Chicken is the most famous poultry. For several centuries of breeding, a considerable number of varieties of domestic chickens were bred for various purposes: for meat and eggs, universal and even decorative. For single breeding, they mainly stop on universal breeds with an average weight and egg production. But if the chicken is hatching for meat, then it is better to choose giant breeds. And what are the most large - we will tell further.
What breeds of chickens are the biggest
Just say: to the giant breeds mainly belong meat chickens. They are characterized by such indicators:
- squat;
- strong, strong, small legs;
- horizontal position;
- loose plumage.
First-class hens emerge from meat chickens, they have a calm, sedate temper.
Important! The egg production of large breeds is average, so you should not expect miracles from these breeds.
Brama
Although this breed belongs to the meat and egg type, but decent size allowed to describe it in this article. 
What it looks like. These chickens are pretty attractive. They have a luxurious, pretty plumage and charming "pants" on the legs.
Skeleton - large, wide, located on long legs. It quickly accumulates muscle mass. The chest and back are large. The wings are quite powerful. 
These chickens have a proud (sometimes too) posture and gait. Roosters have a pod-like, without obvious chipping, comb. The lobes of the representatives of the brahma are long, the beak is strong, large. 
Chickens of Pomfret are of dark color, light or with partridge color. Birds with light plumage have become prevalent in Europe since the 50s of the last century. Basically, the interest was caused by such indicators as effective quality and original appearance. The light type has white feathers with dark inclusions on the neck and tail.
Learn more about the Brumah breed.
Birds with dark plumage are similar to light, but they have a contrasting color: on the main dark plane there are light streaks on the back and neck. 
Kuropatchaty ("wild" colors, brown) version looks like white and dark "fellows", but it is different in color - brown spots on the cream background.
- Character. In addition to excellent productive indicators, pomfret is the pearl of the house. They have a docile disposition, they easily converge with other breeds.
- Mass of rooster and chicken. Light roosters weigh at least 4-5 kg, dark - 6-7 kg, brown - 3-4 kg. The productive weight of the chicken of the white and dark species is 3-4.5 kg, the brown one is 3.5-4.5 kg.
- Egg production. 100-120 eggs weighing 65 g per year.
Important! Chickens of this breed do not stop to rush even in the autumn-winter season.
Jersey giant
The largest and at the same time the youngest species. The homeland is the state of New Jersey, where at the beginning of the 20th century, due to the hybridization of several species, the Jersey giant was bred. After that, work was carried out to improve the breed for the breeding of various variants of plumage. Thus arose the white and light blue Jersey. 
What it looks like. These beauties look spectacular. On the powerful neck there is a proudly small head. The body is solid, horizontal, located on low, strong legs.
The back is muscular, the breast is fleshy and bulging. These two parameters are the specificity of the breed.
Roosters have a small, short, leaf-like crest and a thick crescent tail.
Character. Freely adapt to any conditions, easily withstand cold weather. By nature - flexible, balanced, with a persistent instinct incubation.
Important! Because of the lush, crumbly plumage, the Jerseans often suffer from parasites (fleas, feathers, etc.).
Mass of rooster and chicken. The bird fully justifies the title of a heavyweight and is characterized by the growth rate and striking dimensions in adulthood. Already one-year males have a weight of 4-5 kg, and in the following year they increase another 1 kg. 
Chickens are also not small - 4-4.5 kg.
Egg production. Satisfactory. For a year, a hen can bring about 180 eggs with an average weight of up to 60 g.
Cochinquin
One of the oldest species, known in the XVIII century. Homeland is considered to be Cochin China, the valley of the Mekong River (Vietnam). These chickens quickly fell in love with English poultry farmers, and as a result, birds of various colors were obtained: partridge, white, black, fawn, blue. 
Before the revolution, the Cochin subdivisions were actively divorced in Russia, but today their population has declined due to the high cost of breeding specimens.
The Cochinmen first brought the French to Europe in 1843, which caused a real "Cochinquine fever".
What it looks like. Representatives of this breed are large, tall, massive, with a wide breast and back. Plumage - magnificent, bright. The characteristic feature of the bird is its powerful, strong, short, feather-covered legs and a large curly tail. Wings - short, rounded. The neck is small, stocky. 
The head is small, crowned with a leaf-shaped comb.
The breed is quite hardy, adapts well to the northern climate and tolerates long winters well. 
- Character. Cochinquins are slightly aggressive and slightly more closed than other large species.
- Mass of rooster and chicken. The live weight of the rooster is 4.5-5 kg, females - 3.5-4 kg.
- Egg production. 110-120 eggs per year weighing 55-60 g.
Master Gray
The variety is obtained in France and is classified as meat-egg.
What it looks like. The name of the cross originated from the appearance of the bird: black and gray inclusions are scattered on white feathers, and a black necklace is seen around the neck. 
Breast muscular, developed. Body - horizontal, powerful, square shape. Legs - massive, strong.
The viability of the young - 98-100%, quickly gaining weight. The meat is thick but tender.
Important! These birds feel good in enclosed spaces and do not suffer from this.
Character. Conflict, accommodating. Birds are sluggish and slow.
Mass of rooster and chicken. The breed has a great return: roosters weigh 5-7 kg, chicken - 3.5-4 kg. 
Egg production. Excellent - up to 300 eggs a year weighing 70-90 g. Begin to lay eggs in 3.5 months.
Learn more about cross master gray.
Orpington
Standard English version. 
What it looks like. Like many heavyweights, this species has a large, beautiful cube-shaped body. The plumage is found in various colors (white, black, golden, ash gray, cream, blue, brown, etc.), but always dense.
From their ancestors, the Orpingtons inherited enviable majesty: a massive body with a bulging breast, a small head decorated with earrings and a leaf-shaped comb of red-orange color. 
Character. Like all heavyweights, orpingons are calm, phlegmatic and do not have the ability to fly.
Mass of rooster and chicken. Males grow up to 4.5-5 kg, but you can find specimens weighing 7 kg. Chickens grow only up to 3-3.5 kg.
Egg production. Satisfactory - 180 eggs per year for 60 g. 
The biggest chicken in the world: record-breaking chickens
Often, poultry houses, which are lucky enough to feed the largest specimen, do not really talk about it or share the record only with neighbors and friends. And this is not surprising: fixing a record is quite troublesome. Therefore, to find information about record-laying chickens is not so easy. But still we will present the most famous.
It is interesting to get acquainted with the most unusual breeds of chickens: Araucana, Barnevelder, Ayam Cemani, Ha Dong Tao, Chinese Silk, Chamo.
Big snow
Such a name was given to the gigantic rooster of the heavyweights. It belonged to the Australian poultry farmer Ronald Alldridge from Queensland (Australia). In the Guinness Book of Records cock got in 1992 with a weight 10.52 kg (23 pounds 3 ounces). Big Snow belonged to an unusual breed of Uitsulli, the standard weight of individuals of which is 8-10 kg. He died in September 1992 for natural reasons.
Little john
This joking nickname was given to the Brahma breed rooster (owner - Jeremy Goldsmith).
The giant lives in England, Essex.
At the age of just 1 year, Little John was tall. 66 cm and, most likely, will continue to increase by its second year of life.
The owner is keen that his pet has reached such a size due to a special diet, and the children who come to take a look at it are allowed to treat the “kid” with chips and popcorn. 
Jeremy Goldsmith and Rooster Little John
Did you know? The previous record holder Melvin was 6 cm below Little John and also belonged to D. Goldsmith.
Feeding and feeding characteristics
Special problems in the maintenance of heavyweights do not represent. However, some characteristics associated with their breeding:
- Large breeds require a lot of space for living and a lot of free space for walking. It is desirable that the birds walked in the open air. Although they may be content with closer territories. Comfortable will be an enclosure area of 1 square. m for 1-2 individuals.
- When building a house, it is necessary to take into account that birds are quite massive and do not have the ability to fly - they are not able to fly over the partition or even jump. Therefore, the nests and perches should not be placed high - hen should be free to go there. Alternatively, you can make a ramp.
- It is better to cover the floor in the hen house with straw, grass, sawdust or other soft material. Heavyweights are very clumsy and can be injured when falling from even a small height.
- Since laying giants often crush eggs or throw them out of the nest, you need to look after them.
- Despite the fact that heavyweights adapt well to low temperatures, their scallops are sensitive and can be damaged at temperatures of 0 ° C and below. Therefore, in the cold season it is necessary to move the birds to a warm room or lubricate scallops with oil.
- You should also pay attention to ventilation. Ammonia from feces accumulates on the floor and extremely negatively affects the health of birds, causing even a fall.
- Cleanliness in the coop must be maintained in accordance with the standards.
Did you know? In China, chickens were once considered decoration and kept at imperial yards.
Video: Brahma and Kochinquin - large breeds of chickens
Most likely, there are much more champions among chickens. Unfortunately, not all of them become public, remaining heroes of their own hen house. But how interesting it would be to know what achievements the poultry houses achieved!
