Coffee With the Chicken Ladies Spotlight: The English Class

Have you ever wondered what people mean when they talk about the American class or the Asiatic class of chickens? These designations are about 150 years old and were created by the American Poultry Association to classify chicken breeds. When the APA printed the first Standard of Perfection in 1874, they used geography as the primary way to categorize these groups because chicken breeds from the same locale tend to have similar traits and characteristics.

If you’re new to chicken keeping, or you’re looking for some laid-back birds that are good layers, we’d like to direct your attention to the English class. The APA’s English class of chickens is made up of six excellent breeds, and we’re going to include a seventh breed that has not yet made it into the APA’s Standard of Perfection. (Hint, they lay blue/green eggs!)

All of the breeds in this class have great temperaments, are wonderful family birds, and do well in a variety of climates. We like to think of them as both pretty and practical. They’re all Heritage breeds with interesting histories and something great to offer everyone.

English Class Chickens | Dorking and Redcap

The two oldest breeds in this class are the Dorking and the Derbyshire Redcap. Dorkings are lovely birds with beautiful, soft feathers in earthy colors. They have deep chests and long, graceful backs, balanced nicely on short, strong legs. They also sport a fifth toe. Redcaps, an extremely endangered breed, are known for their spectacular rose combs. Unusually, both the Dorkings and Redcaps have red earlobes, but hens lay white eggs.

English Class Chickens | Cornish

A unique member of the English class is the Cornish. The Dark Cornish, specifically, has served as a foundation breed for many of our favorite modern chickens. They are well known as table birds, but because of their gorgeous laced feathers, they also make great show birds. They’re known to have pleasant personalities, do well in a free-range setting, and the hens are good mothers.

English Class Chickens | Speckled Sussex

If you like the look of spotted chickens, we recommend the Speckled Sussex. This bird is beloved in her native England, and has been a favorite here in the states for many years. These friendly hens are good layers of large brown eggs, plus they do well in a mixed breed flock and they make great farm birds. And they’re beautiful, so get ready to share them on your Instagram feed!

English Class Chickens| Orpington and Australorp

Our next two breeds barely need an introduction. The Orpington and Australorp (Australian Utility Orpington) have been popular from their very beginnings. Bred in the town of Orpington in England, the Orpington chicken is one of the biggest and fluffiest of all chicken breeds. They come in a wide variety of colors, and their sweet personalities make them firm favorites among backyard keepers. Though they’re gentle enough to be kept by children, the Orpington also makes a great well-rounded homestead chicken. 

With their fantastic rate of lay, natural mothering instincts, and laid-back personality, the beautiful black Australorp is another excellent breed for farmers, homesteaders, and families, but the green sheen of their feathers elevates them to fancy status. Hens are excellent layers, among some of the best Heritage breed egg producers in the world. The Orpington was a primary foundation breed for the Australorp, so they share the same gentle personality and both can become much loved pets.

English Class Chickens | Crested Cream Legbar

Our final English class highlight is one of our absolute favorite chickens. They have only been around since they were developed at Cambridge University during the 1950s, and fanciers are still working to have them accepted by the APA. The Crested Cream Legbar is an adorable yet versatile chicken that would make a great addition to a rural, suburban, or even an urban backyard flock. They are auto-sexing– meaning they can be sexed by color at hatch– making them one of the few Heritage breed options for folks who absolutely cannot keep roosters. They’re very good layers, and their eggs are stunning shades of turquoise and blue. They’re friendly little birds with engaging personalities and a quirky appearance, due to their swept-back crests.

The chickens that make up the English class are some of the hardiest and most reliable breeds that you can find. Each of these chicken breeds was developed to fill a practical role. Fortunately, beauty and laid back personalities were among the attributes that resulted from decades of breeding. If you’re trying to decide what your next breeds will be, take a chance on some of the English chickens…they may become your new favorites!