Day Old Saipan Jungle Fowl Baby Chicks
- Exhibition
- independent, easily can go feral
- Cockerel 8 lbs, Pullet 6 lbs
- APA Not recognized
- Conservation status not applicable
Saipan Jungle Fowl contribute beauty and rarity to the poultry fancy. Those interested in raising birds that have an unusual appearance, but who are not in a hurry to see them mature, should consider this unusual and interesting breed.
Saipan Jungle Fowl are rare. It is not a common breed, and these birds are not always easily available. For many years in the United States, they were bred by only one person, BW Saylor. He began with five baby chicks in 1945 and continued to breed and study the Saipan Jungle Fowl for the next 30+ years. In 1977, Saylor published an article titled The Saipan Jungle Fowl, detailing his experience with the breed.
Saipan Jungle Fowl are slow to mature; it takes 3 years for them to reach full maturity. Generally, Saipan Jungle Fowl hens lay fewer eggs than other breeds, which also contributes to their rarity.
The most outstanding quality of Saipan Jungle Fowl is their sheer size. Fully grown, they stand between two and three feet tall. Their size is made even more noticeable by the fact they stand upright, with a vertical carriage. Saylor theorized the breed evolved on the plains, looking out over the grass for predators. His theory accounts for both the breed's upright stance and also the fact they have unusually long necks.
Saipan Jungle Fowl are not native to Saipan, nor are they true Jungle Fowl. These beautiful birds were brought to the United States by BW Saylor shortly after World War II, from the island of Saipan in the South Pacific. No one is sure where the breed originated, though. The American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection does not accept Saipan Jungle Fowl so they cannot win poultry shows.
There are multiple theories regarding where Saipan Jungle Fowl originated. Saylor observed both domesticated and wild birds while on Saipan. Some people believe that the birds were brought to the island by its original human inhabitants, but others think they were brought by the Japanese at a much later date. Interestingly, the breed no longer exists on the island of Saipan.
