Rosecomb
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Rosecombs are mentioned in royal household accounts of Richard III as prized cage birds kept at court. If this attribution is correct, they are among the oldest named bantam breeds in European written records, making them over 500 years old as a distinct type.
One of England's oldest true bantams, kept at least since the reign of Richard III in the 15th century and documented in a royal record of 1483. Rosecombs are named for their distinctive, perfectly formed rose comb that must lie flat to the head and taper to a straight horizontal spike at the rear — a show standard that requires generations of careful breeding to achieve. They carry large round white earlobes, a feature also seen in Mediterranean breeds, and are primarily kept as exhibition birds.
🏷️ Breed
Rosecomb
💭 Temperament
Active, alert, confident, can be flighty
📏 Size
Small (0.50-0.60 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Black (most famous), white, blue
🌍 Origin
England; documented from 1483 — kept by Richard III
🏠 Habitat
Enclosed dry housing; large earlobes prone to frostbite in wet cold
🍽️ Diet
Bantam pellets; moderate forager
🎯 Purpose
Ornamental
🥚 Egg Colour
White
👑 Comb Type
Rose
🏅 EE Class
True Bantam