langshan. There are also blue Langshan but it is rare. The Blue is the crossbreed of white and black Langshan. It is difficult to get the blue because the breed of white and black Langshan does not always result blue Langshan. Langshan is used as a parent chickens.

Read also dual purpose Chicken
Photo by: VangieAdH

Australorp : Dual Purpose chicken from Australia

Australorp is a chicken breed from Australia. Australorp is the abbreviation for “Australian Laying Orpington”. The breeder has aim to produce a native Australia laying egg chicken but they breed the heavy chicken too. As guest its name, this bird is descendant of Orpington Chicken. The breeder was imported the Orpington from British. 

Black Austrolorp with New Hampshire Red

Australorp is a dual purpose chicken breed that can produce meat and egg well. The chicken is heavy which weighs 7-8 pounds. The hen can lay up to 250 eggs in a year. The egg is light-brown in color. A record notes that a Australorp hen can lays 364 eggs in a year. The chicken is able to lays in winter. They are well-adaptable with subtropics climate.

The hen is likely to go broody or sit on the eggs. It is good to hatch the eggs due to its thick feather. This bird is also good for backyard chicken or pets because it is docile. The chicken is also calm and friendly.

The chicken is black green sheen like their ancestors, Orpington. The beak and the feet is black to grey. It has single comb moderately medium size with five points, two witted and red earlobes.
Some flock owner also cross this chicken with other chicken breed such as, leghorn, Langshan, Plymouth rock, Minorca and others. That is why the Australorp have different performance. Some chicken are generated male parents and some other are generated female parents. For example, Some Australorp is slim which is generated from the white leghorn hen. They cross The chicken to produce utility chicken or laying chicken. 

Photo by : Rachel Tayse

Rhode Island Red profile

Rhode Island Red is the famous dual purpose chicken. The hen can lay up to 300 eggs a year. The egg color is brown. The cock weight is 4.5 kilogram. Meanwhile the hen is 3. 6 kilogram. It was originated at Massachusetts, Rhode Island, United States. The chicken is developed in 19th century. The parents of the chicken are Malay, Shanghai, Java, and Brown leghorn.

Both cook and hen look fat. The thick plumage covers the yellow skin. The legs and shanks are yellow.It has blood red single comb. Some Rhode Island Red has also the color is buff to red. The cock color is more colorific than the hen. It because the fickle feather shining when sun shine.

It is a descendant of gallus bankiva or red jungle fowl. The Rhode Island Red also has similar characteristics of gallus bankiva like single comb, and saddle feather color.

This is the most successful dual chicken breed. It is hardy chicken and can lay many eggs. The breeder always developed the chicken to get best chicken which has produce more meat and eggs.