Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) Chickens

Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) History

No one is really sure where the Hamburgh originated but it is most likely to be the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany. In Yorkshire 300 years ago, the spangled were bred under the name Pheasant and they had a neat head, white earlobes and crescent shaped markings. In Lancashire, they went under the name Mooney and had round black spangling on a white background and red earlobes. The Mooneys were better egg layers and were slightly larger than the Pheasants. Black Pheasants were recorded in the North of England as far back as 1702. The Hamburgh was an extremely good layer in its time but it tends to be kept more for exhibition purposes today. They are graceful birds with long, compact bodies and wide flat shoulders. They have a long sweeping tail, well rounded breast and the large wings are neatly tucked. The beak is short and curved and they have a medium sized rose comb which gradually tapers into a long fine spike. The ear lobes are smooth, round and flat and the wattles are also round and smooth. The neck is fully feathered. The unfeathered legs are slender and they have four toes.

Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) Behaviour

The Hamburgh is a good layer of fairly small white eggs, especially in the bantam version which actually lays better than the larger breed. The active chicks feather up fast and mature quickly. They are happiest free ranging due to their active nature and are very good fliers and can fly fairly large distances so fencing needs to be adequate to prevent them from escaping. They can be kept in a run but it needs to have adequate space to keep this lively chicken happy. They can become bored easily and can take their frustrations out on other hens, causing injury. They like a lot of space and love to forage for food. They also like roosting in trees. They are wild birds which are not easy to tame but can recognise their owners from strangers easily. They are not good table birds because they have a greyish skin which is rather unappetising. Cocks weigh in at around 5lbs and hens at 4lb.

Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) Varieties

Black, gold pencilled, silver pencilled, gold spangled, silver spangled. The different colours also have different sizes. The pencilled birds are small and delicately built while the self-coloured and spangled birds are a little less refined. The eyes of heavily pigmented birds are brownish red while the lighter ones have reddish bay. The ear colour is white and the actual ears are medium sized so they are fairly conspicuous. The legs are slate blue.

Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) Pictures

Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) For Sale

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Latest Reviews For Hamburgh (or Holland Fowl) (5 of 5)

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flighty and freedom loving - Pam, 16 October 2021

absolutely enchanting little birds. The silver spangled in particular are a favourite and passers by point and comment on my 'spotty chickens'. If you want birds to cuddle, there aren't the ones for you. If you want birds that are calm and go broody, these are not the birds for you. However, if you admire the independent spirit of a small framed bird which needs to be as free as a cloud, they are perfect. You'll need land or a large space. They are perfect for scratching about in a stable yard, being left to roost high in the rafters of a barn. A small urban garden is not for they, unless your neighbours are happy to share your chickens because they will visit everyone in the area. They are also known by the nickname 'the perpetual egg layer' with good reason. They lay like their bums are on fire! I really believe you have to be a certain sort of person to be happy with Hamburghs. Anyone who loves Pekins, will not be happy with Hamburghs. In dog parlance, the Pekin is like a cavalier king Charles. Soppy, docile , easy to manage, but for someone like me, rather dull and boring. The Hamburgh is like my Norfolk lurcher. You never know what he'll get up to next, he needs space if he is to be truly happy, lively and intelligent, but there's not an ounce of docile in him. If you have the space to keep a Hamburgh happy (please please don't put them into a small house and run), you will never regret having them.

proper good - Aaron, 9 July 2014

proper good

Don't pen me in! - Solarbats, 24 April 2013

No way does this bird like to be caged, so free-ranging in a large garden is a must, and even then there is a tendency to pick on other hens, even ones much bigger than themselves! However my Hamburgh is happy being handled. Also - mine is very noisy for her size - much worse than a cockerel most mornings.

beautiful & independent - Jjj, 10 June 2011

If you live in the country, they just need space, but not an enclosure. I have 2 hens and a rooster. The rooster and hens stay put in the 5 ft. fenced area I have and they do not fight at all. They are not as friendly as my Silkies, but they mind their own business and love to forage. I've never seen them attack any of my other chickens and I have quite an array of breeds. I have the silver spangled ones - they grew up super fast and so far are easy keepers. We'll see about eggs in time.

good looking - Shauna, 22 May 2011

These birds are very beautiful! They do not much enjoy being handled but make up for it with their stunning appearance!