Hollands are a fairly rare breed of large 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...

s that are dual purpose and originate from America.

History

The breed started with birds imported from Holland being crossed with White Leghorns

Leghorn chicken

The Leghorn is a breed of chicken with origins in Tuscany, central Italy. The first birds imported to North America in 1853 were called Italians. By 1865 the breed was named after the Italian city of Livorno, on the western edge of Tuscany, which in English is also known as Leghorn.White Leghorns...

, Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red is a breed of chicken . They are a utility bird, raised for meat and eggs, and also as show birds. They are a popular choice for backyard flocks because of their egg laying abilities and hardiness. Non-industrial strains of the Rhode Island Red are listed as recovering by the...

s, New Hampshires

New Hampshire (chicken)

The New Hampshire breed of chicken originated in the state of New Hampshire in the United States. Poultry farmers, starting with Rhode Island Reds and performing generation after generation of selective breeding, intensified the characteristics of early maturity, rapid full feathering, and...

, and Lamona

Lamona

The Lamona is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. It was developed in the early 20th century by Harry S. Lamon, who was the senior poultry expert at the Bureau of Animal Industry, an agency that was eventually replaced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research...

s, which created the White Hollands. Another cross that included White Leghorns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Australorp

Australorp

The Australorp is an Australian chicken breed.It is a large, soft-feathered bird which has two recognised colours according to the Australian Poultry Standard; black and blue. A third colour, white, is recognised by the Australorp Club of Australia but not the Australian Poultry Standard, as of the...

s and Brown Leghorns produced the barred variety of Hollands. Both were accepted by 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...

in 1949.

General information

• Class: American
• Varieties: White and Barred
• Purpose: Dual (egg and meat)
• Egg Size / Color: Medium / White
• Skin Color: Yellow
• Standard Weights: Cock - 8½lbs; Hen - 6½lbs; Cockerel - 7½lbs; Pullet - 5½lbs

There is also a bantam version of the breed.

External links

• FeatherSite.com Holland Pictures