Hillview Exotics

The Appenzeller originated in Appenzell region of Switzerland. The Appenzeller comes in two varieties. The Spitzhauben, meaning "pointed hood", has a V-comb and feather crests in males and females. The Barthuhner ("bearded hen") has a rose comb and no crest. Both types appear in either black, golden spangled and silver spangled plumage.

The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites of the brown egg layers. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominique’s and Black Java’s, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety.

Black Langshans are a pure breed that originated in China. A large stunning bird, they are a pure glossy black with bright red combs, dark eyes, and black shanks. Langshans are not as heavily feathered down the legs and toes as Cochins and have a more pronounced upright appearance. Very nice show birds, lay large brown eggs, and are very gentle and good setters and layers.

Black Star’s are called sex links, meaning their color at hatching is differentiated by sex. They can be extremely good egg-layers which often produce 300 eggs a year or more.

Generally Black Star are a friendly breed and are easily keep with other chicken breeds.

The Brabanter is a breed of chicken originating in the historic region of Brabant which straddles Belgium and the Netherlands. The original form of the Brabanter went extinct in the early 20th century, but was re-created by 1920. Today, it is a rare breed which is practically non-existent outside Continental Europe. The distinguishing characterististic of the Brabanter is its feather crest and beard (or muff). Its crest is unlike that of most other crested breeds, in that it stands straight up. It has a V-shaped comb. Appearing in seven color varieties, it is largely an ornamental chicken. Hens lay a fair number of white eggs and do not go broody, but are not good winter layers.

Called “pure gold” they are symbolic of great value and high quality. They have become one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are large and quite and are excellent winter layers due to their dense plumage. They lay brown eggs right through cold weather. They also make excellent setters and mothers. These "Golden Beauties" have been one of our most popular varieties for years.

The Cochin or Cochin China, originally known as the Chinese Shanghai. Originally bred in China and later exported in the mid 19th century. As a very distinctive breed of chicken, it created a craze among poultry lovers in the English-speaking world. The soft and plentiful plumage makes the bird quite conspicuous by exaggerating its already large size. Once in the United States, the breed underwent considerable development into its current state including the bantam version.

The most distinctive feature of the Cochin is the excessive plumage that covers leg and foot. The skin beneath the feathers is yellow and the egg colour is brown. Eggs are also medium in size. Colour varieties include buff, black, partridge, blue, silver laced, splash, golden laced, and white. Cochins are well known as good mothers, even as foster mothers for other breeds, and they can lay many eggs, but usually not for extended periods of time.

This breed is distinctly American, dating way back to the early days in New England. In the old days almost any black and white barred plumage chicken was referred to as a Dominiker, They have rose combs, medium sized bodies, prominent tales, and the black and white barred plumage.

The Fayoumi is a breed of chicken originating in Egypt. Fayoumis are a very old breed in their native region, and are named for the Faiyum Governorate southwest of Cairo and west of the Nile. They are not officially recognized for exhibition by the American Poultry Association, and are not included in the Standard of Perfection.

Fayoumis have been described as "jaunty" in appearance; with their upright tails and forward jutting breast and neck, they are sometimes likened to a roadrunners. They are a light-weight fowl, and appear in a single variety: in roosters, the plumage is silver-white on the head, neck, back and saddle, with the rest in a black and white barring. Hens have heads and necks in the silver-white hue, with the rest barred. Fayoumis have a single comb, earlobes, and wattles are red and moderately large, with a white spot in the earlobes. They have dark horn colored beaks, and slate blue skin.

Fayoumis are a hardy breed, and particularly well suited to hot climates. The breed is thought to be especially resistant to viral and bacterial infections. They are also very good foragers, and if left to their own devices on a free range basis they can fend for themselves. Fayoumi hens are good layers of small, off-white eggs. They are not given to broodiness as pullets, but can be when they reach two or three years of age. The breed is fast to mature, with hens laying by four and half months, and cockerels crowing at five or six weeks.

The Golden Comets are one of three Modern Day Brown egg laying strains from hybrid breeding that produce fast body development and fast egg production. These strains will start to lay eggs at a younger age than most standard breeds and produce big brown eggs. They are also color sexable as chicks, cockerels are white, and the pullets are more brownish red in color.

The Japanese Bantam, also known in many parts of the world as Chabo, is a breed of chicken originating in Japan. They are a bantam breed, with large upright tails that often reach over the chicken's head. The wings angle down and to the back along the sides. They have graced the gardens of the Japanese aristocracy for well over 350 years. They enjoy a high degree of popularity in Malaysia, and are very common in Indonesia.

They have friendly personalities, and will ride on shoulders and allow themselves to be petted and held. Japanese Bantams are also good foragers, and will feed themselves if they have a large enough area to do so.

There are different kinds of Japanese Bantams which include Black-Tailed-White, White, Buff, Black-Tailed-Buff, Gray, Blue, Barred, Black Breasted Red, Black, and many more. These chickens have been known to live for up to 13 years with proper care. As with most other chickens, even though the birds are very docile and friendly, do not put too many males together or they will fight.

One unusual characteristic of Japanese bantams is extremely short legs. It is not uncommon to lose 25% of the hatch in this breed due to the genetics used to produce the short legs. Additionally, 25% of the hatch will have extremely long legs.

This breed, which originated in western France in the town of Marans, is best known for its dark chocolate colored eggs. Marans are a first class utility fowl, a fast grower and does well in damp areas, having been developed in a marshy portion of France. The original French birds have feathered legs, but this characteristic has been bred out of the British and many American lines. The French recognize 8 varieties: 1. Silver Cuckoo, 2. Golden Cuckoo, 3. White, 4. Coppered Black, 5. Black, 6. Wheat, 7. Black-tailed Fawn, and 8. Ermine; they are considering adding the Silvered Black (created since 1932 and remarkable for the color and spherical form of its eggs). In the Cuckoo Marans, males are lighter in color than females--it is said to be possible to color sex them even as chicks with pretty good accuracy.

Any barred or cuckoo variety produces black sports from time to time and the Langshan blood in early Marans had to make these common. The Golden Cuckoos resemble Creles to some extent (varying slightly in color and markings). The pattern is essentially a cuckoo barring imposed on a black breasted pattern. The Silver Cuckoos are simply the silver version. The Dark Cuckoos are the most common Maran and that is certainly true in North America.

All Marans (even Blacks) have white legs. Black breeders often maintain some dark legged breeders to maintain a dark under color. Marans are recognized by the A.B.A. however they are not recognized by the Standards of Perfection in America. When compared with other Cuckoo Fowl such as Cuckoo Dorkings and Dominiques, Marans are darker with less distinct barring. This is especially true of the females.

The Penedesenca is a breed originating in the Spanish province of Catalonia, in the area around Vilafranca del Penedès, which is the main town in the region known as "Penedès". It was developed in the first half of the 20th century from native barnyard chickens, and today is noted for producing copious amounts of very dark brown eggs, said to be among the darkest of any breed of chicken.

Today, Black, Crele, Partridge, and Wheaten colors exist. However, no variety has been accepted in to poultry standards. All members of the breed possess red earlobes with a white center, red wattles, and an unusual red comb. Called the king's comb or carnation comb, it is similar to a common single comb but has several lobes at the rear. The breed is rare among poultry fanciers in North America, but is a common breed in Central and South America.

Developed in the New England states, it was from the Malay that the Rhode Island Red got its deep color, strong constitution and relatively hard feathers.

A dual purpose bird used for egg production and meat production because of its dark colored pin feathers and its good rate of lay.

Rhode Island Reds are a good choice for the small flock owner. Relatively hardy, they are probably the best egg layers of the dual purpose breeds. Reds handle marginal diets and poor housing conditions better than other breeds and still continue to produce eggs. Typically dark red in color, the red color fades after long exposure to the sun.

The Welsummer is a Dutch breed named after the village of Welsum in Holland. It was first imported into this country in 1928 for its large brown egg. The Welsummer is a large, upright, active bird with a broad back, full breast, large full tail, and a single comb. They are a fast growing bird and a very rare breed here in the United States