Holland Chicken Breed – Origin, Traits & Facts

Holland

Hollands are a fairly rare breed of large chickens that are dual purpose and originate from America. They are hard to tell from Plymouth rocks and Dominiques, but can be recognized as the Plymouth Rock has colored feet and the Dominique has a rose comb.

Habitat

Hollands are typically raised in farm settings across the United States where they can roam freely. They adapt well to both confined spaces and free-range environments. They are resilient to cold weather, which makes them suitable for a variety of climates across America.

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Characteristics

Sizelarge

Wing Span60-75 cm

Male Weight3.2 kg

Female Weight2.7 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 4/5

Useful to know

Holland chickens are praised for their ability to produce both eggs and meat, making them a practical choice for small farms and homesteads. They are known for their calm temperament, making them suitable for backyard flocks. Hollands have a good laying capability and can adapt well to various climates.

Behaviour

Temperamentcalm

Flightinesslow

Foraging Abilitygood

Confinement Tolerance

Hollands adapt well to confinement as well as free-ranging environments. They are known for being friendly and not overly flighty, making them easy to handle. They do well in various housing setups but benefit from space to roam and forage.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Egg Characteristics

Egg Color

Egg Size

Laying Frequency

Egg Production / Year

Start Laying Age (weeks)

Java

The Java is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. Despite the breed's name, a reference to the island of Java, it was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. Javas are large birds with a sturdy appearance. They are hardy, and are well-suited for both meat and egg production, especially by small-scale farms, homesteads, and backyard keepers.

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Red or New Hampshire is an American breed of chicken. It was developed in the early twentieth century in the state of New Hampshire by selective breeding of Rhode Island Red stock; no other breed was involved. It is fast-growing, early-maturing, quick-feathering, and yields a meaty carcass. Mature birds are a light or medium red in color; they may fade in sunlight.

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red is an American breed of domestic chicken. It is the state bird of Rhode Island. It was developed there and in Massachusetts in the late nineteenth century, by cross-breeding birds of Oriental origin such as the Malay with brown Leghorn birds from Italy. It was a dual-purpose breed, raised both for meat and for eggs; modern strains have been bred for their egg-laying abilities. The traditional non-industrial strains of the Rhode Island Red are listed as "watch" by The Livestock Conservancy. It is a separate breed to the Rhode Island White.

Rhode Island White

The Rhode Island White is a breed of chicken originating in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Despite their very similar names and shared place of origin, the Rhode Island White is a distinct breed from the Rhode Island Red. However, Rhode Island Reds and Whites can be bred together to create Red Sex-Link hybrid chickens, such as the ISA Brown. In Australia, the Rhode Island White is regarded as a color variety of the Rhode Island breed according to the Australian Poultry Standards.