Last Updated on February 9, 2021 by Pauline G. Carter
In the 14th century, this chicken breed was found in Holland. Pheasant fowl, Pheasant, Yorkshire Pheasant, and Silver Pheasant-fowl of Yorkshire. These are the names a particular chicken breed during the early 18th century was called. In 1785, the Penciled Hamburg breed was introduced in England.
In the year 1840, it was finally called the Hamburg Chicken or the Holland Fowl. This chicken breed was used in a chicken show to settle the dispute on the issue of who owns the most magnificent rooster. The bartender acted as the judge, and the price is a pot of copper.
There are six varieties of this breed that are all recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874 – the Silver Penciled, Golden Penciled, Black, White, Silver Spangled, and the Golden Spangled. This chicken breed belongs to the watch list of the American Poultry Association.
Hamburg Chicken | Breed Profile
| Country of origin: | Holland, United Kingdom |
| Primary use: | Eggs |
| Weight: | Male: Full-size: 2–2.5 kg, Bantam: 680–790 g; Female: Full-size: 1.6–1.8 kg, Bantam: 620–740 g |
| Temperament: | Docile |
| Recognized Varieties: | Silver Spangled, Golden Penciled, Silver Penciled, Golden Spangled, Black, White |
| Egg production (annual): | 180 |
| Egg color: | White |
| Egg size: | Medium |
| Comb type: | Walnut |
Characteristics Of The Hamburg Chicken
Hamburg Chicken roosts in high trees and the Hamburg hens prefer to nest in hedgerows. These small consumers of grains do not approve of confinement well, so when they are in a free range, they tend to be active and noisy, foragers as they are.
They are good at avoiding their predators, and they have the tendency to pick on other hens. Their activeness and flightiness help them in this area. They are hardy in winter and are prolific egg layers.
In 1856 when Hamburg reached America, it was favored primarily as an egg producer. Of all the varieties, American breeders preferred most of the White Hamburg.
This chicken breed has a dark-colored bone that un-popularized and made them lost the favor as a commercial market fowl. They also decreased in their use as a utility breed as egg breeder in America.
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Behavior/ Temperament/ Use
Hamburg Chicken is active and alert, but they are considered a faithful breed. Hamburg hens’ habit is to roost high in trees. They prefer nesting in hedgerows. The rose comb of this chicken breed helps them in tolerating cold weather. They carry white ear lobes and slate blue legs.
They are prolific egg layers. They can lay eggs almost every day with a total of 220 eggs per year. Cock weighs 1.8 to 2.3 kilos; hens 1.8 kilos; cockerels weigh 2 kilos, and pullets weigh 1.75 kilos. For the Bantam variety, roosters weigh 680 to 790 grams, and hens weigh 620 to 740 grams.
Silver Spangled Hamburg chicken grows up very fast. They are easy keepers. Blue Hamburg Chicken variety is more extensive than most Hamburg chicken variety and not as active as the others.
Their chicks are not 100% blue as they follow their Andalusias blue genetics rules. The color ratio is approximately 50% blue, 25% black, and 25% splash. Hamburg chickens for sale are very limited these days as they belong to the watch list.
What We Liked/Pros
- Can tolerate cold climate.
- Prolific egg layers.
- Good foragers, eats less.
- Economical in terms of food.
- Can grow really fast.
What We Don’t Like/Cons
- High fliers and can jump over high fences and enclosures.
- Do not tolerate confinement.
- Picky on other flocks.
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