The Langshan chicken is one of the rarest breeds today. These majestic dual-purpose chickens have a lot to offer homesteaders, backyard chicken owners and rare breed enthusiasts. Here’s what you need to know about the Langshan chicken.
What is a Langshan Chicken?
Langshans come in two distinct breeds, the Croad and the German. While both of these breeds make ideal chickens for both egg and meat production, the Croad Langshan is the best choice if you are looking to win a blue ribbon with this rare breed, as the American Poultry Association (APA) does not recognize the German Langshan chicken.
But besides their exhibition purposes, what else sets these two breeds apart?
#1 Croad
The Croad Langshan chicken was the first of the two breeds to be developed. With reported sightings dating back to 1872, the Croad Langshan was first imported from China to England by Major F.T. Croad.
Major Croad’s niece was later credited with establishing the breed. Miss Croad worked tirelessly to keep the breed close to its original imports. However, the Modern Langshan was quickly bred, creating a taller, more “showy” chicken for the show table.
Soon heated arguments were taking place across Great Britain with enthusiasts for both strains of the Langshan chicken claiming their birds were the best.
The Black Croad Langshan chicken arrived in America in 1878 and was admitted into the APA standard of Perfection in 1883. Just ten years later, a second color, white, was added to the breed’s standard. In 1987, over one hundred years after the breed was first admitted to the Standard of Perfection, the APA recognized blue as the third and final color variety for the breed.
#2 German
The German Langshan chicken was developed in Germany by crossing the original Croad Langshans with Minorcas and Plymouth Rocks.
There are several physical characteristics that set the Croad Langshan and the German Langshan apart. One of the most notable differences is that German Langshans have smooth legs and feet.
Another interesting fact about the German Langshan chicken is their brown-tinted feathering versus the black, white, and blue varieties the Croad Langshan is recognized in.
While they are good producers of eggs and meat, the German Langshan chicken never gained the popularity of the Croad Langshan and is rarely seen in the U.S. or Great Britain.
What Does the Langshan Chicken Look Like?
Tall and stately, the Langshan chicken has a large fanned tail. While the breed is recognized in three colors (black, blue, and white), black is the most popular, with hens and roosters sporting tight black feathering with a beetle-green sheen.
Unlike their German cousins, Croad and Modern Langshans have lightly feathered legs and feet, with feathering often appearing only on the outsides of the legs.
The Langshan chicken should have a medium-sized single comb, a small head, and an erect head and tail, giving them a distinct U-shaped body when viewed from above.
Is the Langshan Chicken a Rare Breed?
According to the Livestock Conservancy, the Langshan chicken is a threatened breed with fewer than one thousand annual show registrations in the U.S. and an estimated fewer than five thousand registrations globally.
While this does not paint the entire picture, as many Langshan chickens may be dwelling in backyard flocks around the world, it does showcase the need for increased popularity if breeders and other poultry enthusiasts want to prevent this majestic breed from going extinct.
Here are four facts you need to know about this breed.
#1 Average Lifespan
The Croad Langshan chicken has a life expectancy of five to eight years (about the average lifespan of most backyard chicken breeds).
The German Langshan’s life expectancy averages five to seven years, but with proper care and a good diet, some individuals may live up to ten.
#2 Health Concerns
Due to their lightly feathered legs and feet, the Langshan chicken should be checked regularly for scaly leg mites, as breeds with feathering on the shanks are more prone to this than breeds without feathering. Also, be sure to check the feathers on the legs and feet frequently for dried, caked-on mud.
Like other feather-legged breeds, the Langshan chicken should not be given access to the outdoors during wet and muddy conditions. The coop should be kept dry and be cleaned regularly (no deep litter method for these chickens) to keep them healthy and looking their best.
When fed a well-balanced diet, with access to clean, fresh water, and kept in clean living conditions, Langshan chickens are fairly healthy birds.
Like all chicken breeds, they can suffer from crop problems, internal and external parasites, and other common poultry diseases.
#3 Egg and Meat Production
Langshan hens are excellent layers, averaging 5 large, light brown to dark brown eggs with a purplish hue (also known as plum-colored eggs) per week. Hens yearly production varies from about one hundred and fifty eggs annually to as many as two hundred and twenty.
Hens may go broody, but they are not as likely to hatch out eggs as many other brown egg layers.
The Langshan chicken is an excellent dual-purpose breed, as roosters make delicious roasters and are often castrated into capons to help them grow larger.
#4 Temperament
The Langshan chicken has a sweet, calm, and friendly disposition. Hens and roosters are both considered to be gentle, peaceful birds and should not pose a problem for the novice. These gentle giants make an excellent addition to mixed flocks. While they do not bully other chickens, they are not afraid to stand their ground when necessary.
Because of their sweet and gentle nature, this chicken is an ideal pet for families and gets along well with children. Friendly, inquisitive, and intelligent, these chickens can even be trained to do tricks and respond well to simple commands.
For best results, handle hens and roosters several times a week and spend time interacting daily with your flock to prevent them from becoming shy and nervous.
Important note: While the roosters are usually calm and friendly, extra care should be taken to ensure that these big boys do not attack children, as roosters and children are not always the best mix.
The Langshan chicken may not be as popular as the Buff Orpington or Barred Plymouth Rock, but this ancient breed still offers backyard flock enthusiasts and homesteaders a lot of bang for their buck. So, if helping to preserve a rare breed is on your bucket list, why not give the Langshan chicken a try?
This article about was written for Chickens magazine. Click here to subscribe.
