Many people don’t realize that there are different breeds of chicken, much less that different countries have raised their own unique breeds. However, you’ll find different varieties of clucker in just about every country on the map. As you might expect, given its vast size, China has gifted the world with several different chicken breeds, each of which has their own special features and quirks. Today, we’ll take a look at six of the top chickens that hail from China.
Cochin Chicken Image Credit: Pixabay The Cochin chicken is a large bird, tipping the scales at anywhere from 6 to 13 pounds. They have a striking amount of plumage, including all over their legs and feet, and they’re primarily reared for exhibition purposes. Even so, they’re fairly productive, and the hens make doting and responsible mothers. When these birds first hit the scene in the 1840s, they were so popular that they spread “hen fever.” That fever spread to Western countries as well, and poultry breeding became immensely popular for some time.
Nixi Chicken
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While Cochin chickens are known for being large and impressive, Nixi chickens are small. They’re indigenous to the Yunnan province in southwest China, where they’re commonly used as the featured component in chicken soup. Despite their diminutive stature, Nixis are well-suited for cold climates, which makes their living choice of Yunnan strange, as it’s one of the warmest parts of China.
- Croad Langshan
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While Croad Langshan might sound more like the name of a Steinbeck character than that of a chicken, these birds actually predate the author, dating back to the mid-19th century. While the chickens come from China, they achieved massive popularity in Britain, as a military man named Major F.T. Croad brought the breed home with him in 1904. These birds are known for being large with long breasts and a small head, and they generally weigh between 7 and 9 pounds. They make excellent pets, as they are easy to tame and train. If kept healthy and happy, a single hen can lay upward of 150 eggs per year.
Silkie Image Credit: Olga Salt, Shutterstock Silkies barely resemble chickens at all, so you can be forgiven if at first glance, you assume that the bird is a radioactive penguin or something like that. They have thick, fluffy plumage that’s quite silky to the touch (hence the name), as well as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and an extra toe on each foot. These birds are actually quite calm and docile. They’re an extremely old breed as well, with the first known references to them coming from the famed traveler Marco Polo in the 13th century. They’re often kept as pets, and they’re so agreeable that they’re often used to incubate and raise the offspring of other birds.
Yellow-Hair Chicken
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The Yellow-Hair chicken is known for having extremely flavorful meat, but they’re low in fat, making it difficult and time-consuming to cook. They’re hard to find in restaurants outside of China, although they’re becoming rare there as well, as they’re beginning to get displaced by larger broiler chickens.
- Pekin Bantam
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The Pekin Bantam hails from China but found widespread popularity in Britain. The birds made the trip to the U.K. sometime in the 19th century; the first birds to hit England were supposedly looted from the Chinese emperor’s private stash by British soldiers at the end of the Second Opium War. As you might expect from the name, these birds are all true bantams, with no larger fowl counterpart. They have a round shape and a head that stays close to the ground, and their plumage is elaborate, covering their feet and legs. They come in just about any color under the sun, and they can make excellent pets due to their calm and docile nature.
Wrapping Up Now that you’re up to date on some of the best chicken breeds that China has to offer, you need to pick a favorite. Personally, we feel that you can’t go wrong with a Croad Langshan, although we understand if you’re partial to Silkies. Other interesting chicken breeds:
13 American Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
6 Asian Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
5 Broody Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
Many people don’t realize that there are different breeds of chicken, much less that different countries have raised their own unique breeds. However, you’ll find different varieties of clucker in just about every country on the map.
As you might expect, given its vast size, China has gifted the world with several different chicken breeds, each of which has their own special features and quirks. Today, we’ll take a look at six of the top chickens that hail from China.
1. Cochin Chicken
The Cochin chicken is a large bird, tipping the scales at anywhere from 6 to 13 pounds. They have a striking amount of plumage, including all over their legs and feet, and they’re primarily reared for exhibition purposes. Even so, they’re fairly productive, and the hens make doting and responsible mothers.
When these birds first hit the scene in the 1840s, they were so popular that they spread “hen fever.” That fever spread to Western countries as well, and poultry breeding became immensely popular for some time.
2. Nixi Chicken
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nixie & The Chickens (@trick.chickens)
While Cochin chickens are known for being large and impressive, Nixi chickens are small. They’re indigenous to the Yunnan province in southwest China, where they’re commonly used as the featured component in chicken soup.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nixie & The Chickens (@trick.chickens)
A post shared by Nixie & The Chickens (@trick.chickens)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Despite their diminutive stature, Nixis are well-suited for cold climates, which makes their living choice of Yunnan strange, as it’s one of the warmest parts of China.
3. Croad Langshan
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pauline (@thesmithroost)
While Croad Langshan might sound more like the name of a Steinbeck character than that of a chicken, these birds actually predate the author, dating back to the mid-19th century. While the chickens come from China, they achieved massive popularity in Britain, as a military man named Major F.T. Croad brought the breed home with him in 1904.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pauline (@thesmithroost)
A post shared by Pauline (@thesmithroost)
These birds are known for being large with long breasts and a small head, and they generally weigh between 7 and 9 pounds. They make excellent pets, as they are easy to tame and train. If kept healthy and happy, a single hen can lay upward of 150 eggs per year.
4. Silkie
Silkies barely resemble chickens at all, so you can be forgiven if at first glance, you assume that the bird is a radioactive penguin or something like that. They have thick, fluffy plumage that’s quite silky to the touch (hence the name), as well as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and an extra toe on each foot.
These birds are actually quite calm and docile. They’re an extremely old breed as well, with the first known references to them coming from the famed traveler Marco Polo in the 13th century. They’re often kept as pets, and they’re so agreeable that they’re often used to incubate and raise the offspring of other birds.
5. Yellow-Hair Chicken
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A post shared by 🇮🇳🅽🅰🆅 🆂🅸🅽🅶🅷🇮🇳#𝗡𝗛𝘁𝗲𝗷𝗮𝘀📸 𝑲20𝑷𝒓𝒐 (@jinkazama1432)
The Yellow-Hair chicken is known for having extremely flavorful meat, but they’re low in fat, making it difficult and time-consuming to cook. They’re hard to find in restaurants outside of China, although they’re becoming rare there as well, as they’re beginning to get displaced by larger broiler chickens.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by 🇮🇳🅽🅰🆅 🆂🅸🅽🅶🅷🇮🇳#𝗡𝗛𝘁𝗲𝗷𝗮𝘀📸 𝑲20𝑷𝒓𝒐 (@jinkazama1432)
A post shared by 🇮🇳🅽🅰🆅 🆂🅸🅽🅶🅷🇮🇳#𝗡𝗛𝘁𝗲𝗷𝗮𝘀📸 𝑲20𝑷𝒓𝒐 (@jinkazama1432)
6. Pekin Bantam
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by busy birds (@busybirds_)
The Pekin Bantam hails from China but found widespread popularity in Britain. The birds made the trip to the U.K. sometime in the 19th century; the first birds to hit England were supposedly looted from the Chinese emperor’s private stash by British soldiers at the end of the Second Opium War.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by busy birds (@busybirds_)
A post shared by busy birds (@busybirds_)
As you might expect from the name, these birds are all true bantams, with no larger fowl counterpart. They have a round shape and a head that stays close to the ground, and their plumage is elaborate, covering their feet and legs. They come in just about any color under the sun, and they can make excellent pets due to their calm and docile nature.
Wrapping Up
Now that you’re up to date on some of the best chicken breeds that China has to offer, you need to pick a favorite. Personally, we feel that you can’t go wrong with a Croad Langshan, although we understand if you’re partial to Silkies.
Other interesting chicken breeds:
13 American Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
6 Asian Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
5 Broody Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
- 13 American Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
- 6 Asian Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
- 5 Broody Chicken Breeds (with Pictures)
