Derbyshire Redcap
A rare English chicken with a large red comb.
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The Derbyshire Redcap is a breed of chicken originating in the English county of Derbyshire. Its name comes from the breed's unusually large Rose-type comb, which must be more than 7 centimetres (3 inches) long according to British breed standards. The comb is covered in small, fleshy points and has a distinct backward-pointing spike called a 'leader.' Combs, wattles, and earlobes are ideally bright red.
Background
The Derbyshire Redcap’s exact origins are a mystery, though it may descend from breeds like the Golden Spangled Hamburg, Dorking, Old English Pheasant Fowl, and Black-Breasted Red Game. Its build closely resembles extinct types such as the Yorkshire Pheasant and Lancashire Moonie. Once widespread on British farms, especially around the southern Pennines, these birds were common until the mid-1900s. They never suited intensive or commercial operations, remaining strictly barnyard fowl.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Derbyshire Redcap (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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