Ramelsloher
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
The Ramelsloher is one of the very few German breeds that can be traced to a specific named village in written historical records from the 1600s. A tax ledger from Ramelsloh dated 1666 lists 'Ramelsloher Hühner' as a distinct type of chicken traded at market — making it one of the oldest named German chicken breeds with documentary evidence of continuity.
One of Germany's oldest documented chicken breeds, originating from the village of Ramelsloh near Winsen an der Luhe in Lower Saxony, with written records confirming the breed's existence from the 17th century. A medium-large dual-purpose bird with warm buff-yellow plumage, the Ramelsloher was once common across the Hamburg and Lower Saxony region as a practical farmyard hen. It declined steeply in the 20th century and nearly vanished, saved only by a small number of BDRG-affiliated conservation breeders who maintained breeding records and pedigree lines.
🏷️ Breed
Ramelsloher
💭 Temperament
Calm, friendly, active, hardy, good forager
📏 Size
Large (2.7-3.6 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Buff-yellow; warm golden tones with lighter hackle
🌍 Origin
Germany — Ramelsloh, Lower Saxony; documented from 17th century; BDRG recognised
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; well-adapted to north German conditions
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; good forager on pasture and farmland
🎯 Purpose
Dual Purpose
🥚 Egg Colour
Tinted
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl