"Small crest" breeds

[abpatchy]

Yes, but Alsteirers usually have the same color as well

Yes, they do. I didn't realize you were looking for a different colored crest.

 

[BASMP]

Yes, they do. I didn't realize you were looking for a different colored crest.

No, I don't. I'm just mentioning that hooded greek chicken has same crest and color as the altsteirer breed.

Here are some photos from greek sites refering to them as: hooded greek chicken, katsouliares, tsouloufates, karagkounikes, vlachikes or simply greek chickens.

 

[abpatchy]

beautiful birds!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A noble looking breed. I like the smaller crest. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Uff Da]

No, I don't. I'm just mentioning that hooded greek chicken has same crest and color as the altsteirer breed.

Here are some photos from greek sites refering to them as: hooded greek chicken, katsouliares, tsouloufates, karagkounikes, vlachikes or simply greek chickens.

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These Greek chickens look so similar to Icelandic chickens! It is not too surprising because DNA studies show that the closest relatives to Icelandics are old breeds from the Mediterranean region. They were brought to Iceland by Vikings from Norway around the 9th or 10th centuries, and were likely picked up by the Vikings during their travels through the Medi region. The chickens remained unmixed with other breeds until the 20th century, when the Icelandic government government gathered up the last pure individuals they could find for preservation.

So...the Icelandic chickens look just like the Greek chickens because they are probably close cousins!

 

[BASMP]

These Greek chickens look so similar to Icelandic chickens! It is not too surprising because DNA studies show that the closest relatives to Icelandics are old breeds from the Mediterranean region. They were brought to Iceland by Vikings from Norway around the 9th or 10th centuries, and were likely picked up by the Vikings during their travels through the Medi region. The chickens remained unmixed with other breeds until the 20th century, when the Icelandic government government gathered up the last pure individuals they could find for preservation.

So...the Icelandic chickens look just like the Greek chickens because they are probably close cousins!

Another interesting fact is that Dalmatian chickens (that resemble closely both Icelandic and Greek crested chickens) were brought to Croatia from Asia, via Greece, some 3.000 years ago..take a look at this interesting entry on wiki:
https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatinska_kokoš

 

[abpatchy]

Another interesting fact is that Dalmatian chickens (that resemble closely both Icelandic and Greek chickens) were brought to Croatia from Asia, via Greece, some 3.000 years ago..take a look at this interesting entry on wiki:
https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatinska_kokoš

I thought I would run it thru google translate...

The past of this breed goes back 3000 years, when it was brought from Asia, through Greece to the present-day southern Croatia, to Dalmatia. [1]

In the 1960s, these chickens slowly began to disappear from the Dalmatian rural yards. The reason was the import of laying hens that laid more (smaller) eggs in less time and hybrids, so people simply gave up. [1]

The breed was thought to be extinct, as reported in the specialized journal Geflugel-Borse, in the report by Michael von Luttwitz Ausgestorben: das Dalmatiner huhn ("Extinct: Dalmatian hen"). It is a genetically valuable breed, of modest breeding requirements, very usable as a breeder and best for keeping in conditions such as the Dalmatian Karst. In some old descriptions of the breed it is stated that the Dalmatian hen is a type of European chicken hen. Initiatives to verify this information and to rescue the breed began in 2001. Fans of this breed have been searching for live animals throughout Dalmatia, writing draft labor standards, rigorous selective breeding, collecting old documentation, exhibiting at state exhibitions, writing working standards. The breed is expertly said to be in development (though it evolved centuries ago), and the official recognition of the breed by the Croatian Federation of Small Animal Breeders' Associations and the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture and the Croatian Livestock Center should follow. Overall, this is certainly Croatia's oldest native poultry breed, and fans have drawn attention to some other Croatian breeds: the continental form of domestic poultry, Istrian hen, Croatian dwarf popcorn, etc. [2]

Fortunately, in 2001, work began on rescuing and reviving the breed. Today, there are about 20 flocks in Croatia again, all thanks to Mr. Zizic from Split, who started first in the 1960s. These chickens slowly began to disappear from the Dalmatian rural yards. The reason was the import of laying hens that laid more (smaller) eggs in less time and hybrids, so people simply gave up. [1]
Origin and standardization

It was brought from Asia 3000 years ago to Greece and then to Dalmatia by land. [1] The Armina Arbeiter's book Handbuch der Nutzglefugelzuht fur Osterreich und die Dounaulander from 1914 gives a description of this breed. He portrays her as an extremely interesting type of Central European hen. It says that in the northern part of Dalmatia (limited to the Croatian coast and the hinterland) there is a Croatian hen, and in southern Dalmatia there is a Mediterranean hen type. It excludes the possibility that fresh blood has arrived in some remote areas in the past, indicating that this hen is a European chicken coop. Compared to most Central European hens, which generally have red or yellow irises (with the exception of Rammelsloher, Bohmen), this hen has dark brown eyes and dark complexion. Together with the characteristic features of the body, it is reminiscent of the Mediterranean breed (minor, Andalusian hen). Dalmatian hen has all the possible color combinations, often in the same litter. They can also be with hooks or smooth heads. They are often dark in color. Natural selection of light colors (white, light yellow) caused by strong predators is very difficult. The legs of these hens are dark blue to black. As a rule, their will is poorly developed and is suitable for eating small amounts of food. The Dalmatian hen is constantly on the move seeking food and is not accustomed to continuous feeding.

As with the Istrian hen, there is an adjustment to the lack of water and green food, a poor diet, but this is even more pronounced in Dalmatian hens. So there are the fewest possible requirements regarding food and posture. Under these conditions, other breeds could not exist, while in this breed poultry could be used.

The eggs are completely white, weighing 50 to 56 grams. The meat is dry, as a result of climate and nutrition. The same occurs in other Mediterranean breeds, especially in the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, given the conditions in which he lives, this breed is superior to these areas. With proper cultivation and nutrition, it is not difficult to bring it to a higher degree of domestication and utilization. In the present circumstances, no lasting improvement could be expected to be achieved by crossing with demanding, difficult, artificial breeds. [3] The Dalmatian hen can be viewed as a dinaric type of hedgerow.