![]() Furthermore, they love to roost in high spots to avoid predators. Most times, the bird will move under bushes and shrubs foraging and keeping an eye out for potential threats. They are also more aware of their surroundings. They prefer to explore their environment for good cover from aerial and ground predators. As said earlier, Sumatras have pheasant-like behaviors. ![]() They are alert, intelligent, and curious, with an impressive drive for self -preservation. Sumatra chickens are spirited birds that enjoy their independence. Sumatra Chicken: Behavior and Temperament Image Credit: magnuserdtmannīefore introducing the Sumatra breed to your flock, it helps to learn about its behavior and temperament. In the bantam category, males can reach 0.735kg (1.6 lbs), and females grow up to 0.625kg(1.3 lbs).Įven though it’s recognized as a standard breed, this breed demands respect because of its majestic presence and royal nature that contradicts its wild origins. A standard rooster weighs around 2.25 and 2.70 kg (at least 5 lbs), while the hen weighs approximately 1.80 kg (4 lbs). Size and WeightĪs mentioned earlier, the Sumatra chicken is a small breed. Some speculate the chickens developed them while in the jungle habitat of the Islands of Sumatra, others believe cockfighting enthusiasts created them. No one knows for sure how the Spurs came to exist. And to add icing to the cake, the chickens feature an unusual trait: three spurs on each leg. The small earlobes and bright red pea comb also help the chicken to stand out. The wattles of Sumatras are small and sometimes seem non-existent. These birds also have long, flowing tail feathers with greenish-black tones. This is due to their personality, long legs, sleek, streamlined bodies, and straight posture like they are ready to fly. AppearanceĪside from their gorgeous pigmentation, Sumatra chickens look more like jungle fowl of the far east than domestic chickens. However, only the black variety is recognized by the American Poultry Association. Black Sumatras also have black skin and bones, like the Ayam Cemani and Silkie breeds.īesides black, Blue Sumatra, White Sumatra, and Dun Sumatra are available. And the black pigmentation doesn’t stop at the feathers. What’s interesting, they have gypsy-colored faces, constantly shifting from deep purple to rich black. The Black Sumatra chicken was popular among poultry owners and breeders, thanks to their long, flowing tails, with a hint of beetle green sheen, which shines under sunlight. In the rugged terrains and tropical forests of Sumatra, this breed existed in a few color varieties, but the most common was black. The birds possess distinctive physical attributes that set them apart from other domesticated chicken breeds. Without a doubt, the Sumatra is the most stunning breed of chicken. Sumatra Chicken: Physical Characteristics Image Credit: fattoria2020 It’s raised primarily as an ornamental chicken breed. Today, the Sumatra Chicken is super rare, and it’s even on the Priority List of American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation under the critical category. The institution focused on improving the breed’s productivity and its long-flowing feathers.īut even before that, the American Poultry Association of Standard of Perfection recognized and admitted the breed, despite its small size. The Sumatra chicken we know today was developed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. This led to subsequent importations throughout the 1850s. ![]() Introduced by J.A.C Butters of Roxbury, MA, as a fighting breed, the bird became super popular among poultry keepers and enthusiasts. The Sumatra chicken found its way to the United States in April 1847. However, the hens were favored to produce the best fighters in the ring when crossed with Rampur Boalia Black, Sinhalese Game, and Hyderabad. Later, they would be released back to the wild after the breeding season because their aggressive temperament and fighting ability declined.Īlthough Sumatras were advertised as fighting birds, the cocks were not well suited for fighting, unlike many wild game birds at the time. Originally, the residents in Indonesia Island captured Sumatra roosters and used them for cockfighting, a popular sport in parts of Southeast Asia. It’s also believed the Sumatra chicken is a crossbreed of the feral Kampong chicken and an extinct species of wild game birds. Shaped by the wild, these birds are probably the basis for many domesticated chicken breeds today. They are also found in surrounding regions, including Borneo and Java. The Sumatra chicken traces its origin to the Isles of Sumatra, hence the name.
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