Nankin Bantam

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nankin Bantam
Conservation status
FAO (2007): critical[1]: 123 
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Useornamental
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    680–740 g[2]: 189 
  • Female:
    570–620 g[2]: 189 
Egg colourtinted
Comb typesingle or rose
Classification
APAsingle comb clean legged[3]
EEno[4]
PCGBrare true bantam[5]
  • Gallus gallus domesticus

    • The Nankin Bantam or Nankin is a British

    South-east Asian origin, and is among the oldest bantam breeds. It is a yellowish buff colour, and the name is thought to derive from the colour of nankeen
    cotton from China.

    History

    The Nankin is thought to be one of the oldest true bantam breeds, originating somewhere in

    Sebright.[7] Nankin are listed as 'Critical' on the endangered chicken breeds list of the Livestock Conservancy.[8]
    They are very rarely found in the USA.

    The number of Nankins declined in the West after the mid 19th century, along with the importation of newer and more exotic Asian breeds. Though their popularity with poultry fanciers waned, the use of broody Nankin hens to incubate

    game bird eggs may have kept the breed from disappearing altogether.[9]

    Interest in Nankins in North America largely sprung out of attention from the American Bantam Association in the 1960s.

    American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.[9][7]

    In 2002 the total number for the breed was estimated at 50–100 birds;

    FAO as "critical" in 2007.[1]: 123  In 2017, the Nankin was not among the "priority breeds" on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.[12]

    • Nankins were originally from South-East Asia but have been bred in the UK for a very long time, possibly as long as 500 years, so are regarded as a native breed by the RBST.
    • About 1780 Sir John Sebright included Nankins as one of the breeds he used to make his Gold Sebright Bantams, and other breeders used Nankins to make Buff Orpington and Plymouth Rock bantams.
    • There was however some loss of their characteristic jaunty style and an increase in their size.
    • Andrew Sheppy came across Mrs Peters birds and this ensured the survival of the breed.
    • Since the 1980s there have been rather more people breeding them and a concerted effort to get them back to type of Mrs Cross's birds seen in that one photo taken in 1921.

    https://www.rbst.org.uk/nankin

    Characteristics

    The breed has two varieties, differentiated by comb type; the single comb Nankin has a large comb with five points, and the rose comb has a medium size one ending in a single point. All Nankins come in a single colour, with buff on the body and black tails. The golden hue is deeper and more lustrous in males, and they have the longer sickle feathers common in cocks. Their beaks are a light horn colour, and legs are slate blue.[9]

    Use

    The Nankin is usually reared for

    game birds such as pheasant, quail and partridge.[10][13]: 116  The breed matures slowly, and makes a poor meat producer.[citation needed
    ]

    References

    1. ^
      ISBN 9789251057629
      . Accessed May 2017.
    2. ^
      ISBN 9781405156424
      .
    3. ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
    4. ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
    5. ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
    6. ^ a b Breed data sheet: Nankin/United Kingdom. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2017.
    7. ^
      American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
      .
    8. ^ "The Livestock Conservancy". livestockconservancy.org. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
    9. ^
      ISBN 9781580176675
      .
    10. ^ a b c "Nankin Bantams: Something Old, Something New". Backyard Poultry Magazine. February–March 2009.
    11. ^ "www.amerpoultryassn.com" (PDF). Nankin Chicken. American Poultry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2013.
    12. ^ Watchlist 2017–18. Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed May 2017.
    13. ISBN 9781612124629
      .
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