Java chicken: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:52, 12 July 2011

Revision as of 20:52, 12 July 2011

Line 31:

==History==

After the [[Dominique (chicken)|Dominique]], the Java is the oldest breed of chicken created in the U.S.<ref name="Ekarius 2007 92"/> Though its name would suggest a Javan derivation, it is not known exactly where in Asia its ancestors came from.<ref name="Heinrichs 2007 40">{{harv|Heinrichs|2007|p=40}}</ref> It was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time.<ref name="Ekarius 2007 92"/> Javas were especially notable as meat production birds throughout the 19th century<ref name="albc-usa.org">{{harvnb|albc-usa.org}}</ref>, with their popularity peaking in the latter half of that century.<ref name="Ott 2002">{{harv|Ott|2002}}</ref>

The Java is a key foundation breed for the American class of chickens,<ref name="Heinrichs 2007 40"/> having contributed significantly to major modern fowl such as the [[Jersey Giant]], [[Rhode Island Red]] and [[Plymouth Rock (chicken)|Plymouth Rock]].<ref name="Ekarius 2007 92"/> They are also likely to be the source of the yellow skin in contemporary Dominiques, which once had white skin.<ref name="Heinrichs 2007 40"/>