Dynasty of Domestics

Meleagris gallopavo domesticus A German breed. The males display by dragging their stiff feathers on the ground whilst grunting, snorting and making an inner reverberation.

Anas platyrhynchos domesticus A living decoy. Bred for centuries to call Mallards into lakes and waterways for hunters.


Chicken is the new black. Due to hyperpigmentation its feathers, beak and internal organs are black. This breed is from the Cemani village on the island of Java.

A traditional Scottish breed. This hardy and adaptable bird can be traced back to the 16th century. Conservation Status: RBST's list of Native Poultry Breeds at Risk

This lovely laced "true bantam" (no full-size counterpart) dates back to the 19th Century. Very popular decorative chicken but difficult to breed. Conservation Status: RBST's list of Native Poultry Breeds at Risk

A rare and true Belgium bantam (no full-sized counterpart). This breed is a tail-less version of the Barbu d'Anvers.

The youngest of the Belgian true bantam breeds debuting in 1997. This is the tail-less version of the Barbu de Watermael.

An extremely rare breed. In the 1880's, it was brought to Scotland by a British Army officer stationed in Burma. Thought to have died out, the breed was revived in the 1970's. Conservation Status: RBST's list of Native Poultry Breeds at Risk

Anser anser domesticus Gentle giants of France. These birds are difficult to breed and rear as they get big so quickly and their legs cannot support them. Consequently, they are bred for foie gras production.