Yokohama Chicken

     The Yokohama is a rare breed of Chickens that originated in Japan. It was first exported from the port of Yokohama in the second half of the 19^th century, hence comes the name. Yokohamas were developed as ornamental fowls and are best known for their beautiful long tails and saddle feathers. The tail can grow up to one meter per year, and special higher perches are advisable to allow the tail to hang freely to prevent damaging it.

     Yokohamas are elegant birds that are well-suited to be a back-garden flock. In appearance, it most closely resembles the Phoenix chicken breed, which has Onagadori bloodlines. Both breeds probably share many of the same ancestors, but simply the Yokohama differs in having a pea or a walnut comb, red earlobes and bright-yellow legs.

     Yokohama hens are poor layers of tinted white eggs (80 – 100 eggs per year) but they go broody and make exceptional mothers. The red-shouldered white and the solid white are the most common and known color-varieties of the Yokohama. A bantam version is also available for this breed.