Derbyshire Redcap chicken is a true native, oldest and dual purpose English poultry breed. It is also known as Coral. Derbyshire Redcap chicken developed in the Derbyshire area of Britain long time ago.
This breed originated in around 1870 and was particularly popular around the southern Pennies until the mid 1900s. And this chicken breed probably contains the blood of Golden Spangled Hamburgs (an old English Phesant Fowl and BBR Games).
The original breeds which were used for developing this breed are unknown. But Black-Breasted Red Games, Dorkings, Golden Spangled Hamburgs and Old English Pheasant Fowl may have been involved for creating Derbyshire Redcap chicken breed.
Their name comes from their exceptional rose comb. Which is approximately 3 and a 1/4 inches long and 2 and a 3/4 inches wide. And their comb is crowned with many points and vary long spike.
The breed have never been raised commercially and have always been raised primarily as a backyard fowl. Now they are listed as Critical on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy watchlist.
The arrival date of Derbyshire Redcap chicken in America is unknown. But this breed was widely distributed across the country well before 1870. And it was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in the year of 1888.
There is also a bantam variety of this chicken breed. Derbyshire Redcap chicken’s bantam variety was first shown in around 1950. Review full breed profile, characteristics and behavior of Derbyshire Redcap chicken below.
Derbyshire Redcap Chicken Characteristics
Derbyshire Redcap chicken is a medium size dual purpose breed. They are very beautiful birds and they can easily be differentiated from other similar looking breeds (such as Hamburgs) by their exceptional red earlobes and larger comb.
Their comb is crowned with many points and very long spike and which is approximately 3 and a 1/4 inches long and 2 and a 3/4 inches wide. They have horn-colored beaks and red wattles.
The Derbyshire Redcap chicken appears in a single variety of plumage with various dark huse of black, brown and red. Both roosters and hens have black tails and a crescent shape of black on the edge of most body feathers, but the roosters display a greater diversity of color. And the roosters take about 3 years to attain their full glory.
On an average, Derbyshire Redcap roosters weight about 3.4 kg and hens about 2.75 kg. Their skin color is blue-grey. Photo from Omlet.
Behavior/Temperament
Derbyshire Redcap is a hardy chicken breed but they are not good sitters. They are excellent foragers and require a lot of space to roam. They are good flyers also. They will be very happy if you allow them to free range. Hens are good large white colored eggs layer.
Derbyshire Redcap chicken is a slow growing breed and not suitable for commercial production purpose. It can be a good choice for the backyard poultry keeper as a dual purpose bird. Review full breed profile below.
| Breed Name | Derbyshire Redcap |
| Other Name | Coral |
| Breed Purpose | Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Breed Temperament | Hardy, Shy, Restless, Wild |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Broodiness | Seldom |
| Comb | Rose |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Productivity | Medium |
| Feathered Legs | No |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Varieties | One Variety (Reddish brown feathers with some black) |
