Ancient breeds

Lukieg · Mar 16, 2012

Hello all, I am new to the forum. I have raised different breeds of chickens but I wish to work on some very old breeds.. the foundation breeds. I know Dorkings and Leghorns are very old and were known to the romans, however what other breeds are old? The older the better. Thanks folks.. i appreciate all the useful info the forum provides.

Sonoran Silkies · Mar 16, 2012

Silkies are pretty ancient. One of the Romans or Greeks wrote about them, along with it being pretty well known that Marco Polo write about them.

Sonoran Silkies · Mar 19, 2012

It was Aristotle who wrote about silkies in 380 B.C.

Also found this for you: http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/07E04A08.pdf

chickmashnoon · Mar 19, 2012

I believe the egyptian breeds are pretty old, the Fayoumi and there are a few local breeds. Since they had incubatosr for eggs B.C. I'd assume that they have other breeds that are just as old, but not as widely known. There is also the original ear-tuffed breed that the araucanas were bred from- can't remember the name, but they are from south america.

Some of the fighting cocks are really old since chickens were known for sport in the ancient world and became well know as mc nuggets far later.

KazAnder Farms · Mar 20, 2012

The Brahmas are among the most ancient, at least according to the standard. Brahma Pootras they were called. Also oddly one of the larger of fowl.

stevekwan · Jan 3, 2014

chickmashnoon said:
I believe the egyptian breeds are pretty old, the Fayoumi and there are a few local breeds. Since they had incubatosr for eggs B.C. I'd assume that they have other breeds that are just as old, but not as widely known. There is also the original ear-tuffed breed that the araucanas were bred from- can't remember the name, but they are from south america.

Some of the fighting cocks are really old since chickens were known for sport in the ancient world and became well know as mc nuggets far later.

stevekwan · Jan 3, 2014

I believe the tuffed ear chicken you are refering to is the quechua breed

cluckcluckluke · Jan 3, 2014

Nankins are old and where the starting breeding for many many modern day bantams.
They are true bantams.

Egghead_Jr · Jan 3, 2014

Asil.

Specifically the Madras Asil. Probably the oldest of all the breeds. Fayoumi, Silkie and Dorking are the other ancients.

Ancient breeds

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Lukieg

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Sonoran Silkies

Flock Mistress

Sonoran Silkies

Flock Mistress

chickmashnoon

Songster

KazAnder Farms

Chirping

stevekwan

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stevekwan

Chirping

cluckcluckluke

Crowing

Egghead_Jr

Free Ranging

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