List of oldest U.S. chicken breeds. Is it correct?

Bullitt

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Jan 16, 2012
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List of oldest U.S. chicken breeds. Right now there are 12 breeds listed. I was going for 10.

Is it correct?


Here is the updated list:


1. Dominique -- Know as "Pilgrim Fowl" and was around for many years before being accepted by the APA in 1874.

2. Java -- Considered the second-oldest American breed and fist mentioned in print in 1835. But it was not accepted by the APA until 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all accepted by the APA in 1883, but white was removed in 1910 because it looked too much like the White Plymouth Rock. Some incorrectly state that the breed came from Java when only some of the foundation stock came from Java. The Livestock Conservancy states, "The Java is considered the second oldest breed of chicken developed in America."

3. Rhode Island Red: This article states, "The Rhode Island Red was developed not by fanciers but by poultry farmers in the area of Little Compton, Rhode Island, beginning about 1830." It also states, "The Golden Buff or Golden Red, as the breed was originally called, was first exhibited about 1879 but was bred in large numbers for practical uses before then." http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...ed-heritage-poultry-zeylaf.aspx#axzz2mv3yHjbm
Rhode Island Red was admitted to the APA in 1904.

4. Plymouth Rock: The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited as a breed in 1849. Plymouth Rock was accepted by the APA in 1874. (There are many color varieties.)

5. Wyandotte: The first examples of the breed appeared in 1870s. The Silver Laced Wyandotte was developed in New York in the early 1870s and was admitted to the APA in 1883. Other color varieties were admitted by the APA later.

6. Rhode Island White: The Rhode Island White originated in 1888 through the efforts of Mr. J. Alonzo Jocoy of Peacedale, Rhode Island. He developed the breed by crossing White Wyandottes with Partridge Cochins and Rose Comb White Leghorns. In 1903, Mr. Jocoy made the breed known to the public and offered individuals for sale. The breed continued to be developed and improved so that it more closely resembled the Rhode Island Red’s brick-like body shape. This distinctive shape helped to prevent the breed from looking similar to and being confused with White Wyandottes or White Plymouth Rock chickens. In 1922 the Rhode Island White was admitted to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection during the national conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, that year.

7. Jersey Giant: The breed started in the late 1800s. The Black Jersey Giant was admitted into the APA in 1922. The White Jersey Giant was admitted by the APA in 1947.

8. "The Buckeye was first bred and developed in 1896, by a Warren, Ohio resident named Nettie Metcalf." The Buckeye was admitted to the APA in 1904.

9. California Gray: "In 1908, Dr. Horace Dryden, a professor at the Oregon Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State University) experimented by crossing white Leghorns and Barred Plymouth Rocks. White Leghorns are small white chickens known for excellent white egg production. Barred Plymouth Rocks are a very popular heavy breed of dual-purpose chickens with alternating black and white stripes. In 1927, Dr. Dryden moved to Modesto, California, and started the Dryden Poultry Breeding farm. The Leghorn and Barred Rock crosses were sold as California Grays, a high producer of white eggs."
California Gray has never been recognized by the APA. I suspect this is because a California Gray looks like a Barred Leghorn.

10. Lamona: "The Lamona is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. It was developed in the early 20th century by Harry S. Lamon, who was the senior poultry expert at the Bureau of Animal Industry,[1] an agency that was eventually replaced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. Working at the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, Lamon crossed White Plymouth Rocks, Silver-Gray Dorkings and White Leghorns to produce the Lamona. The effort began in 1912 and by 1933 it was recognized as a breed by admittance into the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection.[3] A bantam version was miniaturized from the standard Lamona, and it was recognized by the APA in 1960."

11. New Hampshire: The New Hampshire originated starting with Rhode Island Reds and using selective breeding. New Hampshire was admitted by the APA in 1935.

12. Holland: Despite its name, this breed was developed in the United States starting in the 1930s. The White and Barred Holland were developed simultaneously. This breed looks much like a Plymouth Rock but lays white eggs. Holland was admitted to the APA in 1949.
 
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Good Info I did not know .......

It took me a while to put that list together.

I want to find out if I made any mistakes. I am sure that Dominique and Java are the first two on the list. There may be breeds I missed and did not include somewhere between 3 and 10, though.
 
It took me a while to put that list together.

I want to find out if I made any mistakes. I am sure that Dominique and Java are the
first two on the list. There may be breeds I missed and did not include somewhere between 3 and 10, though.
Bullit,
Why don't you take this list over to the Heritage Large Fowl thread? Walt Leonard is there
and he's head of the APA Standards Committee. Could help fill in any doubts.
Best,
Karen
 
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Bullit,
Why don't you take this list over to the Heritage Large Fowl thread? Walt Leonard is there
and he's head of the APA Standards Committee. Could help fill in any doubts.
Best,
Karen

Thank you.

Maybe I can put a link to this thread in that thread.
 
I would think American Gamefowl would be first just about everyone of those listed has a dab or more of AG in them even the Dominique they were developed from a (hawk patterned game fowl) I've read from old history.
Check out the SPPA site and too ask Doc Charles Everett (saladin) on here he can give you the scoop on some of old breeds for sure.

Jeff
 
List of oldest U.S. chicken breeds.

Is t correct?


1. Dominique -- Know as "Pilgrim Fowl" and was around for many years before being accepted by the APA in 1874.

2. Java -- Considered the second-oldest American breed and fist mentioned in print in 1835. But it was not accepted by the APA until 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all accepted by the APA in 1883, but white was removed in 1910 because it looked too much like the White Plymouth Rock. Some incorrectly state that the breed came from Java when only some of the foundation stock came from Java. The Livestock Conservancy states, "The Java is considered the second oldest breed of chicken developed in America."

3. Plymouth Rock: The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited as a breed in 1849. Plymouth Rock was accepted by the APA in 1874. (There are many color varieties.)

4. Wyandotte: The first examples of the breed appeared in 1870s. The Silver Laced Wyandotte was developed in New York in the early 1870s and was admitted to the APA in 1883. Other color varieties were admitted by the APA later.

5. Rhode Island White: The Rhode Island White originated in 1888 through the efforts of Mr. J. Alonzo Jocoy of Peacedale, Rhode Island. He developed the breed by crossing White Wyandottes with Partridge Cochins and Rose Comb White Leghorns. In 1903, Mr. Jocoy made the breed known to the public and offered individuals for sale. The breed continued to be developed and improved so that it more closely resembled the Rhode Island Red’s brick-like body shape. This distinctive shape helped to prevent the breed from looking similar to and being confused with White Wyandottes or White Plymouth Rock chickens. In 1922 the Rhode Island White was admitted to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection during the national conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, that year. (Wow, I thought the Rhode Island Red was first.)

6. Jersey Giant: The breed started in the late 1800s. The Black Jersey Giant was admitted into the APA in 1922. The White Jersey Giant was admitted by the APA in 1947.

7. "The Buckeye was first bred and developed in 1896, by a Warren, Ohio resident named Nettie Metcalf." The Buckeye was admitted to the APA in 1904. "Contrary to popular belief the Buckeye breed was created before the Rhode Island Red breed and actually sent birds to the RIR breeders for them to improve their breed."

8. Rhode Island Red: Establishment of the Rhode Island Red must have started after 1896. Rhode Island Red was admitted to the APA in 1904.

9. New Hampshire: The New Hampshire originated starting with Rhode Island Reds and using selective breeding. New Hampshire was admitted by the APA in 1935.

10. Holland: Despite its name, this breed was developed in the United States starting in the 1930s. The White and Barred Holland were developed simultaneously. This breed looks much like a Plymouth Rock but lays white eggs. Holland was admitted to the APA in 1949.

The RIR was in the works way before the Buckeye and was always a far superior bird to the Buckeye. That's just history. The RIR development history is perhaps the single most engaging of all American breeds. It is well documented.

A thought, too, is to remember all of the immigrants that are our original chickens. A lot is made of American breeds developed here, but before them there was a strong presence of breeds that shaped out poultry food supply for many a decade before these were even on the map: Games, Dorkings, Hamburgs, Spanish, and Polish. Then there came the Brahmas and the Cochins. They're not classed as "American" breeds per se, but they are more American, in the sense that they have contributed more to the American poultry landscape, than a number of the breeds classed as American.
 
I would think American Gamefowl would be first just about everyone of those listed has a dab or more of AG in them even the Dominique they were developed from a (hawk patterned game fowl) I've read from old history.
Check out the SPPA site and too ask Doc Charles Everett (saladin) on here he can give you the scoop on some of old breeds for sure.

Jeff


I did a search and I cannot find any years in the history of American Game chickens. Does any one know where I can find a history of American Game with years?
 

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