The Java chicken is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds. Despite the breed's name, which comes from the island of Java in Indonesia, it was developed in the U.S. and it is not known exactly where in Asia its ancestors came from. After the Dominique, the Java is the second oldest breed developed in the U.S. even though its name would suggest a Javan background.  It was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time. Javas are slow-growing chickens compared to the broilers used by the commercial chicken industry today, they are great meat birds. The hens lay a quantity of large, brown eggs and will hatch their young. Javas are particularly known as good foragers, needing less supplementary grain than many breeds when allowed to free range. Like many large breeds, they are known to be docile in temperament. In general, Javas are particularly suitable for keepers of smaller flocks who require a good dual-purpose chicken. The males can reach 9.5 pounds and females 7.5 pounds. Javas had nearly vanished by the end of the 20th century, having been pushed to fringes of the poultry world by the intense focus on one or two breeds by commercial growers, and the introduction of innumerable new and exotic breeds to poultry fanciers. Javas were especially notable as meat production birds throughout the 19th century, with their popularity peaking in the latter half of that century.

Black Langshans

This long legged, feather-legged bird appears in both black and white varieties and has dark brown eyes.

The Buckeye breed was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1904. It was developed in the "Buckeye State" of Ohio as a dual purpose breed with the distinctive color of the buckeye nut. Breeds used in its development include Cornish, Game, Rock, Cochin and Pea Combed Rhode Island Red. A Mrs. Metcalf of Warren, Ohio, had developed a stock which she called Buckeyes. When she discovered the Pea Combed RI Reds--which were not accepted into the standard--she interbred these with her own stock and formed what is now considered the Buckeye breed.

The Dominique was the bird that traveled across the country with the pioneers. Known as Dominikers, they were quite hardy and could forage well. This historically important breed is now very rare.

The original Orpington, the Black, was developed in England in 1886 and brought to the US in 1890. It was developed from Langshan-Rock-Minorca crosses. Today Buff, Black, White, and Blue Orpingtons are recognized.

Developed as a dual purpose breed, Orpingtons make fair table fowl and are excellent winter layers of large brown eggs. They have very laid back personalities and make good pets. I've heard that the Buffs are especially good in this regard.

This Spanish breed is the exception to the rule that birds with white earlobes lay white eggs. I understand that the first eggs laid by these pullets are nearly black.

This breed was nearly extinct in the early '80s, but has not only been brought back but four varieties now exist: Wheaten, Partridge, Crele and Black (the last developed as a meat bird and known as Gall del Penedès).

As you can see in the above photos, these birds have a different type of comb than most chickens. It starts as a single comb but expands into several lobes at the rear. In the Catalan language they refer to this as a "carnation comb" (cresta en clavell) or a "king's comb" (cresta de rei).

One of the best known breeds, the RIR is a good layer of large brown eggs and as a dual purpose breed also can supply a fair-sized roaster. The hens will rarely go broody and can produce around 260 eggs per year.

Developed in Rhode Island in the 1830s, various breeds were used in their makeup, including Malays, Cochins and Brown Leghorns. The single combed variety was admitted to the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1904 and the rose combed birds a year later. The cock will weigh about 8 1/2 pounds and the hens run about one pound lighter.

Barred Plymouth Rocks, often sold as Barred Rocks, are one of the most popular of the dual purpose breeds for backyard flocks. White Rocks are crossed with White Cornish to produce the Rock / Cornish hybrid that makes up most of the roasting chickens found in supermarkets.

This English heavy breed has been around since the turn of the century. In the US, Speckled, Red, and Light Sussex are recognized, while the British recognize several more varieties, including Buff, Brown, and Silver. It is famous as a table fowl and the cocks should weigh in at 9 pounds, with the hens reaching 7 pounds. The hens, which are fair setters, lay a light brown egg. The Light Sussex has been used widely in the development of sex-linked hybrids for commercial laying flocks.

The Wyandotte is an American breed. Silver Laced Wyandottes were developed in New York State in the early 1870s and were admitted into the standard in 1883. The other varieties accepted in the American Standard of Perfection are the Golden Laced, White, Black, Buff, Columbian, Partridge and Silver Penciled.

Layers of good-sized brown eggs and reaching a weight in the males of 8 1/2 pounds, Wyandottes are good dual purpose birds, especially the White and Silver Laced varieties which have been bred for utility, as well as for show.

Wyandottes - Golden Laced

Wyandottes - Silver Laced