|
About Norwegian Jaerhone Chickens
Norwegian
Jaerhones are auto-sexing chickens developed in the 1920s from local breeds in
the Jæren district of Norway.
Jaerhones were
the principal chicken breed of Norway until imports of foreign breeds began in
the nineteenth century. They were selectively bred at the state-controlled
breeding station at Bryne in Jaeren from its establishment in 1916 until it
closed in 1973. Breeding stock were then transferred to the state agricultural
college at Hvam, Nes.
They come in
two color varieties: dark brown and yellow, and light brown and yellow. They
have a single comb and their beak and legs are bright yellow.
A miniature
version with the same two color varieties was approved in 1994.
Jaerhones hens
lay approximately 215 eggs per year, about 20% less than industrial
purpose-bred layers. Their eggs are white, and weigh a minimum of 55 g. Jaerhones were
listed as a "conservation-worthy national breed" by the Norwegian
Forest and Landscape Institute in its 2008–2010 action plan for the
conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources in Norway.
|
| |
|