This Old English Pheasant Fowl chicken is related to the Derbyshire Redcap and the Hamburg. These hens are prolific layers, producing around 175 medium white eggs per year. They are highly likely to go broody and make excellent mothers when they do. They are not generally raised for meat due to their poor carcass quality.
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Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken Breed Quick Info
Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken Description
| Old English Pheasant Fowl Type/Size: | Standard |
| Feather Color: | Mahogany |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Slate |
| Skin Color: | White |
| Old English Pheasant Fowl Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Easy |
| Old English Pheasant Fowl Special Care Needs: | No |
| Is the Old English Pheasant Fowl breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Rare |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Use
| Meat | No |
| Eggs | Yes |
| Dual Purpose | No |
| Old English Pheasant Fowl Temperament: | Active, wild |
| Old English Pheasant Fowl Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Egg Production
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 150-200 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | High |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | N/A |
| Dressed Weight Female | N/A |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Good |
| Cold | Excellent |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 8-10 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 7-8 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | N/A |
Old English Pheasant Fowl Size at Maturity
| Male | 6.5 lbs |
| Female | 5.5 lbs |
Origins of Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken
The Old English Pheasant Fowl chicken originated in Yorkshire, England. Over 2,000 years ago, Romans invaded this area. They brought with them their chickens, and several rose-combed breeds emerged from those ancient birds, including the Old English Pheasant Fowl.
Today, they are extremely rare, even in their native country. In fact, they were not imported outside of England until very recently.
Some Things to Know About Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken
This striking breed can be found in both gold and silver color varieties. They have a large rose comb, red wattles, and large white earlobes. Hens of this breed have spangled plumage, which is why they have “Pheasant” in their name.
They feature clean, slate-grey legs and white skin. There is a bantam version of the breed, but it is even rarer than the full-sized chicken.
How Easy is it to Keep Old English Pheasant Fowl Chickens?
The Old English Pheasant Fowl chicken does best in a free-range situation. They prefer to have space to roam rather than be in confinement. They are excellent foragers and will find tasty treats wherever they are allowed to wander.
This breed retains some of its wild characteristics, like roosting in trees and being a bit skittish. However, they are not known to be aggressive with humans.
They are extremely hardy. They can thrive in cold climates and do well in warm climates as well.
Special Care and Considerations for Old English Pheasant Fowl Chickens
This is a hardy, healthy breed that is not prone to any major health issues.
