Chicken breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association


All chicken breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association are categorized into classes. Standard-sized breeds are grouped by type or by place of origin; bantam breeds are classified according to type or physical characteristics.

Large breeds

The large breeds are divided into six classes – American, Asiatic, Continental, English, Mediterranean, and All Other Standard Breeds – largely according to their place of origin.

American

The American Class contains thirteen breeds which originated in Canada or the United States. All are heavy breeds, and most lay brown eggs; most are cold-hardy:
These three breeds originate in China; they are large, feather legged, and lay brown eggs:
This group consists of eleven breeds from Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. They are mostly sprightly birds, the Faverolles being an exception:
This class consists of five breeds from the United Kingdom and one from Australia:
These breeds originating in Italy and Spain have white earlobes and tend to be productive layers of white eggs. In general they are flighty, and exceptional free-range birds, with both evasion and foraging skills:
Other breeds are grouped in this class, which has three subclasses: Game, Oriental, and Miscellaneous. The Game subclass includes the non-oriental game birds, the Oriental subclass includes mainly birds from Asia; the Cubalaya, however, is from Cuba. The Miscellaneous subclass holds the remaining breeds.

Game

Bantams are grouped according to type or physical appearance into six classes: Modern Game; Game; Single Comb Clean Legged; Rose Comb Clean Legged; Feather Legged; and All Other Comb Clean Legged. The American Bantam Association classifications may be different.

Modern Game

This class consists solely of the Modern Game bantam.

Game

The Game class includes the remaining game bantams:
This class contains all the bantam breeds with a single comb, excluding the game bantams:
This class groups breeds with both a rose comb and featherless legs:
The breeds of this class have feathering on their legs and feet:
This class includes all of the breeds that do not fall into any of the other classes: