Chicken Breed Focus - Holland

sumi

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The Holland is a rather rare breed, unusual in that it is a non-Mediterranean class breed that lays white eggs. It is an excellent dual-purpose breed and a good laying hen with a calm, quiet temperament. It is becoming popular with small flock owners looking for a calmer white egg layer to add to a mixed flock for a colorful egg basket.

They are a good sized bird that is slow growing, but are good free range birds and excellent foragers. They are single combed with medium sized comb and wattles. They are quite weather hardy, tolerating both heat and cold. They come in two colors, barred and white, though barred is the primary color today. The hens will brood occasionally and they are excellent mothers.

They were developed in the 1930’s by the Rutgers University Breeding Farm in New Jersey, USA as a dual-purpose white egg layer, in response to the American market’s preference for white table eggs, since at that time all other dual-purpose breeds were brown egg layers. Various breeds were used in its development including birds imported from Holland (hence the name). Imports including The North Holland Blue as well as local Leghorns, Australorps and Barred Plymouth Rocks were used to create the Barred Holland. It was first introduced to the public in 1934.

It was recognized by the APA in 1949 and is on The Livestock Conservancy’s list as a breed in Critical status.

Note: They are available from Ideal Poultry.


Details:

Breed purpose: Dual Purpose, white egg layer
Comb Type: Single, medium sized.
Broodiness: Occasional
Climate Tolerance: All Climates
Weight: Roosters 8.5 lbs and hens 6.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Medium-Large
Egg Colour: White




Holland cockbird @Pocket Farmer


Holland Cockerel @Cheralee


Holland pair @Blarneyeggs


Holland Pullet @caychris


Holland Chicks @msladyhawke

BYC Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/holland

General breed discussions & FAQ thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407357/barred-holland-breed-of-chickens/0_20

Link to a Breed Census on BYC:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/468111/the-american-hollands-chicken-thread-census/0_20


Do you own Hollands? Are you a Holland breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/
 
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The Barred Hollands really need work from dedicated breeders (of which there are a few, fortunately). The ones I have are not particularly good production layers, I have 8 hens and they average between 3 and 4 eggs a week at their peak. They are very calm and easy to manage compared to any other white egg layer I have had. If their productivity is improved by good breeding, they will be excellent small flock layers.

I suspect that White Hollands are extinct. It would be interesting to hear from anyone that has them (or had them in the past) regarding their status.
 
The Holland photos are quite similar to my Barred Rocks. I recently acquired 2 more 6 month olds, which are a lighter grey with paler legs. I believe them to be Dominique.
Dominique have rose comb! - yellow shanks BPR, and Holand have singel comb -yellow shanks Silver Couckoo Marans have singel comb pink- slate shankes
 
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I though those were Barred Rocks at first! XD
 
Well, in the absence of a DNA, I'm calling mine Barred Rocks, two of which have "blurred" striping and fairer combs. At 6 months old, they have been laying since July, on average 5 each per week. This week saw a moderate weather change, and production slowed. Not a worry, they'll do what is natural for them, as we all should.




 
I've gotten a couple of these from SandHill. The ones I have do lay a true white egg (some people have gotten ones from SH that lay a more cream egg), decent layers 4-5 a week first lay cycle.
They are nice tempered bird, no problem with the flock, a lot lot calmer than the other white / Mediterranean class white egg layers. They aren't that big, the girls maybe five pounds.

700

700
 
I was thinking about ordering a batch of these from Sand Hill! I still have time to order for one of two hatch dates in October (I think)... If/when I do, I'll be happy to report back.

From those that have them, sounds like they are a pretty nice type of bird to have.
 

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