HISTORY:
The Chantecler is the national poultry breed of Canada.
A Trappist monk by the name of M. Wilfred Chatelaine (1876-1963)
created the breed. His goal was to compose a dual-purpose breed with
good meat and egg production qualities. He also succeeded in breeding
them with little combs and wattles to suit the colder Canadian climate.
Around 1910 an Indian Gamecock was crossed with a white Leghorn hen and
a Rhode Island Red cock was crossed with a white Wyandotte hen. The
hens from the first crossing were then mated to a cock of the second
crossing. From those crossings, hens were selected on egg and meat
qualities and they were paired to a white Plymouth Rock cock. From the
following generations, only the best white dual-purpose birds were
selected and those were hence known as Chanteclres
The Oka Agricultural Institute in La Trappe, Quebec, Canada, first
showed them and in 1921, they were officially recognized as a breed.
Later on the partridge variety was developed in Edmonton, which was
recognised as a breed in 1935.
This is one of my Chantecler
cocks. Wayne
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DESCRIPTION:
The type is slightly elongated, bold and deep, sloping downwards to
the tail. The Comb is small and compact and the wattles are very small
and connected by a small dew-lap. The head is short and broad; the eyes
are round, of medium size and red brown in colour. The face is bright
red. The small, oval ear lobes are not pure white. The short, powerful,
slightly curved beak is yellow in the white variety and dark
horn-coloured in the partridge variety. The neck is of medium size and
slightly curved and carries abundant plumage, which rests on the
shoulders. The back is long and broad with profuse but close plumage.
The tail is of medium length and is carried at an angle of around 30
degrees above horizontal. The broad deep, well-rounded breast is
carried well forward. The yellow legs are placed well apart and the
medium long and the yellow toes are well spread.
CHARACTERISTICS:
A quiet dual-purpose bird with much breast and thigh meat. The chicks
grow fast on a low food intake. The breed is very suitable for colder
climates. They are very good layers, also in winter months, with an
average egg production of 200 a year that weigh around 60 grams. The
egg colour is pale brown. Apart from the utility qualities, it's
exterior qualities makes it a beautiful show bird as well, therefore
deserving more attention than it has been receiving so far. It is a
friendly breed that is reliable towards it's fosterer.
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