Derbyshire Redcap
Encyclopedia
The Derbyshire Redcap is a breed
of chicken
originating in the English
county
of Derbyshire
. The name "Redcap" derives from the breed's unusually large Rose-type comb
. British breed standard
s dictate a length of more than 7 centimeters (3 inches) of length for a Redcap comb. It is covered in small, fleshy points, and has a distinct spike pointing backwards called a "leader". Combs, wattles
and earlobes are all ideally bright red.
, by their red earlobes and larger comb. Beaks are horn colored. Combs which hang to either side of the face, white earlobes, or a lack of points on the comb are undesirable traits according to the breed standard
s, and result in disqualification from poultry shows
. The breed appears in a single variety of plumage, with various dark hues of red, brown and black. Roosters display a greater diversity of color, but both males and females have black tails and a crescent
shape of black on the edge of most body feathers.
Derbyshire Redcaps are a hardy, active breed of chicken that does well in free range
conditions. They are well suited for dual-purpose farm flocks, being used for both meat and egg production in addition to their ornamental qualities. Hens do not usually go broody, and lay a good amount of large, white colored eggs.
s, Old English Pheasant Fowl
and Black-Breasted Red Games
may have been involved. The breed is also very similar in conformation to now-extinct chickens such as the Yorkshire
Pheasant and the Lancashire
Moonie.
Derbyshire Redcaps were common on British farms until the middle of the 20th century, particularly around the southern Pennines
. They have never been preferred by intensive farms
or commercial operations, and have always been primarily a barnyard fowl. In the 21st century, they are a very rare chicken, with the largest numbers still residing in their home country. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust
of the U.K. lists them as Vulnerable on their watch list. Abroad, Redcaps were admitted to the American Poultry Association
's Standard of Perfection in 1888, and are listed as Critical on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
watchlist.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
originating in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. The name "Redcap" derives from the breed's unusually large Rose-type comb
Comb (anatomy)
Anatomically, a comb is a fleshy growth, caruncle, or crest on the top of the head of gallinaceous birds, most notably turkeys, pheasants, and domestic chickens...
. British breed standard
Breed standard
A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....
s dictate a length of more than 7 centimeters (3 inches) of length for a Redcap comb. It is covered in small, fleshy points, and has a distinct spike pointing backwards called a "leader". Combs, wattles
Wattle (anatomy)
A wattle is a fleshy dewlap or caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds, goats and other animals. In some birds the caruncle is erectile tissue.The wattle is frequently an organ of sexual dimorphism...
and earlobes are all ideally bright red.
Characteristics
Redcaps are classified as a light fowl, with roosters weighing approximately 3.4 kilos (7.5 pounds), and hens 2.75 kilos (6 pounds). Redcaps can be differentiated from similar looking breeds, especially the more popular HamburgsHamburg (chicken)
The Hamburg or Hamburgh in Britain, is a type of chicken developed in Germany and Holland prior to 1700. It is comparatively rare, with less than 1000 registered in North America each year.-Appearance and behavior:...
, by their red earlobes and larger comb. Beaks are horn colored. Combs which hang to either side of the face, white earlobes, or a lack of points on the comb are undesirable traits according to the breed standard
Breed standard
A breed standard in animal fancy and animal husbandry is a set of guidelines which is used to ensure that the animals produced by a breeder or breeding facility conform to the specifics of the breed....
s, and result in disqualification from poultry shows
Livestock show
A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks,...
. The breed appears in a single variety of plumage, with various dark hues of red, brown and black. Roosters display a greater diversity of color, but both males and females have black tails and a crescent
Crescent
In art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
shape of black on the edge of most body feathers.
Derbyshire Redcaps are a hardy, active breed of chicken that does well in free range
Free range
thumb|250px|Free-range chickens being fed outdoors.Free range is a term which outside of the United States denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals are allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. In the United States, USDA regulations apply only to poultry and...
conditions. They are well suited for dual-purpose farm flocks, being used for both meat and egg production in addition to their ornamental qualities. Hens do not usually go broody, and lay a good amount of large, white colored eggs.
History
Redcaps are a native English bird that have been written about since at least the early 19th century. The exact breeds that contributed to the creation of the Redcap are unknown, but Golden Spangled Hamburgs, DorkingDorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
s, Old English Pheasant Fowl
Old English Pheasant Fowl
The Old English Pheasant Fowl is a rare breed of chicken originating in England. Despite its name, it is not a species of Pheasant, and is so named based merely on appearance. Mostly concentrated around Yorkshire and Lancashire, it was named and a breed club was formed in 1914. They are thought by...
and Black-Breasted Red Games
Gamecock
A gamecock or game fowl is a type of rooster with physical and behavioral traits suitable for cockfighting. Game fowl are more closely related to their wild cousins "jungle fowl"; a shy wild chicken from forests in South Central and Southeastern Asia...
may have been involved. The breed is also very similar in conformation to now-extinct chickens such as the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
Pheasant and the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
Moonie.
Derbyshire Redcaps were common on British farms until the middle of the 20th century, particularly around the southern Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
. They have never been preferred by intensive farms
Intensive farming
Intensive farming or intensive agriculture is an agricultural production system characterized by the high inputs of capital, labour, or heavy usage of technologies such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers relative to land area....
or commercial operations, and have always been primarily a barnyard fowl. In the 21st century, they are a very rare chicken, with the largest numbers still residing in their home country. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a conservation charity, whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources...
of the U.K. lists them as Vulnerable on their watch list. Abroad, Redcaps were admitted to the American Poultry Association
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is the oldest poultry organization in the North America. Founded in 1873, and incorporated in Indiana in 1932 The first American poultry show was held in 1849, and the APA was later formed in response to the burgeoning need for an overseeing body to set standards...
's Standard of Perfection in 1888, and are listed as Critical on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting genetic diversity among rare breeds of livestock...
watchlist.
External links
- the Derbyshire Redcap Club
- Redcaps at feathersite.com