The Hamburg is a type of chicken developed in Germany and Holland prior to 1700. It is comparatively rare, with less than 1000 registered in North America each year.[1]It is a small breed?cocks tend to weigh only 5 pounds and hens about 4 lb (2.25 and 1.75 kg) with slender legs and a neat rose comb. The bird comes in more than ten different varieties, including: Silver-Spangled, Golden-Spangled, Golden-Penciled, Silver-Penciled, White, and Black. Penciled breeds are smallest and self-colored birds are largest. There are also bantam Hamburgs, which weigh about 1.5 pounds [2]. Hamburgs are hardy, active birds who are capable of flight and often jumpy around humans. [edit]Eggs Hamburgs mature quickly and are considered good egg producers. Their eggs are rather small with white, glossy shells. [edit]Famous Hamburgs Perhaps the most famous devotee of the Hamburg chicken was L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. He began a monthly trade journal in 1880 and in 1886, published his first and only book on the subject, The Book of the Hamburgs: A Brief Treatise upon the Mating, Rearing, and Management of the Different Varieties of Hamburgs.[3] In Baum's third Oz book, Ozma of Oz, he introduces Dorothy Gale's chicken, Billina. He must have drawn on his experience in breeding Hamburgs when creating her character, as she is appropriately spirited and active. Hamburg Chickens are a very old race of domesticated poultry. The name of the breed is German, but the origin is Dutch. Hamburg Chickens owe their present shape and color qualities to the British fanciers, who, over a century ago, began the work of refining the 'pheasant fowls' of that period into modern Hamburgs. The Spangled type, was kept in Yorkshire and Lancashire three hundred years ago. Also a breed called Black Pheasants was mentioned in a book of 1702. The name Moonies originates from the Moon shape spangles on the feathers. There is mention of them in Thomas Hardy's book 'Tess of the D'urbavilles' The Black and Spangled varieties were evolved in England; the Penciled varieties came from Holland via Hamburg, Germany. Golden Spangled Hamburgs are kind of a black yellow spangled chicken. Silver Spangled Golden Penciled Silver Penciled Black White
Standard Weights: Cock-5 pounds; hen-4 pounds; cockerel 4 pounds; pullet-3-1/2 pounds.
Skin Color: White
Egg Shell Color: White
Use: An ornamental fowl capable of laying fair number of relatively small eggs.
Origin: Hamburgs carry a German name, but are generally considered to have originated in Holland.
Characteristics: Hamburgs are active, flighty birds. They are trim and stylish with delicate features, and wild in nature. They forage well and are capable of flying long distances. Although good egg producers, their eggs are often very small. they originated in Turkey. It is also believed they are obviously linked to Hamburg, Germany, even though their origin may not be from there. Chicken Breed Comments / Experience: Conservation status: Watch Size: Cock 26 oz.; Hen 22 oz. My personal experience with these lovely birds is that they are naturally flighty and like to keep their distance from humans, but the hand-raised birds can become more like pets.
