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Photo Credit: Diane Jacky
Use: The dual-purpose Manx Rumpy earned its name during the 20th century, when a farmer saw a resemblance between the chicken breed and the tailless Manx cat. Fertility is notoriously low in hens, but they’re good layers of medium-sized eggs in various colors. Illustration by Diane Jacky
History: The Manx Rumpy chicken breed hails from the Persian Gulf region, where it received its original name, Persian Rumpless. Very little is known about when the Manx Rumpy arrived in North America, where breeders have worked to restore this useful dual-purpose chicken. The Manx Rumpy is not listed in the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection.
Conformation: The Manx Rumpy chicken breed, like the Aracuana, is missing the final vertebrae needed to hold tail feathers upright. Plumage color varies, as do comb types; however, small and single combs are most common. Wattles and earlobes are bright red, though earlobes sometimes have a white center. Manx Rumpy cocks weigh 5½ pounds and hens weigh 4½ pounds.
Special Considerations/Notes: As vigorous foragers, the Manx Rumpy chicken breed requires little to no additional food supplements from keepers when given free range. It’s listed in the Study category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.
