Saxonian Chicken

     The Saxonian is a Chicken breed, that got developed in Saxony, Germany. The development started by crossing black Minorcas and black Langshans, to obtain a breed that produces a lot of eggs and is weather hardy. Then, Sumatras’s bloodlines were added to reduce the size of comb and wattles, and hence protect against frostbite. Black was the only color-variety of the Saxonian chicken until 1923, then white, buff and cuckoo color-verities were developed.

     Saxonians are sturdy and naturally balanced medium-sized chickens, that are known with their calmness of temper. The hens of this breed are good layers (around 180 light-brown or pale-yellow eggs in a year per each), but they rarely go broody. Saxonians have white earlobes, moderate-sized single combs and wattles, and whitish-yellow legs, except the black color-variety that has slate-blue legs instead.

     As many other chicken breeds, the Saxonian was almost extinct after the second world war. Luckily a stock of these birds was found and restoration programs have begun since then. A bantam version is also available for the Saxonian chicken breed.