Heritage Chickens


Sketched chicken

Breed Facts

Status:
Critical

Use:
Meat

Egg Color:
White to Tinted/Light Brown

Egg Size:
Small

Weight:
Males 5.5 lbs. / Females 4 lbs.

Temperament:
Highly aggressive with other birds; can be good with humans

Characteristics:
Good for free range; heat tolerant

ASEEL CHICKEN

The name Aseel, also spelled Asil and Azeel, translates to “pure” or “thoroughbred” in Arabic and “high-born, high caste, pure, and original” in Hindi. In India, the name was originally applied to any chicken that was found to be genuinely game. Being given the name “Aseel” is a sign of the great respect held for the breed.

In India, this breed has been known for thousands of years. The great poultry author Lewis Wright stated, “…the birds whose battles are alluded to in the Institutes of Menu [a legal document], 1000 BC, if not Aseel as now known, were at least their ancestors.” The first Aseels imported into the US came from Lucknow, India, and were imported by Dr. H.P. Clarke of Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Clarke first exhibited the breed at the 1887 Indiana State Fair. Dr. D.S. Newill of Pennsylvania also imported Aseel chickens from India in 1931. The breed was known in England by 1846 and may have arrived earlier.

The Aseel is recognized by the American Poultry Association and the Black Breasted Red (Wheaten), Dark, Spangled, and White varieties were included in the Standard of Perfection in 1981.

Ancient, exotic, and beautifully designed, the Aseel is a chicken breed developed for the sole purpose of cockfighting. They have compact, extremely muscular bodies held in a distinctive upright position, and are much heavier than they appear. 

Both males and females have short and hard feathers, which are held tightly to their bodies. They have a meaty carcass and are slow-growing. The males have a very distinctive, short, chopped-off crow. The breed is said to be quite intelligent for a chicken and can be further recognized for some distinct physical characteristics, such as yellow-colored legs, a hawk-like beak, and a round skull with fierce, pale eyes neatly centered. The Aseel is also noted for having a large heart for its body size, and short intestines when compared to other chicken breeds. Males weigh 5.5 lbs. and females 4 lbs.

The breed is so pugnacious that hens will often fight each other for hours. Even the day-old chicks have been seen sparing each other and chicks of other breeds – sometimes to the point of wounding them. Though aggressive to other chickens, Aseels are quite personable with their handlers. It is their pugnacious nature and great stamina that have garnered these chickens worldwide respect.

Aseels are vigorous and tenacious survivors who are suitable for use on the range. Considered poor to decent egg producers, hens typically lay between 6 and 40 small, off-white-to-light-brown eggs per year. Some say the eggs have a stronger flavor than other chicken eggs. Although not the best for egg production, hens make excellent broodies and mothers, being quite formidable in the protection of their young. Reports show Aseel hens fighting off snakes in the protection of their eggs or chicks.

Though slow-growing, Aseels have been used successfully in crossbreeding to produce very meaty carcasses in its offspring. In fact, Aseels were used to create the Cornish chicken and are said to be the original source of the genes that give today’s commercial broilers their meaty proportions.

Because Aseels tend to be very aggressive with other chickens, this is not a breed for inexperienced chicken owners. However, they are good with humans, with whom they bond, so can do well in the right situation. They are heat-tolerant and are resistant to many diseases common to backyard flocks. 


Did you know:
The Livestock Conservancy is America’s leading organization working to save over 190 heritage breeds from extinction. We rely on the support of our members, grants, and donations from the public to raise the $1 million needed each year to maintain our conservation work with rare breeds of farm animals. Click here to learn how you can help.

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Heritage Chickens


Sketched chicken

Breed Facts

Status:
Threatened

Use:
Meat

Egg Color:
White or tinted light brown

Egg Size:
Small

Market Weight:
4 – 5.5 lbs

Temperament:
Highly aggressive

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