The Muffed Old English Game chicken is an ornamental breed that hails from England. Hens lay well for a game bird, but they are generally not raised for meat or egg production.
Hens of this breed will lay around 130 small, cream-colored eggs each year. Their egg production decreases in the winter. They make excellent mothers. They are broody and fiercely protective of their chicks. In fact, many times, Muffed Old English Game hens are used to mother eggs from other breeds.
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Muffed Old English Game Chicken Breed Quick Info
Muffed Old English Game Chicken Description
| Muffed Old English Game Type/Size: | Standard |
| Feather Color: | Varies |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Varies |
| Skin Color: | Varies |
| Muffed Old English Game Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Medium |
| Muffed Old English Game Special Care Needs: | Yes |
| Is the Muffed Old English Game breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Rare |
Muffed Old English Game Use
| Meat | No |
| Eggs | Sometimes |
| Dual Purpose | No |
| Muffed Old English Game Temperament: | Feisty, intelligent |
| Muffed Old English Game Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Muffed Old English Game Egg Production
| Egg Color | Cream |
| Egg Size | Small |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 130 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | High |
Muffed Old English Game Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | N/A |
| Dressed Weight Female | N/A |
Muffed Old English Game Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Good |
| Cold | Good |
Muffed Old English Game Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 7-9 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 5-6 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | N/A |
Muffed Old English Game Size at Maturity
| Male | 6 lbs |
| Female | 4 lbs |
Origins of Muffed Old English Game Chicken
The Muffed Old English Game chicken is a direct descendant of the Red Jungle Fowl. They were first brought to Europe during the spice trade era and soon made their way to England. These birds are an ancient breed and are the ancestors of many other breeds of chicken.
As a game birds, they were originally used for cockfighting. Once this was outlawed, they transitioned to become an ornamental breed.
Some Things to Know About Muffed Old English Game Chicken
Because the Muffed Old English Game hen is such an old breed, several varieties have been developed around the world. These include an English version, an American version, and a Latin version. Some of the many color varieties available include silver duckwing, black, red, white, and wheaten.
However, there are some characteristics that these varieties have in common. For example, they are all bearded. They are a medium-sized, hard feather breed with a bright red single comb (this is often dubbed or removed for show purposes) and wattles. They have an upright posture and short, muscular legs.
How Easy is it to Keep Muffed Old English Game Chickens?
This breed is extremely hardy and knows how to survive in the outdoors. They make excellent free-range chickens, as they are great foragers who will find tasty treats wherever they are allowed to roam. They are feisty and can fend for themselves against some predators. They tend to roost in trees at night if given the opportunity and do well in all climates.
Due to their game bird history, they are not cuddly, friendly pets. However, they are not known to be aggressive toward humans and are an intelligent breed.
Special Care and Considerations for Muffed Old English Game Chickens
As with all chickens with a single comb, Muffed Old English Game chickens are at risk for developing frostbite in the winter. You can use a swipe of vaseline to help protect their comb and wattles from freezing in low temperatures.
Due to their cockfighting history, roosters can be aggressive toward one another. It is best to keep only one rooster per flock.
