General Information
- Breed Purpose
- Ornamental
- Comb
- Rose
- Broodiness
- Frequent
- Climate Tolerance
- All Climates
- Egg Productivity
- Low
- Egg Size
- Small
- Egg Color
- White
- Breed Temperament
- Easily handled,Bears confinement well,Noisy,Shy
- Breed Colors/Varieties
- blue,black,splash,black breasted red,blue red,brassy back,brown red,lemon blue,mottled,red pyle,wheaten,white
- Breed Size
- Bantam
The Rosecomb is a very old breed of bantam, while little is known of its origins, the name “rosecomb” having been used to describe many bantams with that type of comb, the breed we know today as the Rosecomb is thought to have originated in Great Britain as far back as the 1400’s. In more recent years other breeds, including Hamburgs are known to have been used in Rosecomb breeding programs to improve the breed.
Rosecombs are a true bantam, they do not come in a standard size. Besides their large rose combs, other breed traits include the large round white earlobes, and also the extremely large sickle tail feathers on the males . They come in a wide range of colors with at least 26 listed by the American Bantam Association, though only three are recognized by the APA, Black, Blue and White, Black being the most popular. It is one of the most popular show birds with hobbyists today, and it was shown in the first North American poultry show in 1849.
Rosecombs can be difficult to rear, the males can suffer from poor fertility due to the rosecomb trait, and egg hatchability and chick viability can be poor. But, the adults are hardy birds, and in general a very friendly active happy breed, and extremely popular as a pet and popular in suburban gardens. They do make good foragers, and they tend to be good flyers. The hens are poor to fair layers of small white/cream eggs and they will occasionally go broody, they are usually good mothers.
It was recognized by the APA in 1874.
Rosecomb eggs
Rosecomb chick
Rosecomb juvenile
Rosecomb hen
Rosecomb rooster
For more information on this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-rosecomb-bantam.1001843/