There are over a hundred breeds and types of poultry in the UK,. There are many more in the rest of the World. Each breed has distinctive attributes and personality and is classified by The Poultry Club. This can also be based on a breed's historical origins, original purpose, popularity, or size.
There are two sizes of bird - Large Fowl and Bantam. Both sizes can be found in many breeds, the Bantam having been created as a miniature of the Large.”True Bantams”, with no Large Fowl equivalent and the breeds covered are usually for ornamental purposes. Waterfowl are similarly divided into Light, Medium and Heavy Geese, and Heavy, Light, and Bantam Duck.
In fowl, another characteristic is that made between Hard and Soft feather breeds. The Hard feather breeds are the Game varieties, with historical origins that lie in the outlawed pursuit of cockfighting. Having been developed over generations for exhibition purposes, they would be unsuitable for this now. As the term suggests, they also have tighter feathering. The Soft feather breeds are those remaining.
Although many of the breeds, types or sizes within a breed, are very rare, the Poultry Club classifies Rare breeds as those without their own specialist Breed Club or Society. The Rare Breeds' are looked after by The Rare Poultry Society.
You will find a brief, illustrated guide to a small selection of poultry breeds, with its history, and the colours and varieties available
Hard Feather
A selection of Hard Feather fowl varieties, including Old English Game Bantam, Old English Game, and Modern Game.
Soft Feather Heavy
A selection of the Soft Feather Heavy Breeds, including Orpington, Sussex, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, and Rhode Island Red.
Soft Feather Light
A selection of the Soft Feather Light Breeds, including Ancona, Leghorn, Minorca, Poland, and Silkie.
True Bantam
A selection of the True Bantam Breeds, including Pekin, Rosecomb, Sebright, Belgian, Dutch, and Japanese.
Rare Breeds
A selection of the Rare Breeds, including Andalusian, Norfolk Grey, and Houdan.
For more details on the breeds use click on each classification below to see the the Poultry Club of Great Britain descriptions.
