Derbyshire Redcap
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
The Derbyshire Redcap has the largest rose comb of any breed standardised in Britain — the comb is so large and flat that it genuinely resembles a red beret sitting on the bird's head, giving the breed its name. In Peak District farmyards of the 1800s, Redcaps were valued precisely because they could survive harsh upland winters on minimal feed while maintaining egg production — a breed built for poverty and beauty simultaneously.
One of Britain's rarest and most distinctive breeds, the Derbyshire Redcap is named for its spectacular rose comb — an enormous, flat, beefy structure covered in fine points that spreads broadly across the top of the head like a cap. Developed in Derbyshire and neighbouring counties in the early 19th century, the Redcap was a productive laying breed kept by small farmers in the Peak District who valued its hardiness, foraging ability, and consistent egg production on minimal feed. The breed nearly vanished in the 20th century and remains critically rare, but it is preserved as a living piece of English agricultural heritage.
🏷️ Race
Derbyshire Redcap
💭 Tempérament
Active, independent, excellent forager, alert and self-sufficient
📏 Taille
Medium (2.3-3.2 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Black-red with rich mahogany wing bays; black tail; massive rose comb
🌍 Origine
England — Derbyshire, Peak District; 19th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range preferred; exceptionally hardy on rough upland terrain
🍽️ Alimentation
Excellent forager — historically kept on minimum supplemental feed
🎯 Usage
Egg
🥚 Couleur des œufs
White
👑 Type de crête
Rose
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl