Chicken Breed Focus - Erminette

[HammsHomestead]

The name Erminette is given to both a color and a breed in progress in the United States. The Erminette color is a very attractive white with, ideally, even black spotting, it is not a true breeding color, crossing two Erminette colored birds also giving white and black birds.

Birds of this color, but various types and breeds (clean and feather legged, different combs, body style etc) were shown starting in the 1870s in the United States, first apparently by John H. Sutliffe of Bristol, Connecticut later followed by a number of other breeders. There was never a set type for the bird, but geneticist Mr F.B. Hutt and breeder Mr. Burr starting around the 1940’s studying the genetics of the Erminette pattern developed a line of single combed birds of Plymouth Rock body type, that eventually became the generally accepted type by default.

The breed was considered extinct by the SPPA in the 1980’s, but as luck would have it, in the 1990’s Ron Nelson came across a flock in Wisconsin from which he obtained hatching eggs. He worked on improving the breed, but his untimely death lead to his flocks being dispersed and the remaining Erminette flock was crossed with other breeds. Glenn Drowns of Sand Hill Preservation Center eventually obtained some of these birds and, along with a number of other breeders is currently attempting to bring back the Erminette as a breed. Besides the original black spotted white birds, they are also working on a red spotted line, and blue spotted also exist.

The Erminettes as obtained from Sand Hill, are fairly large birds of Rock type, some are featherlegged, the coloring is quite varied. The hens are good layers of 180 plus large light brown eggs a year. They are broody and will set. They are quite winter hardy and good foragers. They have nice temperaments and get along with other large breeds.

BurrOakHill has written a wonderful account of the history and current status of the Erminette:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1052718/erminette/0_20

Details:

Breed purpose: Eggs, Meat
Comb Type: Usually single
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: Cold hardy.
Weight: varies, generally a large sized bird
Egg Productivity: Good, 180 plus a year
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Light Brown

All pics by @Kelsie2290




Cockerels



Few spot pullets

Red cockerel



BYC Breed Discussions:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1052718/erminette/0_20
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ween-erminette-breed-and-erminette-color/0_20
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1070338/erminette-breed/0_20


Do you own Erminettes? Are you an Erminette 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/

I know this is an old thread but I have been trying to establish a flock of Erminettes in north central Kansas. My uncle had been working on the breed when he passed in 2020. I have taken over his passion for the breed. Would love to connect with other breeders.

 

[Jan Croot]

The name Erminette is given to both a color and a breed in progress in the United States. The Erminette color is a very attractive white with, ideally, even black spotting, it is not a true breeding color, crossing two Erminette colored birds also giving white and black birds.

Birds of this color, but various types and breeds (clean and feather legged, different combs, body style etc) were shown starting in the 1870s in the United States, first apparently by John H. Sutliffe of Bristol, Connecticut later followed by a number of other breeders. There was never a set type for the bird, but geneticist Mr F.B. Hutt and breeder Mr. Burr starting around the 1940’s studying the genetics of the Erminette pattern developed a line of single combed birds of Plymouth Rock body type, that eventually became the generally accepted type by default.

The breed was considered extinct by the SPPA in the 1980’s, but as luck would have it, in the 1990’s Ron Nelson came across a flock in Wisconsin from which he obtained hatching eggs. He worked on improving the breed, but his untimely death lead to his flocks being dispersed and the remaining Erminette flock was crossed with other breeds. Glenn Drowns of Sand Hill Preservation Center eventually obtained some of these birds and, along with a number of other breeders is currently attempting to bring back the Erminette as a breed. Besides the original black spotted white birds, they are also working on a red spotted line, and blue spotted also exist.

The Erminettes as obtained from Sand Hill, are fairly large birds of Rock type, some are featherlegged, the coloring is quite varied. The hens are good layers of 180 plus large light brown eggs a year. They are broody and will set. They are quite winter hardy and good foragers. They have nice temperaments and get along with other large breeds.

BurrOakHill has written a wonderful account of the history and current status of the Erminette:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1052718/erminette/0_20

Details:

Breed purpose: Eggs, Meat
Comb Type: Usually single
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: Cold hardy.
Weight: varies, generally a large sized bird
Egg Productivity: Good, 180 plus a year
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Light Brown

All pics by @Kelsie2290




Cockerels



Few spot pullets

Red cockerel



BYC Breed Discussions:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1052718/erminette/0_20
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ween-erminette-breed-and-erminette-color/0_20
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1070338/erminette-breed/0_20


Do you own Erminettes? Are you an Erminette 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/

 

[Jan Croot]

2026: in Wyoming I raise both a red line and a black line of American Erminette, raising 300 chicks or so for selection, selling some, selling a lot of hatching eggs. I have three breeding groups, and they are spectacular, more brilliantly spangled the photos above. Send a message if interested. [email protected]

 

[Jan Croot]

I know this is an old thread but I have been trying to establish a flock of Erminettes in north central Kansas. My uncle had been working on the breed when he passed in 2020. I have taken over his passion for the breed. Would love to connect with other breeders.

Matt hemmer of Salina Kansas did great work in developing the breed. I got eggs from him and chicks from Sand hill, and have been merrily hatching about 300 each year.

 

[Jan Croot]

Not quite. Just as BBS Langshan have a predictable breeding pattern, so too Erminette have a coloration genetics that are predictable.

Breed a black hen to a white rooster and you get all Ermine color with spots, and so forth

E = Ermine, B= black, W=white.


E + E = W B E E, best for a few to sell, and refreshing breed flock

E + W = W W E E

E + B = B B E E

B +W = E E E E!!!!! Best for selling spangled chicks

W + W = W W W W

B + B = B B B B

From Curt Burroughs book, the American Erminette, for sale on amazon. Worth the $25