Muffed Old English Game
Encyclopedia
Spice trade
Civilizations of Asia were involved in spice trade from the ancient times, and the Greco-Roman world soon followed by trading along the Incense route and the Roman-India routes...
era of early European navigation.
These imported fowl were the originators of many breeds and the Muffed Old English Game fowl is probably one of the earliest of these varieties. Its color is variable, it does not have a great deal of set definitions and is not standardized 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...
. As it is such an old breed, many local varieties have developed across the globe. There are English versions, Latin versions and American versions which may not locally fit with any definite groups of poultry and may therefore be regarded simply as chickens.
Characteristics
The characteristic which most distinguishes this breed from others is that its cheeks are muffed or bearded, making it a most handsome bird. It is very hardy, possibly owing to its jungle fowl heritage, and noted for being thrifty; it broods eggs wonderfully, is able to care for itself in the most primitive conditions by eating insects, grasses, weed seeds and worms, whilst all the while raising a brood of chicks in a most protective manner.Coloration is similar to the Kraienköppe
Kraienkoppe
The Kraienköppe , also called the Twentse, is a breed of chicken originating on the border region between Germany and the Netherlands. The latter of the two names is the Dutch language version, while the former is German. Kraienköppe appear in two color varieties: Black-breasted Red and Silver...
or Twentse breed, as all the jungle fowl displayed colorful shades of red with silver duckwing plumage. The hens can have a pheasant-like plumage in a beautiful tan. In size, they are a medium build and are sometimes classified alongside the bantams
Bantam (chicken)
A bantam is a small variety of poultry, especially chickens. Etymologically, the name bantam is derived from the city of Bantam - currently known as "Banten Province" or previously "Banten Residency" - once a major seaport, in Indonesia...
, although a Muffed Old English Game fowl is much larger than a 20 ounce bantam; it is of the type Leghorn, with 6 pound roosters and 4 pound hens. The hens lay very well, with a seasonal variation, and produce a nice cream–colored egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
of a small (21 ounce) size.
Weight (metric)
| Cock | 2.2 kg |
| Hen | 1.8 kg |
| Cockerel | 1.8 kg |
| Pullet | 1.6 kg |
