#indonesian aviary

[rjavenuru]

Yeah, I wouldn't trust this thing either...🤣

[sleepysaurus4]

After centuries filled with fear, hunger and darkness, mythical creatures left their dark forests and misty swamps to quietly seep into human cities of glass and concrete.

They had no other choice. The world has changed and the shrinking wildernesses could no longer support them.

At first they were full of despair, anger and distrust, however they quickly adapted to this new environment.

Nymphs and rusalkas settled in cozy parks and gardens, filled with fountains, aged trees and tranquility. Now they no longer dance amongst forest turfs and meadows, but on the surfaces of park ponds, on the green lawns and in the midst of old statues covered in ivy.

Godlings, house serpents, domoviks and other spirits of home and household hearth, silently moved into the cozy spaces behind radiators and boilers.

At night, city lanterns attract not only bats and moths, but also phantoms and mothfolk, scaring lone passersby.

Richer citizens started proudly walking their pygmy house centaurs with bodies of ponies.

Thunderbirds and electric species of Phoenix and rarog build their nests in power plants.

More and more people open dragon cafés. You are required to put on fireproof glowes in order to enter.

Other reptile enthusiasts started to keep pampered hydras, dwarf basilisks and Indonesian drakes in aviaries and glass terrariums.

Many Swiss banks now hire leprechauns.

Pug-like, salivating breeds of cerberus are perceived as nothing more than adorable, with the fearsome reputation of their ancestors nothing but a distant memory.

[klineblog]

Unveiling the Secrets of 3Raja Gacor: Unlocking the Melodious Journey of Indonesian Songbirds

Indonesia is known for its rich biodiversity, and its avian fortunes are no exemption. Among the different types of songbirds that effortlessness the archipelago, the 3Raja Gacor, with their melodious tunes and enthralling calls, stand apart as the absolute generally loved. In this article, we will dig into the charming universe of 3Raja Gacor and investigate the secrets behind their uncommon vocal capacities.

Understanding 3Raja Gacor

The expression "3Raja Gacor" alludes to three unmistakable Indonesian warbler species: the Blackthroat (Serinus atrogularis), the Javanese Jaybird robin (Copsychus stricklandii), and the White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus). These birds are profoundly pursued by aficionados for their ability to amaze to impersonate different sounds and produce wonderful tunes.

Melodious Preparation

One of the key variables adding to the great vocal abilities of 3Raja Gacor is their preparation. Bird aficionados known as "kicau madness" dedicate time and work to supporting these birds since the beginning, zeroing in on their eating routine, territory, and openness to various sounds. Youthful birds are presented to a different scope of melodies, including human whistling, instruments, and other bird calls, which helps in fostering their collection.

Diet and Sustenance

A urgent part of keeping up with the wellbeing and vocal ability of 3Raja Gacor lies in their eating regimen. These songbirds flourish with a reasonable eating routine comprising of different organic products, bugs, and great birdseed. Guaranteeing legitimate nourishment assumes an imperative part in keeping up with their vocal lines and empowering them to create clear and resounding tunes.

Natural Variables

The climate where 3Raja Gacor are raised likewise assumes a huge part in forming their vocal capacities. These birds are normally kept in open enclosures or aviaries that look like their regular natural surroundings. They require a quiet and serene climate, away from inordinate clamor and stress, to flourish and foster their singing abilities.

Mimicry and Collection

3Raja Gacor are eminent for their remarkable mimicry capacities. They can emulate a large number of sounds, including human discourse, other bird calls, and, surprisingly, the hints of instruments. This noteworthy ability has procured them a unique spot in Indonesian culture, with devotees sorting out singing contests and occasions to grandstand their birds' vocal abilities.

Saving Indonesian Songbirds

While the prominence of 3Raja Gacor keeps on rising, focusing on the preservation of these wonderful animals and their normal habitats is fundamental. As interest for these birds increments, unlawful catching and exchanging become huge dangers to their endurance. Bird preservation associations and government organizations are cooperating to implement guidelines and bring issues to light about the significance of safeguarding these avian marvels.

End

The 3Raja Gacor, including the Blackthroat, Javanese Jaybird robin, and White-rumped Shama, have spellbound the hearts of bird lovers with their charming tunes and mind blowing mimicry abilities. Through committed preparing, appropriate nourishment, and a climate that impersonates their regular territories, these songbirds foster their outstanding vocal capacities. As we value the excellence of their tunes, it is significant to help preservation endeavors to guarantee the proceeded with presence of these enamoring animals and safeguard Indonesia's avian variety for people in the future to appreciate.

[rabbitcruiser]

Aquatic Bird House, Bronx Zoo (No. 9)

The Sulawesi hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus), also known as the Sulawesi tarictic hornbill, Temminck's hornbill or Sulawesi dwarf hornbill, is a relatively small, approximately 45 cm (18 in) long, black hornbill. The male has a yellow face and throat, and yellowish horn bill with black markings. The female has all-black plumage and a darker bill.

An Indonesian endemic, the Sulawesi hornbill is distributed in the tropical lowland, swamps and primary forests of Sulawesi and nearby islands, from sea level to altitude up to 1,100 metres. There are two subspecies of the Sulawesi hornbill. The nominate subspecies, P. e. exarhatus, occurs in north Sulawesi, and P. e. sanfordi is found in central, east and south Sulawesi, Buton and Muna Island.

The Sulawesi hornbill is a social species that lives in groups of up to 20 individuals. It is believed that only the dominant pair breeds, while the remaining members of the group act as helpers. The diet consists mainly of fruits, figs and insects. The female seals herself inside a tree hole to lay her eggs. During this time, the male and helpers provide food for the female and the young.

Widespread and common throughout its native range, the Sulawesi hornbill is evaluated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

This species is one of the tarictic hornbills that is doing better in zoos. There are three collections currently breeding them: Whipsnade (England), Avifauna (the Netherlands) and San Diego (USA). At Whipsnade the birds are kept in the bird garden area. At San Diego they have two pairs, one in the walk-through Parker Aviary and the other in a small nearby aviary.

Source: Wikipedia

[bayoubashsims]

Museum Beringin Kambing (Indonesian for, literally, ‘the Banyan Goat Museum’) is a museum located in the Taman Merak park of the Caraka Badiran hamlet in Paterosari. Built in 1890 by one of the village’s settlers, the pious botanist and architect Klaas de Haven, the museum initially served as a place for him to study and collect the flora and fauna specimens of Paterosari.

The museum was named for a herd of wild, unnaturally aggressive, tree-climbing goats that dominated the banyan trees of Taman Merak back in the settler days. The goats caused much havoc, which resulted in a battle between the gun-toting settlers and the horned demons. After three days, the settlers managed to kill the entire herd, and their remains decorate the museum to this day.

As of 2012, the museum is owned by Klaas’ descendants, and its maintenance as well as its daily runnings are managed by Yunus Zulkifli, who took over the post from his late, ailing father. The museum has three sections: The Mammalian Section, the Aviary Section, and the Everything Else section.

The exhibits include (though are not limited to) the historical and eccentric pets of the first settlers, the village terrors (a crocodile, a boar, and a black leopard), birds of various kinds (highly revered in Paterosari), and a miscellany of animals that were brought into Paterosari, dead or alive, petrified for generations to come to gawk at.

The museum is infamously known to be haunted, which is why it is locked up every night after dusk. The animals are said to ‘dance’ and relive their pre-petrified days, and it would be amusing too if only they weren’t out to kill you.

[anzu2snow]

Started virtually visiting Malaysia today, since that was the country featured this month with the Treats snack subscription box. That was fun. Didn’t do as much as I had planned, but it was a start. I was majoring in anthropology and wanted to focus either in linguistics or cultural back in college. Was doing great until I got sick and was stopped out. (It would be awesome if I could finish my degree in the future...) So, this is fun for me with that background. I love learning about cultures, languages, their foods, and people in general.

Yesterday I started trying the snacks in it. I had the potato chips, or really potato puffs, and peach gummies. The ‘puffs’ had a chicken and onion flavor and were addicting. The gummies had a stronger flavor than I expected. Today I tried the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, gummies again, and a fruit jelly thing that you squeeze than suck out. The cookies tasted like those healthy type cookies. Good, but a little weird. The jelly reminded me of something I tried in the past. I don’t know what it was or when I had it, but it seemed familiar. I can’t place it. It was pretty much like having bite-sized pieces of Jello.

I searched Netflix for Malaysian shows. I’ve already seen a couple. Those were in Chinese, and had a smattering of English. It’d be interesting to find some in Bahasa Malaysian. I did find more shows than I expected. About 8. Makes my already long list longer...That’s ok. It’d be interesting to do this for other future countries that are featured. My list already is full of international shows. Not many American ones.

I’ll look at apps for learning Bahasa Malaysian tomorrow. Duolingo doesn’t have it, and it’s the main language of the country. If there aren’t good apps for it, I might try learning Bahasa Indonesian instead. That one is on Duolingo. They’re similar. Chinese is also spoken there, and I could go back to that, too.

I also am ‘visiting’ attractions, landmarks, museums, etc. online through Google Earth, searching places and going to their sites, and watching youtube vids on it. Virtually went to a huge aviary. That was interesting. There was a vid of the whole place, and info on the actual website. I could also listen to their popular music at some point, and watch their news. I can’t really get much of their food like I was planning before I knew which country it was going to be. I wanted to find more food to try at our markets and online. It’s kind of hard to find here. Oh well. Maybe the next country will be better for that. If I was motivated enough, I could look up recipes and try to make their food that way.

[myzooalexwhite]

Since Sir Stamford Raffles founded ZSL in 1826, there have been many achievements at ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, as well as in our conservation work in the wild.

1826

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) founded by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

1828

London Zoo opened to Fellows of the Society, and to the public with a written 'order' from a Fellow and payment of 1 shilling.

Lady Raffles elected first woman Fellow.

1829

The Zoological Society of London granted a Royal Charter by King George IV.  

1830

Scientific Meetings started. First issue of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society published.

1831

Royal animal collection from the Tower of London presented to ZSL.

1835

Chimpanzee exhibited at London Zoo for the first time.

1837

Charles Darwin became a Fellow of ZSL.

1847

Public admitted to London Zoo without an 'order' from a Fellow.

1849

World's first Reptile House opened at London Zoo.

1850

Arrival of the hippopotamus Obaysch - the first living hippo to be seen in Europe since Roman times.

1853

First ever public Aquarium opened at London Zoo.

1865

Jumbo, the first African elephant seen alive in England, received from Paris.

1881

World's first Insect House opened at London Zoo.

1914

Winnie the bear deposited at London Zoo. She was the inspiration for 'Winnie-the-pooh'.

1916

Evelyn Cheesman appointed Assistant Curator of Insects, the first woman in a curatorial post at ZSL.

1926

As the twentieth century dawned the need to keep and study large animals in more natural surroundings became apparent. Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell (ZSL Secretary 1903-35) envisaged a new park no more than 70 miles from London, over 200 acres in size and easily accessible to the visiting public. In 1926 an ideal site was found, derelict Hall Farm, near Whipsnade village, nearly 600 acres on the Chiltern Downs. ZSL purchased the farm in December 1926 for £13,480 12s 10d.

1928

The first animals arrived at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park - two Amherst pheasants, a golden pheasant and five red jungle fowl. Others soon followed including muntjac, llama, wombats and skunks.

1931

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park opened - the world's first open zoological park.

1938

Children's Zoo opened at London Zoo.

1939

Start of Second World War. The Giant pandas, elephants and rhinos were sent to Whipsnade. London Zoo closed briefly from 3-9 September, but remained open throughout the rest of the War.

1947

Guy the gorilla arrived at London Zoo.

1960 and 1961

The Institute of Zoology is established. Lord Zuckerman, then Secretary of ZSL, raised funds from two medical foundations to found laboratories where scientists would be employed by ZSL and undertake research.

1962

'Caroline' an Arabian oryx is lent to the world herd in Phoenix, Arizona, the first international co-operative breeding programme.

1965

Nuffield Institute opened by Prince Philip.

Snowdon Aviary (designed by Lord Snowdon) opened.

Casson Elephant House opened.

Goldie the golden eagle escapes twice, causing much excitement and publicity.

1967

Clore Pavilion for Small Mammals opened by the Queen and Prince Philip.

Pipaluk the polar bear born.

Whipsnade bred the first cheetahs born in Europe.

1968

Visitors no longer allowed to feed the animals.

1970

Herd of white rhinos brought to Whipsnade, as a result of an agreement with the Natal Parks Board, who had raised white rhino from near extinction. They thought it would help the conservation effort if there were breeding groups outside Africa as well.

1971

Emperor of Japan visited Regent’s Park and was made an Honorary Fellow.

1972

Sobell Pavilion for Apes and Monkeys opened by Prince Philip.

1974

Arrival of giant pandas Ching-Ching and Chia-Chia.

1976

New Lion Terraces opened by the Queen.

1981

Whipsnade celebrated its 50th anniversary.

1986

ZSL co-ordinates the release of Pere David's deer in Da Feng, China. The release includes deer bred at Whipsnade.

1990

The Queen and Prince Philip visited the Zoo. Prince William visited the Insect House, followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1992

ZSL Council decided to close London Zoo as it was losing money. The Emir of Kuwait then donated one million pounds, prompting the Zoo to remain open.

At Whipsnade the ‘Africa’ and ‘Passage through Asia’ exhibits proved successful.

1995

New Royal Charter granted to ZSL by the Privy Council.

Ambika Paul Children’s Zoo built using a one million pound donation from Dr Swarj Paul in memory of his daughter.

One hundred sand gazelles released in to the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia.

1997

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh opened Whipsnade's new Elephant House.

1998

Four thousand British field crickets were released into southern England; the biggest ever of a captive bred animal.

1999

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the Millennium Conservation Centre, which houses BUGS, the biodiversity exhibition.

ZSL launched its first website.

2001

ZSL celebrated 175 year and Whipsnade Zoo celebrated 80 year anniversaries.

2004

Komodo Island of Dragons enclosure opened by Sir David Attenborough.

Meet the Monkeys walkthrough exhibit for the squirrel monkeys opened.

African Bird Safari walkthrough opened.

2006

ZSL assisted in rescuing approximately 950 exotic fish and coral illegally imported from Indonesia seized at Heathrow.

2007

Gorilla Kingdom opened at ZSL London Zoo.

EDGE of Existence programme launched, concentrating on world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species.

2008

Blackburn Pavilion opened in March, ZSL London Zoo.

Outback exhibit opened August, ZSL London Zoo.

Opening of Rhinos of Nepal, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

2009

Animal Adventure opened with red pandas, aardvarks, and prairie dogs on display.

Giants of the Galapagos opened.

2010

Once thought extinct, the Horton Plains slender loris was found in Sri Lanka by ZSL, with first ever photos.

Three part ITV documentary ��The Zoo’ was aired on prime time television.

2011

Penguin Beach opened at ZSL London Zoo - England's biggest penguin pool.

2013

Opening of Tiger Territory, a 2,500sqm (27,000sqft) enclosure for tigers that replicates their natural Indonesian habitat.

2014

Thug and Nicky, two pygmy hippos, moved into a new custom built enclosure, complete with solar panels to power their own indoor heated pools.

2015

Two brand new enclosures opened at ZSL London Zoo - In With The Lemurs and In With The Spiders, Europe's only walk through spider enclosure.

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo opened its brand new Butterfly House and a brand new Visitor Centre

2016

ZSL London Zoo opens Land of the Lions - its biggest and most breathtaking experience ever.

2017

African Hunting Dogs exhibit was opened at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

The Centre for Elephant Care opened at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Jimmy and Yoda move into the new Gibbons enclosure at ZSL London Zoo.

https://www.zsl.org/about-us/landmarks-in-zsl-history

[melina-anlin]

NEW YORK

Cafes/Restaurants

Buvette: absolute fav. Their scrambled eggs and buttermilk waffles changed my life

RH Rooftop Restaurant: food is okay but the chandelier filled ceiling decor is 100

ABC Cocina

Perry St

Nougatine by Jean Georges

Toto Ramen

Ichiran

Tatsu Ramen

Sushi Nakazawa (Jiro’s apprentice)

Fette Sau

Cut by Wolfgang Puck

Morimoto

Sushi of Gari

The Modern at the MOMA

Daniel Boulud

Shake Shack at Madison Square Park

Sushi on Jones (street side omakase)

Taco Mahal

Still on my list to try: Broken Coconus, Uchu (wagyu milk bread sandwich), Coffee & Cream by Oddfellow, Kay’s Boutique Cafe, Lroom Cafe, Gemma, Old Rose, While We Were Young, La Mercerie, Peter Luger, Blue Hill, Avocadobar, Buddakan, The Aviary (from the chef who brings Alinea in Chicago), Wayan (Indonesian), Marea, 1 River Cafe

Sweets

Dominique Ansel

Supermoon Bakehouse

Milk Bar

Lady M

Magnolia Bakery

Cha Cha Matcha

Momacha

Taiyaki NYC

Chalait

Spot Dessert Bar

Bosie Tea Parlor

Drinks

230 Fifth

Still on my list to try: The Crown at 50 Bowery, The Skylark, Public Hotels, Le Bain at The Standard, The Writing Room at Mandarin Hotel, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, The Press Lounge, Phd Rooftop, Bathtub Gin, Rainies Law Room, Union Pool, Night of Joy

See

The Met

Central Park (do punting in spring/summer)

The Highline

Brooklyn Bridge

Intrepid Museum

DUMBO

Oculus

Hudson Yards

Broadway Shows

Check out for current exhibitions (there was a Louis Vuitton Voyage exhibition in Winter 2017)

The Food Hall at The Plaza Hotel

Grand Central Terminal

Neighborhoods

Upper East Side

Fifth Avenue

Chelsea

SoHo

East Village/Greenwich Village

Brooklyn/Williamsburg

Shops

L’appartement Sezane

Glossier

Everlane

Monocle

Rent the Runway

Lunya

Restoration Hardware

[rhondasaviary]

Just a few of our new arrivals. Monkey Bush animal, rainbow whiptail lizard, Indonesian blue tongue skink, cobalt blue tarantula female, pinto tarantula, some tiger tarantula, Trinidad Chevron tarantula, African red sided skink, golden skink, African blue tailed skink. #rhondasaviary (at Rhonda's Aviary) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvfRmPyHWfg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hmdlgd53ktw0

[wikitopx]

With a name like Virginia Beach, you already know what to expect from the city and it doesn't fail to deliver.

With over 35 miles worth of sandy Atlantic beaches, Oceanfront stroll and lots of outdoor activities Virginia Beach are one of the major tourist attractions of the State of the States. Although once known as the Redneck Riviera, Virginia Beach has worked hard to shrug off its past reputation and is now cleaner and more environmentally conscious than ever before. Apart from the beaches, there are also plenty of nice parks and other tourist attractions worth seeing as well as a few standout museums and historical sights.

[toc]

1. See some fish

  The Virginia Aquarium which was formerly the Virginia Marine Science Museum holds 800,000 gallons of water and over 300 species. The animals you will see on a trip here include seals, loggerhead turtles, and the North American otter.

Themed exhibits include the Mediterranean sea, an Indonesian Volcanic island and the red sea. There was also an impressive aviary exhibit at the aquarium but this is currently closed due to storm damage caused in February 2015. The aquarium is located on General Booth Boulevard.

2. Catch some fish

In a city with the word “beach” in its name, it would be odd not to spend some time by the sea. Virginia Beach’s oceanfront offers golden sand and a fishing pier as well as all the ice cream shops and restaurants you would expect to find.

If you have the energy, why not walk the entire length of the 3-mile long boardwalk? Although the oceanfront may have had a rowdy reputation in the past it has now cleaned up its act and is a great place to chill out on a sunny day.

3. Hike some trails at the First Landing State Park

The First Landing State Park has 20 miles of hiking trails weaving their way through 3,888 acres of Virginia woodland. A park is a great place for outdoor pursuits such as cycling, camping, fishing, canoeing and, of course, hiking.

The park gets its name from the fact that the park occupies the spot where English settlers first landed in the year 1607. Throughout history, everything from the canoes of Native Americans to modern cargo ships has traversed the waterways found here.

4. Visit a lighthouse

The iconic Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first-ever federally funded lighthouse. The lighthouse is situated close to the first landing spot where English settlers arrived in 1607 and were originally designed by the New York architect John McComb.

The lighthouse was in use for about 100 years before being replaced by a cast-iron lighthouse built nearby. The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States and well worth a visit.

5. Spend some time at a landfill

  Mount Trashmore is a former landfill site that has been transformed into a 165-acre park. The park includes two man-made mountains, kids' playgrounds, a skate park, and half-pipe and many trails for cycling or walking.

The man-made mountains were built from layers of solid trash, compacted and covered in clean soil. The park is well known for its environmental achievements and is also seen as a great place for a family day out. Fishing on the two lakes in the park is allowed but only from the shore and only with a license.

6. Visit a dismal swamp

The Great Dismal Swamp National Park is situated about 30 miles southwest of the city of Virginia Beach. The park covers an expansive area of around 115,000 acres and shares some of its border with North Carolina.

The park is renowned for its wildlife and flora. Guests to the park may even see black bears or a bobcat. The park is also known for its varied and impressive birdlife with up to 200 species calling the area home. The terrain that you see at the park today is thought to be just a small remnant of what made up 1,000,000 acres in the area in the past.

7. Take flight at the Military Aviation Museum

The Military Aviation Museum, located just off Princess Anne Road, is home to one of the largest private collections of military aircraft in the world. Most of the aircraft at the museum are kept in tip-top flying conditions, so you get to see them as they were during active combat in the First and Second World War.

The museum is open year-round (except for Christmas and Thanksgiving) and plays host to a number of air shows throughout the year.

8. Visit the Old Coast Guard Station

Located on Atlantic Avenue, the Old Coast Guard Station pays homage to the coast guards and other maritime heritage of the city, past, and present. The exhibits explore the Virginia Beach and Oceanfront community and the city’s relationship with the Atlantic Ocean.

Current exhibits include station paintings and other artistic depictions of landmarks as well as a glimpse into the history of Virginia Beach scouts.

9. Admire a colonial home

The quaint brick Adam Thoroughgood House in the Thoroughgood neighborhood of Virginia Beach is a National Historic Landmark. Although currently closed due to the construction of a new visitor center, the building usually offers public tours and was built in the early 18th Century.

The housebuilder, Argall Thorowgood, died while building the building, but his wife took over and finished the work afterward. The house tells the story of the life of one of Virginia Beach’s first colonists.

10. Look for Loggerhead Turtles

The False Cape State Park lies on the barrier spit between Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean and remains as one of the last undeveloped areas along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.

A false Cape is a popular place for kayaking, hiking, cycling and fishing along with many other outdoor activities. For animal lovers, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge offers the opportunity to see rare birds like the American Black Duck and the Tundra Swan. If you are really lucky (and visit during summer) you may even see nesting Loggerhead Turtles.

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Atlanta GA

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-virginia-beach-704506.html

[josephkitchen0]

Unique Among Chickens

Every chicken breed has a unique set of attributes, but a few breeds have the distinction of being the only one of its kind. Without further ado, let’s look at some chicken breeds with distinctive features that set them apart from all others.

The tallest breed is the Malay. Thanks to its long neck and long legs, combined with an upright stance, this chicken may grow as tall as 2-1/2 feet. That’s the same height as your dining table. Imagine enjoying a picnic in your backyard and having this stately chicken casually grab the sandwich off your plate as it wanders by.

The heaviest chicken breed is the Jersey Giant. The Jersey Giant chicken was originally developed as an alternative to turkey. Hens mature to 10 pounds, cocks to 13 pounds. That’s about the same weight as a gallon and a half of milk, a bowling ball, a house cat, or a small turkey.

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The smallest breed is the Serama. This true bantam (meaning it has no large counterpart) comes in three standard weight classes, the largest of which (class C) is less than 19 ounces for both cocks and hens. The smallest class (A) requires cocks to weigh less than 13 ounces, hens less than 12 — that’s about the same size as a pigeon.

The Serama, a true bantam, is the smallest chicken breed — not much bigger than a pigeon. Photo courtesy of Myranda Pauley, Florida.

The only American chicken breed with a pea comb is the Buckeye. This chicken breed was developed in Ohio, “the Buckeye State,” as a dual-purpose farmstead chicken that adapts better to cold weather compared to single-comb breeds — the combs of which are more subject to frostbite. The breed name originates with the Ohio Buckeye tree, which produces nuts that are similar in appearance to a chestnut and are about the same color as the Buckeye chicken’s mahogany plumage.

The Buckeye is the only American breed with a pea comb; its color is similar to that of a buckeye nut. Breed photo courtesy of Jeannette Beranger, ALBC. Buckeye nut photo courtesy of Laura Haggarty.

The only hen-feathered chicken breed is the Sebright. Hen feathering means the hackle, saddle, and tail feathers of the cocks, as well as their color markings, are nearly identical to those of a hen of the same variety. Campines have a modified form of hen feathering, insofar as the color pattern of same variety-cocks and hens is identical, but the shape of the Campine cock’s sex feathers lies between the short, rounded feathers of a hen and the long, pointed feathers of typical roosters. By contrast, all the feathers of a Sebright rooster are rounded, like a hen’s.

The only chicken breed in which the cock and hen are identical in conformation is the Cornish. These broad-breasted, muscular chickens are hard feathered, have a wide skull topped by a pea comb, and short, thick legs set wide apart. The main difference between the genders is weight: Cornish cocks weigh 10{1/2} pounds, hens 8 pounds; bantam cocks weigh 44 ounces, hens 36 ounces.

The chicken breed with the fewest feathers is the Naked Neck. This breed, sometimes called a Turken, has half the number of feathers of other breeds of comparable size. The Naked Neck has been crossed with a broiler-type chicken to develop the so-called featherless chicken, which has only a few wisps of feathers on its pink skin, allowing it to waste little energy growing feathers instead of meat. Both the Naked Neck and its featherless hybrid cousin require shade to prevent sunburn, and in the coldest regions, their housing must be heated.

The Naked Neck has the least feathers of any breed, with about half the number of feathers as fully feathered breeds. Photo courtesy of Dana Ness, DVM, Washington.

The first chicken in the United States was the Dominique. The exact origin of this dual-purpose farmstead breed is unknown. Its name may derive from early chickens brought in from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). The Dominique has a rose comb and comes in one color — irregular barring, or cuckoo. It looks similar to the more regularly barred Plymouth Rock, which was developed from the Dominique and with which the Dominique is often confused, but the two breeds are readily distinguishable by their different comb styles.

The Dominique was the first chicken breed created in the United States; it is easily distinguishable from the (single comb) barred Rock by its rose comb. Dominique pullet and cockerel photo courtesy of Bryon K. Oliver, Dominique Club of America, www.dominiqueclub.org.

The most commonly kept chicken is the Leghorn. The single comb white Leghorn chicken is also the best layer, which accounts for its worldwide use for egg production. A commercial strain Leghorn averages between 250 and 280 white shell eggs during the first year and some hens lay as many as 300 eggs. In 1979 a strain of superior Leghorns developed at the University of Missouri averaged more than one egg per day per hen. One of the hens laid 371 eggs in 364 days, and another laid an egg a day for 448 days straight. Besides being fantastic layers, Leghorns are early maturing (they start laying at about 20 weeks of age), hardy, and heat tolerant, and they have good fertility and superior feed conversion efficiency.

The breed with the longest tail is the Onagadori. This Japanese breed, the name of which means Honorable Fowl, has tail feathers that are a minimum of 6-1/2 feet long and can grow to more than 33 feet long. Related longtail breeds in North America — Cubalaya, Phoenix, Sumatra, and Yokohama — cannot grow such luxuriant tails because they lack some of the genetic factors controlling the growth of excessively long tails, including full expression of the Onagadori’s nonmolting gene; as a result, these other breeds occasionally shed their tail feathers and have to start over growing new ones.

The above rooster is of partial Onagadori heritage, bred and raised by David Rogers of Megumi Aviary. According to David, there are no known pure Onagadori in the U.S. It is 62.5% pure. Though it is not pure enough to be considered a true Onagadori, it may be said that it is Onagadori-like; having standard color, carriage, and feather type. At 5 years of age it has tail feathers that are 10-1/2 feet long, and they are still growing. — Ed.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Selectively bred for the sound and duration of their crow, cocks of the breeds designated as longcrowers must have a crow that lasts at least 15 seconds. Cocks of all-black Drenica breeding, also known as Kosovo Longcrowers, weigh only 4 pounds but consistently crow for up to a full minute. Some people attribute this feat to superior lung capacity, while others argue that the long-lasting crow stems from this breed’s restless and aggressive nature.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Photo courtesy of Salih Morina, Kosovo.

The best flier is the Sumatra. More pheasant-like than any other chickens, Sumatras have been seen flying 70 feet to get across a river. That’s a considerably shorter distance than chickens flew at the annual International Chicken Flying Meet (which was discontinued in 1994), where in 1989 a bantam hen set the record by flying more than 542 feet. But the latter had the advantage of starting from atop a 10-foot scaffold and getting nudged in the behind with a toilet plunger. Sumatras, on the other hand, reportedly have flown unassisted, except perhaps by a stiff sea breeze, between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java—a distance of some 19 miles.

The chicken that lays eggs with the darkest shells is the Marans. These hens are good layers that produce eggs with dark chocolate-brown shells, although some individuals lay eggs with speckled shells. Marans hens may brood, but many breeders discourage broodiness because it interferes with production of the unusually dark-shelled eggs, which generally bring a premium price. The Penedesenca hen may also lay a dark-shelled egg, but eggs of Marans chickens tend to be more consistently dark.

Marans Chicken lays the darkest shells.

Marans lay eggs with the darkest shell of any breed; shell color varies with genetics, age, diet, and season. On the official Marans egg color chart (above), eggs 1 through 3 are of unacceptable color for the breed. The most typical colors for quality stock are 5 through 7. Egg color scale chart courtesy of The French Marans Club; Blue Marans hen photo courtesy of Kathleen LaDue, Maryland.

The only breed with a pure white face is the Spanish. This breed, known as the white-faced black Spanish or the clown-faced chicken, has long white earlobes and a white face made all the more striking by its bright red comb and wattles against a background of glossy black plumage. The Minorca also has large white earlobes, but lacks the white face, yet looks so much like the white-faced black Spanish that it is sometimes referred to as the red-faced black Spanish.

The black Spanish is the only breed with an entirely white face. Photo courtesy of Dyanna Byers, California.

Originally published in the June/July 2012 issue of Backyard Poultry and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Unique Among Chickens was originally posted by All About Chickens

[territorymob-blog]

5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors.

A simple itinerary for first time visitors to Bali with 5 perfect daytrips featuring fun filled activities taking you off the beaten track to explore places least traveled in Bali.

Bali’s natural attractions are many. The mountainous north-central part of the island, with Mount Batur and Mount Agung can be explored taking visitors past fast rivers, crater lakes and deep rain forests.

Beaches perfect for doing nothing, or active water sports … whatever you choose.  Diving is popular on the coral reefs off the northeast coast of Bali, while surfers head to the south western coast seeking good surfing waves.

Here are my suggested itineraries for 5 great daytrips when visiting Bali.

Daytrip 1:  Southern Bali – Pandawa, Dreamland and Uluwatu

If you’re in the mood for a lazy beach day, and a visit to some beautiful beaches and Uluwatu to take in a magical sunset and to spot a monkey or two … this is the itinerary for you!

Pandawa Beach:  Once known as Secret Beach, this beautiful white sand beach is laden with beach chairs & umbrellas which are offered for rent and serviced by nearby stall holders offering the obligatory Bintang beer for sale.  It’s also a great place to test your kayaking skills, but be careful of waves and ocean rips in the area!

Dreamland Beach:  A unique private beach tucked away at the northern end of Uluwatu near the New Kuta Golf Course.  Recently famous as the beach where Julia Roberts filmed the movie Eat, Pray, Love.  This beach was pumping great surf shore-breaks on the day of our visit which we watched from the bar cut into the side of the cliff above with an ice cold Mojito.

Our lunch stop was at a traditional Balinese restaurant called Warung Cikgo.  A quaint traditional Balinese open plan dining area with antique furnishings and a wall of carved Indonesian doors.  We were served one of the best Massaman beef curries ever and a perfect Nasi Goreng!  Put this place on your ‘must visit’ list.

Uluwatu Temple:  Uluwatu, is one of the best places to go to for sunset whilst you’re in Bali, with endless views overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean and daily Kecak dance performances.  A small forest lies at the front which is home to hundreds of monkeys who are notorious for snatching visitors’ belongings. They can usually be persuaded into trading the items for fruit, although this only encourages them to steal more.

As we were staying in Tanjung Benoa, we decided to try one of our favourite local restaurants for dinner.  Meads offers a convenient pick up and drop off service in their multi-seat golf buggy.

Meads Bali:   Meads has a great menu with steak and seafood options.   We chose a whole fish with a Balinese flavoured sauce and a perfectly cooked lobster – both spectacular. We’ve been to Meads a number of times previously when visiting Bali and it remains one of our favourite restaurants!

Daytrip 2:  Bali Safari Park & Sanur Beach

I wanted to take some photos of native wildlife whilst in Bali and where better to capture all species in one stop!

Bali Safari & Marine Park:  Great near natural environments for the animals, rare and endangered species such as the Javanese Leopard, Sumatran Tigers and the White Tigers.  We enjoyed the Safari experience however would have liked that to have been a longer experience.  There were plenty of exhibits to fill the day including a mythical dance extravaganza and an elephant pantomime featuring the Sumatran elephants.

Lunch overlooking the lions .. or were the lions overlooking us?  Lions perched on rocky citadels high above the restaurant separated by plate glass windows from diners.  A unique place to lunch!   See our earlier post Zoos are for Big Kids Too.

Sanur:  Enjoy sunset at Sanur where fisherman run their nets in the shallows of an outgoing tide.  Chic boutique shopping and trendy restaurants are in abundance in this relaxed part of Bali.  We’ve decided to spend more time in this region next time we visit.

Kampung Bule:   A restaurant suggested by our driver Irun, which was a mix of traditional Balinese and Western style menu serving their popular Balinese Herb & Spice BBQ, great Seafood selections and for those who want western style – some old favourites as well.

Moscow Mule:   Mix Vodka with Lime Juice, muddle some fresh mint leaves and add a splash of Ginger Ale and dress with a slice of lime.  You must try it!

We were impressed by the seafood choices and started with a shared serving of Prawn Spring Rolls followed with Lobster Thermidor for our mains … just because!

The seafood was delicious although the lobster was a little expensive, however for a special night it was well worth the expense!

Daytrip 3:  Garuda Cultural Centre, Bali Bird Park & Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Garuda Cultural Centre:  Touted to be the tallest statue in the world once complete, this statue has been under construction for about 20 years but is now under instruction from the President to complete by the end of 2018 in time for the world conference in Bali.  Extraordinary views right across Bali, including smoking Mt Agung in the distance.  Magnificent statues and vantage points throughout and I look forward to seeing the completed project.

Bali Bird Park:   A unique and educational attraction for the whole family. With nearly a thousand exotic birds from the Indonesian archipelago and around the world, the Bali Bird Park is a fun park for bird lovers.  Hundreds of different bird species can be found throughout the park grounds in aviaries and individual enclosures.  We just loved this Plain-pouched Hornbill from Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago in the Malay Peninsula.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces:  Ubud is famous for its beautiful scenes of rice paddies involving the subak which is the traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system, which according to history, was passed down by a revered holy man named Rsi Markandeya in the eighth century.  The Tegallalang rice terraces are a spectacular sight on the slopes across the valley.

Treat yourself to a great lunch or afternoon tea overlooking the spectacular views of these rice terraces.

Daytrip 4: Walking tour of Ubud

Ubud has a good selection of boutiques, jewelry manufacturing shops, woodcarvers and artists as well as local markets where you will find a range of clothing and exquisite jewelry and unique artifacts.

Don’t forget to use your bargaining skills!

Life in Bali rolls along at a slow pace most of the time and nothing will change that.  Ubud is a peaceful place where you will find yoga and relaxation classes, art and craft workshops and other creative opportunities.

Take the time to explore the shops in the lanes and alley ways that are tucked away out of the main traffic zones. You may find some unique bargains!

We found a great selection of restaurants and cafes to try along our walk so watch for our next post featuring our favourite food haunts in Ubud … coming soon.

Monsieur Spoon:  Start your morning off with a visit to Monsieur Spoon, a family-run French Bakery-Cafe started by two Parisian cousins based in Ubud.  This cafe was one of our most favourite holiday finds during our last visit to Ubud.  Monsieur Spoon serves handmade French pastries, cakes, artisan bread and savouries – to die for!

Sacred Monkey Forest:  One of my favourite places to visit in Ubud is the Sacred Monkey Forest.  The monkey’s fascinate me.  They are curious, cheeky, sneaky and always playful.  Make sure your glasses and hats are secured, and backpacks and purses zipped up – they will attempt to steal anything they think may be food!

Ubud’s Royal Palace:  Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung Ubud), is one of Bali’s most interesting attractions located right in the centre of Ubud.  The royal family is in residence most of the time and most nights during the week the Royal Palace hosts  authentic Balinese dance performances, such as the Barong Ubud dance.

Stop in for lunch at Oops Bar and Cafe … What a great find.  Just an ordinary pub on the outside, but a delicious lunch with icy cold mojitos on the inside!

Check out all the antiques, wood carvings and shops full of unusual nic-nacks.

Daytrip 5:  Inner Bali – Temples and Terraces

An early 9 am pickup by our driver Irun who took us into the hinterland beyond Ubud to view some of the most significant temples in Bali and world heritage listed rice terraces.

Taman Ayun Temple:  Pura Taman Ayun as a beautifully appointed temple with it’s own surrounding moat, located in the village of Mengwi Bandung.  Historically the temple is associated with the King of Mengwi. This temple is where people come to worship the ancestors of the royal family of Mengwi.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan:  On the shores of Lake Bratan this temple is the primary temple of the many temples and shrines which are vital to the subak irrigation system popular in Bali.  Built in 1633, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu.  Lake Bratan is the main source of irrigation in central Bali.  Lake Bratan is known as the Lake of Holy Mountain due to the fertility of this area.

Lunch at Gong Jatiluwih in the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Central Bali was a perfect Balinese lunch experience.  The restaurant has been around for many years and is a popular lunch stop for tourists visiting the inland regions of Bali with spectacular views over the rice terraces.

Goa Gajah:  Located just 10 minutes from Ubud, Goa Gajah is a significant Hindu archaeological site.  Known as the Elephant Cave because of its close proximity to the Elephant River, this mysterious cave is surrounded by a courtyard of rock-wall carvings, a central meditation cave, bathing pools and fountains.

Its a peaceful setting with Hindu guides who provide details of the history of this serene place.  A visit to Goa Gajah is definitely a ‘must see’ and well worth including on your itinerary.

These suggestions are totally flexible so you can pace yourself to be as busy or as slow-going as you want.  Pace out your holiday, enjoy your adventures and make sure you leave plenty of down time for relaxing … after all you are on holidays!!

Have you been to any of these places when you’ve visited Bali ?  Is there somewhere that made such an impact on you that you’d consider going back to?  Perhaps I’ve left out somewhere that you think should be included .. I’d love to know .. let me know in the comments below.

If you like it, put a pin on it …

Reference: Wikipedia

Bali Itinerary – 5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors 5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors. A simple itinerary for first time visitors to Bali with 5 perfect daytrips featuring fun filled activities taking you off the beaten track to explore places least traveled in Bali.

[bayoubashsims]

~ Rita Woetamani III - The Keeper ~ 

The third Rita Woetamani was born on December 27, 1905, like her mother and grandmother (and it was set in stone that the next daughter would be born on the same date and on the same age with a gap of 25 years between each women, to keep the legacy alive) as Rita Van Royen. Unlike them, however, she wanted little to do with people. Her grandmother was a savior for the locals and her mother was a doyenne for the colonials, but she found her calling in birds--crows, in fact, slender-billed crows that made their home in the woods of Mount Ciremai.

It begun when she saved a crow from drowning, and the crows became fond of her in the following days and would gather around her, and in turn she would feed and care for them as if they were her own. She then converted the mansion tower (formerly an observatory for her late grandfather) into an aviary for her pets, where they could come and go as they pleased.

She was, however, far from stable. She was prone to bouts of hysteria and she would sulk and rage over trivial things. None of her grandmother’s remedies cured her, not even when she found love in Gertjan Boshoeve, an architect and engineer from a Dutch-Indonesian family that worked for the family. They married in 1937, a year after the death of her father Ephram, and there was happiness in Rita’s life for a while. 

First Generation | Second Generation | Third Generation | The End of a Legacy | Fourth Generation | Fifth Generation

[iwannaseetheworldx]

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

October 10 - 14, 2017

Embracing the feelings associated with arriving in a brand new place seem to come easier with experience. Arriving in Bali, I felt so much excitement and anticipation, unlike the feelings of hesitation and apprehension I felt before. Maybe that's because Bali was our first destination that I've actively wanted to visit for as long as I've wanted to travel, really. Another great choice in hostels, we arrived at Puji Bungalows and were greeted by the lovely accommodating and surprisingly young hostel owner, which seems to be pretty common here. After throwing down our bags and changing into fresh clothes, we walked down our street to find the most reasonably priced food (read: cheap but wouldn't give us food poisoning) for dinner. We settled for a local Indonesian restaurant and had rice, chicken sate, peanut sauce, and of course a Bintang beer for around $5 Canadian. We slept well that night and started the next day by shopping and popping into the multitude of stores in Ubud. A city rich in culture and heritage, with temples and jungles scattered throughout the city, Ubud has become a tourist hotspot with so many stores and restaurants catering to Westerners. It makes sense that the prices reflected that, with most items for purchase and meals being vastly overpriced ($10 Canadian for a metal ring, $12 for a hamburger, $26 for a lightweight cotton dress). After we maxed out our shopping budgets (quickly) we bartered with a few taxi drivers to drive us to a local waterfall. $16 Canadian got us to and from the waterfall, with the driver waiting for us while we explored and swam in the river. I've never felt such resistance in swimming upstream a small river like that, although I suppose it makes sense to have a current that strong considering the 30ft waterfall dumping into it. The girls and I had uncontrollable laughing fits as we tried to hold on to the roped off buoy line close to the waterfall, using all of our might to not let go and float downstream (which we inevitably did every time). After a few hours of lounging, swimming, and the sweet relief of cold water on yet another scorching day, we climbed up the 100 or so steps back to the top and met our taxi driver to go back to Ubud.

The next day was our last full one in town, so we started off by making a trek to the nearby Monkey forest. As Bali is a predominantly Hindu island, monkeys are considered sacred as a reincarnation of the God Hanuman. The city has maintained an area of jungle where the monkeys roam free, and curiously greet (and follow, grab at, climb on, hiss at, attempt to play with, and steal the belongings of) the hundreds of guests who visit here daily. After some minor debit card issues on my behalf (thanks, TD "no you don't need to tell us you're going on vacation our services are built to recognize it") we splurged a bit on an Indian food lunch - totally worth it. So far on this trip, the Indian food is always worth it. After lounging in our hotel pool for several hours to escape the sun, we left again to visit the Blanco Renaissance museum. The collection of Blanco's artwork is housed in an estate once owned by the man himself. It's an absolutely stunning grand mansion with several lookout points offering unobstructed views of Ubud (one of the huge benefits of Ubud being such a hilly place is the plentiful opportunities for stunning views). The compound also serves as a bit of an aviary museum, with dozens of birds on site. With my strong dislike of birds, I steered clear, but some of the girls took the opportunity to hold the resident parrots. Sadly we only had two full days in Ubud and purchased a shuttle to the Gili islands for the following morning. I can easily see spending much more time in Ubud, there is just so much to see. The landscape is beautiful, lush and green, with rice terraces scattered everywhere and mountain ranges along the horizon. The town is bustling with local vendors, more Western shops (I think I saw 4 separate Ralph Lauren stores in Ubud alone), lots of options for food, culture, history, and beautiful architecture. Definitely a touristy destination and generally overpriced, I would highly recommend visiting Ubud, and soon. Because we had purchased round-trip tickets, after the Gili islands we were able to return to Ubud for one more night (lucky me!!). Even though it was a rainy day, I was more than happy to spend one more night and day in this beautiful town. There is certainly more to do than we were able to see in a few days, and I can't wait to one day return to Ubud with a fresh set of eyes and see even more of what it has to offer.

[josephkitchen0]

Unique Among Chickens

Every chicken breed has a unique set of attributes, but a few breeds have the distinction of being the only one of its kind. Without further ado, let’s look at some chicken breeds with distinctive features that set them apart from all others.

The tallest breed is the Malay. Thanks to its long neck and long legs, combined with an upright stance, this chicken may grow as tall as 2-1/2 feet. That’s the same height as your dining table. Imagine enjoying a picnic in your backyard and having this stately chicken casually grab the sandwich off your plate as it wanders by.

The heaviest chicken breed is the Jersey Giant. The Jersey Giant chicken was originally developed as an alternative to turkey. Hens mature to 10 pounds, cocks to 13 pounds. That’s about the same weight as a gallon and a half of milk, a bowling ball, a house cat, or a small turkey.

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The smallest breed is the Serama. This true bantam (meaning it has no large counterpart) comes in three standard weight classes, the largest of which (class C) is less than 19 ounces for both cocks and hens. The smallest class (A) requires cocks to weigh less than 13 ounces, hens less than 12 — that’s about the same size as a pigeon.

The Serama, a true bantam, is the smallest chicken breed — not much bigger than a pigeon. Photo courtesy of Myranda Pauley, Florida.

The only American chicken breed with a pea comb is the Buckeye. This chicken breed was developed in Ohio, “the Buckeye State,” as a dual-purpose farmstead chicken that adapts better to cold weather compared to single-comb breeds — the combs of which are more subject to frostbite. The breed name originates with the Ohio Buckeye tree, which produces nuts that are similar in appearance to a chestnut and are about the same color as the Buckeye chicken’s mahogany plumage.

The Buckeye is the only American breed with a pea comb; its color is similar to that of a buckeye nut. Breed photo courtesy of Jeannette Beranger, ALBC. Buckeye nut photo courtesy of Laura Haggarty.

The only hen-feathered chicken breed is the Sebright. Hen feathering means the hackle, saddle, and tail feathers of the cocks, as well as their color markings, are nearly identical to those of a hen of the same variety. Campines have a modified form of hen feathering, insofar as the color pattern of same variety-cocks and hens is identical, but the shape of the Campine cock’s sex feathers lies between the short, rounded feathers of a hen and the long, pointed feathers of typical roosters. By contrast, all the feathers of a Sebright rooster are rounded, like a hen’s.

The only chicken breed in which the cock and hen are identical in conformation is the Cornish. These broad-breasted, muscular chickens are hard feathered, have a wide skull topped by a pea comb, and short, thick legs set wide apart. The main difference between the genders is weight: Cornish cocks weigh 10{1/2} pounds, hens 8 pounds; bantam cocks weigh 44 ounces, hens 36 ounces.

The chicken breed with the fewest feathers is the Naked Neck. This breed, sometimes called a Turken, has half the number of feathers of other breeds of comparable size. The Naked Neck has been crossed with a broiler-type chicken to develop the so-called featherless chicken, which has only a few wisps of feathers on its pink skin, allowing it to waste little energy growing feathers instead of meat. Both the Naked Neck and its featherless hybrid cousin require shade to prevent sunburn, and in the coldest regions, their housing must be heated.

The Naked Neck has the least feathers of any breed, with about half the number of feathers as fully feathered breeds. Photo courtesy of Dana Ness, DVM, Washington.

The first chicken in the United States was the Dominique. The exact origin of this dual-purpose farmstead breed is unknown. Its name may derive from early chickens brought in from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). The Dominique has a rose comb and comes in one color — irregular barring, or cuckoo. It looks similar to the more regularly barred Plymouth Rock, which was developed from the Dominique and with which the Dominique is often confused, but the two breeds are readily distinguishable by their different comb styles.

The Dominique was the first chicken breed created in the United States; it is easily distinguishable from the (single comb) barred Rock by its rose comb. Dominique pullet and cockerel photo courtesy of Bryon K. Oliver, Dominique Club of America, www.dominiqueclub.org.

The most commonly kept chicken is the Leghorn. The single comb white Leghorn chicken is also the best layer, which accounts for its worldwide use for egg production. A commercial strain Leghorn averages between 250 and 280 white shell eggs during the first year and some hens lay as many as 300 eggs. In 1979 a strain of superior Leghorns developed at the University of Missouri averaged more than one egg per day per hen. One of the hens laid 371 eggs in 364 days, and another laid an egg a day for 448 days straight. Besides being fantastic layers, Leghorns are early maturing (they start laying at about 20 weeks of age), hardy, and heat tolerant, and they have good fertility and superior feed conversion efficiency.

The breed with the longest tail is the Onagadori. This Japanese breed, the name of which means Honorable Fowl, has tail feathers that are a minimum of 6-1/2 feet long and can grow to more than 33 feet long. Related longtail breeds in North America — Cubalaya, Phoenix, Sumatra, and Yokohama — cannot grow such luxuriant tails because they lack some of the genetic factors controlling the growth of excessively long tails, including full expression of the Onagadori’s nonmolting gene; as a result, these other breeds occasionally shed their tail feathers and have to start over growing new ones.

The above rooster is of partial Onagadori heritage, bred and raised by David Rogers of Megumi Aviary. According to David, there are no known pure Onagadori in the U.S. It is 62.5% pure. Though it is not pure enough to be considered a true Onagadori, it may be said that it is Onagadori-like; having standard color, carriage, and feather type. At 5 years of age it has tail feathers that are 10-1/2 feet long, and they are still growing. — Ed.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Selectively bred for the sound and duration of their crow, cocks of the breeds designated as longcrowers must have a crow that lasts at least 15 seconds. Cocks of all-black Drenica breeding, also known as Kosovo Longcrowers, weigh only 4 pounds but consistently crow for up to a full minute. Some people attribute this feat to superior lung capacity, while others argue that the long-lasting crow stems from this breed’s restless and aggressive nature.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Photo courtesy of Salih Morina, Kosovo.

The best flier is the Sumatra. More pheasant-like than any other chickens, Sumatras have been seen flying 70 feet to get across a river. That’s a considerably shorter distance than chickens flew at the annual International Chicken Flying Meet (which was discontinued in 1994), where in 1989 a bantam hen set the record by flying more than 542 feet. But the latter had the advantage of starting from atop a 10-foot scaffold and getting nudged in the behind with a toilet plunger. Sumatras, on the other hand, reportedly have flown unassisted, except perhaps by a stiff sea breeze, between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java—a distance of some 19 miles.

The chicken that lays eggs with the darkest shells is the Marans. These hens are good layers that produce eggs with dark chocolate-brown shells, although some individuals lay eggs with speckled shells. Marans hens may brood, but many breeders discourage broodiness because it interferes with production of the unusually dark-shelled eggs, which generally bring a premium price. The Penedesenca hen may also lay a dark-shelled egg, but eggs of Marans chickens tend to be more consistently dark.

Marans Chicken lays the darkest shells.

Marans lay eggs with the darkest shell of any breed; shell color varies with genetics, age, diet, and season. On the official Marans egg color chart (above), eggs 1 through 3 are of unacceptable color for the breed. The most typical colors for quality stock are 5 through 7. Egg color scale chart courtesy of The French Marans Club; Blue Marans hen photo courtesy of Kathleen LaDue, Maryland.

The only breed with a pure white face is the Spanish. This breed, known as the white-faced black Spanish or the clown-faced chicken, has long white earlobes and a white face made all the more striking by its bright red comb and wattles against a background of glossy black plumage. The Minorca also has large white earlobes, but lacks the white face, yet looks so much like the white-faced black Spanish that it is sometimes referred to as the red-faced black Spanish.

The black Spanish is the only breed with an entirely white face. Photo courtesy of Dyanna Byers, California.

Originally published in the June/July 2012 issue of Backyard Poultry and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Unique Among Chickens was originally posted by All About Chickens

[josephkitchen0]

The Most Unique Chicken Breeds in the World

Featured in our early spring e-edition. Subscribe for more great stories like this! Every chicken breed has a unique set of attributes, but a few breeds have the distinction of being the only one of its kind. Without further ado, let’s look at some chicken breeds with distinctive features that set them apart from all others.

The tallest breed is the Malay. Thanks to its long neck and long legs, combined with an upright stance, this chicken may grow as tall as 2-1/2 feet. That’s the same height as your dining table. Imagine enjoying a picnic in your backyard and having this stately chicken casually grab the sandwich off your plate as it wanders by.

The heaviest chicken breed is the Jersey Giant. The Jersey Giant chicken was originally developed as an alternative to turkey. Hens mature to 10 pounds, cocks to 13 pounds. That’s about the same weight as a gallon and a half of milk, a bowling ball, a house cat, or a small turkey.

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The smallest breed is the Serama. This true bantam (meaning it has no large counterpart) comes in three standard weight classes, the largest of which (class C) is less than 19 ounces for both cocks and hens. The smallest class (A) requires cocks to weigh less than 13 ounces, hens less than 12 — that’s about the same size as a pigeon.

The Serama, a true bantam, is the smallest chicken breed — not much bigger than a pigeon. Photo courtesy of Myranda Pauley, Florida.

The only American chicken breed with a pea comb is the Buckeye. This chicken breed was developed in Ohio, “the Buckeye State,” as a dual-purpose farmstead chicken that adapts better to cold weather compared to single-comb breeds — the combs of which are more subject to frostbite. The breed name originates with the Ohio Buckeye tree, which produces nuts that are similar in appearance to a chestnut and are about the same color as the Buckeye chicken’s mahogany plumage.

The Buckeye is the only American breed with a pea comb; its color is similar to that of a buckeye nut. Breed photo courtesy of Jeannette Beranger, ALBC. Buckeye nut photo courtesy of Laura Haggarty.

The only hen-feathered chicken breed is the Sebright. Hen feathering means the hackle, saddle, and tail feathers of the cocks, as well as their color markings, are nearly identical to those of a hen of the same variety. Campines have a modified form of hen feathering, insofar as the color pattern of same variety-cocks and hens is identical, but the shape of the Campine cock’s sex feathers lies between the short, rounded feathers of a hen and the long, pointed feathers of typical roosters. By contrast, all the feathers of a Sebright rooster are rounded, like a hen’s.

The only chicken breed in which the cock and hen are identical in conformation is the Cornish. These broad-breasted, muscular chickens are hard feathered, have a wide skull topped by a pea comb, and short, thick legs set wide apart. The main difference between the genders is weight: Cornish cocks weigh 10{1/2} pounds, hens 8 pounds; bantam cocks weigh 44 ounces, hens 36 ounces.

The chicken breed with the fewest feathers is the Naked Neck. This breed, sometimes called a Turken, has half the number of feathers of other breeds of comparable size. The Naked Neck has been crossed with a broiler-type chicken to develop the so-called featherless chicken, which has only a few wisps of feathers on its pink skin, allowing it to waste little energy growing feathers instead of meat. Both the Naked Neck and its featherless hybrid cousin require shade to prevent sunburn, and in the coldest regions, their housing must be heated.

The Naked Neck has the least feathers of any breed, with about half the number of feathers as fully feathered breeds. Photo courtesy of Dana Ness, DVM, Washington.

The first chicken in the United States was the Dominique. The exact origin of this dual-purpose farmstead breed is unknown. Its name may derive from early chickens brought in from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). The Dominique has a rose comb and comes in one color — irregular barring, or cuckoo. It looks similar to the more regularly barred Plymouth Rock, which was developed from the Dominique and with which the Dominique is often confused, but the two breeds are readily distinguishable by their different comb styles.

The Dominique was the first chicken breed created in the United States; it is easily distinguishable from the (single comb) barred Rock by its rose comb. Dominique pullet and cockerel photo courtesy of Bryon K. Oliver, Dominique Club of America, www.dominiqueclub.org.

The most commonly kept chicken is the Leghorn. The single comb white Leghorn chicken is also the best layer, which accounts for its worldwide use for egg production. A commercial strain Leghorn averages between 250 and 280 white shell eggs during the first year and some hens lay as many as 300 eggs. In 1979 a strain of superior Leghorns developed at the University of Missouri averaged more than one egg per day per hen. One of the hens laid 371 eggs in 364 days, and another laid an egg a day for 448 days straight. Besides being fantastic layers, Leghorns are early maturing (they start laying at about 20 weeks of age), hardy, and heat tolerant, and they have good fertility and superior feed conversion efficiency.

The breed with the longest tail is the Onagadori. This Japanese breed, the name of which means Honorable Fowl, has tail feathers that are a minimum of 6-1/2 feet long and can grow to more than 33 feet long. Related longtail breeds in North America — Cubalaya, Phoenix, Sumatra, and Yokohama — cannot grow such luxuriant tails because they lack some of the genetic factors controlling the growth of excessively long tails, including full expression of the Onagadori’s nonmolting gene; as a result, these other breeds occasionally shed their tail feathers and have to start over growing new ones.

The above rooster is of partial Onagadori heritage, bred and raised by David Rogers of Megumi Aviary. According to David, there are no known pure Onagadori in the U.S. It is 62.5% pure. Though it is not pure enough to be considered a true Onagadori, it may be said that it is Onagadori-like; having standard color, carriage, and feather type. At 5 years of age it has tail feathers that are 10-1/2 feet long, and they are still growing. — Ed.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Selectively bred for the sound and duration of their crow, cocks of the breeds designated as longcrowers must have a crow that lasts at least 15 seconds. Cocks of all-black Drenica breeding, also known as Kosovo Longcrowers, weigh only 4 pounds but consistently crow for up to a full minute. Some people attribute this feat to superior lung capacity, while others argue that the long-lasting crow stems from this breed’s restless and aggressive nature.

The breed with the longest crow is the Drenica. Photo courtesy of Salih Morina, Kosovo.

The best flier is the Sumatra. More pheasant-like than any other chickens, Sumatras have been seen flying 70 feet to get across a river. That’s a considerably shorter distance than chickens flew at the annual International Chicken Flying Meet (which was discontinued in 1994), where in 1989 a bantam hen set the record by flying more than 542 feet. But the latter had the advantage of starting from atop a 10-foot scaffold and getting nudged in the behind with a toilet plunger. Sumatras, on the other hand, reportedly have flown unassisted, except perhaps by a stiff sea breeze, between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java—a distance of some 19 miles.

The chicken that lays eggs with the darkest shells is the Marans. These hens are good layers that produce eggs with dark chocolate-brown shells, although some individuals lay eggs with speckled shells. Marans hens may brood, but many breeders discourage broodiness because it interferes with production of the unusually dark-shelled eggs, which generally bring a premium price. The Penedesenca hen may also lay a dark-shelled egg, but eggs of Marans chickens tend to be more consistently dark.

Marans Chicken lays the darkest shells.

Marans lay eggs with the darkest shell of any breed; shell color varies with genetics, age, diet, and season. On the official Marans egg color chart (above), eggs 1 through 3 are of unacceptable color for the breed. The most typical colors for quality stock are 5 through 7. Egg color scale chart courtesy of The French Marans Club; Blue Marans hen photo courtesy of Kathleen LaDue, Maryland.

The only breed with a pure white face is the Spanish. This breed, known as the white-faced black Spanish or the clown-faced chicken, has long white earlobes and a white face made all the more striking by its bright red comb and wattles against a background of glossy black plumage. The Minorca also has large white earlobes, but lacks the white face, yet looks so much like the white-faced black Spanish that it is sometimes referred to as the red-faced black Spanish.

The black Spanish is the only breed with an entirely white face. Photo courtesy of Dyanna Byers, California.

Originally published in the June/July 2012 issue of Backyard Poultry.

The Most Unique Chicken Breeds in the World was originally posted by All About Chickens