Chantecler
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
The Chantecler was created by a monk who spent over a decade crossing breeds specifically to eliminate the comb and wattles — the main body parts vulnerable to frostbite in Canadian winters. Brother Wilfrid's scientific approach to selective breeding, documented meticulously in the abbey's records, is considered one of the most rigorous breed development programmes ever undertaken by a single individual, and the Chantecler remains the only purely Canadian chicken breed.
The first chicken breed developed in Canada, created at the Cistercian Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac in Quebec by Brother Wilfrid Chatelain between 1908 and 1918. Brother Wilfrid crossed White Wyandotte, White Plymouth Rock, White Leghorn, Cornish, and Dark Cornish birds to produce a breed specifically adapted to survive Canadian winters — where temperatures can fall to -40°C. The Chantecler's most striking feature is its virtually non-existent comb and wattles, reduced to a tiny cushion comb and almost no wattles, making it uniquely resistant to frostbite. Admitted to the APA Standard of Perfection in 1921.
🏷️ Race
Chantecler
💭 Tempérament
Calm, docile, cold-hardy, self-sufficient in northern climates
📏 Taille
Large (3.2-4.1 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
White (original variety); Partridge variety also exists
🌍 Origine
Canada — Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac, Quebec; Brother Wilfrid Chatelain, 1908–1918; APA 1921
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; purpose-built for harsh Canadian winters
🍽️ Alimentation
Layer pellets with pasture foraging; efficient in cold climates
🎯 Usage
Dual Purpose
🥚 Couleur des œufs
Brown
👑 Type de crête
Cushion