Holland chicken is a heavy dual purpose breed. It is a fairly rare large chicken breed and originate from the United States. Contrary to its name, the Holland Chicken was actually developed at the Rutgers Breeding Farms in New Jersey during the 1930s.
The birds imported from Holland being crossed with White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, and Lamonas, which created the White Holland chicken.
Another cross that included White Leghorns, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Australorps and Brown Leghorns produced the barred variety of this chicken breed.
The breed was developed as an excellent dual purpose poultry breed during a time when white eggs were rare and popular in the USA. At present, it is a very rare breed and the availability may be limited. But they are great white eggs layer and excellent backyard breed.
Holland chicken was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1949. Now the breed is listed in the Critical category of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List. There is a bantam version of this chicken breed.
Holland Chicken Characteristics
It is a medium sized chicken breed, heavy with a meaty carcass. It has a moderately large size and bright red single comb with six well-defined points. The wattles and earlobes are of red color. There are two varieties recognized of this breed; Barred and White.
The skin color of white variety Holland chicken is white. And the skin and legs of Barred variety is yellow. Standard size roosters weight about 3.9 kg and hens about 3 kg.
And the cockerels weight about 3.4 kg and pullet about 2.5 kg. Bantam roosters weight about 0.96 kg and hens about 0.85 kg. Photo from BackYardChickens.
Behavior/Temperament
Holland chicken is an amenable breed, being adaptable to almost any surroundings. They have cheerful personalities and when available are a great choice for your backyard or barnyard chicken collection.
They are very good layer of white eggs and do well in the cold. They are calm and friendly and very hardy in the winter time. They are great foragers and also bear confinement well. Hens will go broody and are good setters and mothers.
Holland chickens grow slowly compared to other heavy poultry breeds. But their ability to forage for some of their food make up this small disadvantage.
Holland chicken is an excellent breed for the backyards and barnyards that thrives in a free range environment. Review full breed profile of Holland chicken below.
| Breed Name | Holland |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Dual Purpose (Meat and Eggs) |
| Breed Temperament | Friendly, Easily Handled, Calm, Docile, Bears Confinement Well |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Broodiness | Average |
| Comb | Single |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Medium/Large |
| Egg Productivity | Medium |
| Feathered Legs | No |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Varieties | Barred and White |
| Country of Origin | United States |
