About Kraienkoppe (Twentse) Chickens
Kraienkopp (in
german), or Twents Hoen (in Dutch), chickens originated on the border region
between Germany and the Netherlands. They were developed in the late nineteenth
century with crosses of local chickens with Malays, and later with Silver
Duckwing Leghorns.
They were
first shown in the Netherlands in 1920, and were shown in Germany in 1925. They
are rare today, and are best known as a layer and show birds. Hens lay a fair
number of off-white eggs, and will go broody. They are an active bird with
excellent foraging abilities.
Kraienkopps
appears in two color varieties: Black-breasted Red and Silver. Males weigh 2.75
kilos (6 pounds), and females weigh 1.8 kilos (4 pounds). They have yellow skin
and a small walnut-type comb.
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