Chickens and other poultry members come in all sizes, shapes, colors and personalities. Nearly 400 recognized breeds and varieties of poultry exist, including large-fowl and bantam chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.
Using our illustration and a few selected hints, can you guess which breed we have depicted here? Find out the answer below!
Hints
- This mystery breed was first developed in Europe from Japanese breeds brought to the continent by French missionaries.
- Murray McMurray Hatchery describes males as having “impressive long tails and saddle feathers,” while “females are good layers of light cream-colored eggs.”
- This quiet and gentle breed was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1981 as a standard breed in White and Red Shouldered varieties.
- They are named after the second-largest city in Japan (by population) and not a popular brand of automobile tire!
Mystery Breed Answer
The breed depicted above is the long-tailed Red Shouldered Yokohama, which is primarily used for exhibition. The Yokohama is a regal, slim breed with a gamelike appearance. This small breed comes in standard and bantam sizes and has incredibly long tails that sweep the ground.
Standard cocks weigh 4 1/2 pounds; hens, 3 1/2. Bantam cocks weigh 26 ounces; hens, 22. Yokohamas are docile, friendly, unusually quiet and bear confinement well, but they do require special housing to accommodate their long tails. Hens are poor layers of small, tinted eggs.
Read more: To learn more about this beautiful breed, click here!
To purchase these beautiful Buttercup chickens, visit Murray McMurray Hatchery.
This mystery chicken breed was brought to you byMurray McMurray Hatchery, which provides the highest quality poultry and auxiliary products to its customers and has been a trusted, knowledgeable industry resource for more than 100 years. Whether you are an experienced or novice enthusiast, Murray McMurray is sure you will enjoy its wide selection of breeds and supplies to assist you with raising your flock!
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2022 issue of Chickens magazine.
