The Rhinelander Chicken

The Rhinelander chicken comes from Germany. This is a medium breed with dual purpose potentials; sporting a deep chest with wide back creating a rectangular physical structure. Mainly an exhibition breed today but originally prized for egg-laying.

Perfected in several colors, black with green sheen is most common and most popular with slate blue to black legs complimenting, and deep brown eyes.

The Bantam variety exists mainly in black and was established in 1921.

The Rhinelander Chicken, The Facts:

Class: medium to heavy

Size: Standard Male: 5 – 6.5 Ibs. / Standard Female: 4.25 – 5.75 Ibs. / Bantam Male: oz. / Bantam Female: oz.

Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: white earlobes, red wattles and close rose comb.

Colors: white, brown, black-laced blue, black-blue speckled and solid black with green sheen.

Place of Origin: Rhineland, Germany

Conservation Status: doing well in Europe mainly

This is an elegant and showy breed; the roosters with a plenteous spray of curved tail feathers carried high and hens with a full body lending its self to their maintained reputation as good layers.

Developed by crossing German breeds with red-black Italian breeds, the Rheinlander became a larger chicken during the 1890’s. Dr. Hans Rudolf Von Langen is credited with creating the breed.

By 1908 the first egg-laying competition was held in Germany with Rheinlanders taking first place. The hens generally lay around 200 eggs per year; 55 eggs their first year.