Classification of Chicken: Breeds, Types, Origin and Utility

Classification of Chicken: Breeds, Types, Origin and Utility

Chicken breeds can be classified based on their place of origin, utility, and commercial value. Understanding these classifications helps in identifying the major breed groups and their characteristics, including body size, plumage, shank and skin color, earlobe color, egg characteristics, and production purpose.

1. Standard or official classification based on the place of origin.
2. Classification based on utility, economics, or commercial value.

1. Classification Based on the Place of Origin

• Asiatic: E.g., Brahma, Langshan, Cochin
• American: E.g., Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte
• Mediterranean: E.g., Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona
• English: E.g., Orpington, Sussex, Cornish
• Continental: E.g., Houdans, Hamburg, Polish, Campines, Lakenvelders
• Oriental: E.g., Malays, Yokohama, Sumatra, Cubalayas
• French, South American (or) Latin American: E.g., Araucana
• African: E.g., Negro, Jago
• Miscellaneous: E.g., Bantams

2. Classification Based on Utility

This classification is based on utility or commercial value, such as:

• Egg Type: E.g., Leghorn.
• Meat Type: E.g., Cornish
• Dual Purpose: E.g., Rhode Island Red
• Game Type: E.g., Aseel
• Fancy Variety or Exhibition Type: E.g., Silkie, Frizzled, Bantams
• Desi Type: E.g., Kadaknath, Naked Neck, Chittagong

Characteristics of Various Chicken Classes

General characteristics of various standard classes of chicken:

• American: Medium to heavy-sized birds, mostly intended for meat or brown egg production, with clean yellow shanks and yellow skin (except Jersey Black Giant, where the shanks are black), red earlobes, and rose or single combs. E.g., Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Jersey Black Giant, New Hampshire.
• Asiatic: Asiatic breeds are heavy in size, poor layers, lay brown eggs, are broody with strong maternal instincts, and have red earlobes, mostly with feathered yellow shanks and yellow skin (except Langshan). E.g., Brahma, Cochin, Langshan.
• English: Medium to large-sized birds with single combs (except Cornish, which has a pea comb), red earlobes, and white skin (except Cornish, where it is yellow); clean, white shanks (except Australorp, where they are dark slate, and Cornish, where they are yellow); and brown-shelled eggs (except Dorking, which lays white-shelled eggs). Examples: Australorp, Cornish, Dorking, Orpington, and Sussex.
• Mediterranean Breeds: Small-sized, egg-type, non-broody birds with white earlobes, yellow or white skin, clean yellow or slate-colored shanks, and white-shelled eggs. Examples: Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona, Andalusian.

Class	American	Asiatic	English	Mediterranean
Shank	Clean	Feathered	Clean	Clean
Skin Color	Yellow	Yellow	White	Yellow or white
Earlobe Color	Red	Red	Red	White
Purpose	Dual	Meat	Dual	Egg
Size	Medium	Massive	Medium	Small
Shell Color	Brown	Brown	Brown	White
Examples	1) New Hampshire 2) Plymouth Rock 3) Rhode Island Red 4) Wyandotte	1) Brahma 2) Cochin 3) Langshan	1) Australorp 2) Cornish 3) Dorking 4) Orpington 5) Sussex	1) Ancona 2) Andalusian 3) Leghorn 4) Minorca