Sachsenhuhn
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
Saxony was the industrial heartland of East Germany, home to the Trabant car and the smoky factories of Leipzig and Dresden. The Sachsenhuhn is a reminder that even the most industrialised regions once had a deep tradition of small-scale poultry keeping — a tradition that the GDR's centrally planned agriculture struggled to suppress but never fully extinguished.
A German dual-purpose breed from Saxony, developed in the early 20th century by crossing local Saxon farm chickens with Minorca, Langshan, and Plymouth Rock bloodlines. The Sachsenhuhn is a medium-large bird with a single comb and clean legs, bred specifically for Saxony's small mixed farms to produce tinted eggs and quality meat. Its plumage is typically black or black with gold hackles, and the breed is known for good feed conversion and hardiness in central European conditions. The Sachsenhuhn was popular between the wars but suffered badly under the GDR regime, when private poultry breeding was discouraged and many regional breeds were abandoned. After reunification, conservation efforts by German breeders rescued the Sachsenhuhn from near-extinction. Recognised by the EE Europastandard and maintained by BDRG breeders.
🏷️ Race
Sachsenhuhn
💭 Tempérament
Calm, docile, hardy, good forager, self-sufficient
📏 Taille
Large (2.7-3.6 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Black, black with gold hackles — several colour varieties
🌍 Origine
Germany — Saxony; developed early 20th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; well-adapted to Saxon farm and orchard conditions
🍽️ Alimentation
Layer pellets; effective forager on mixed farmland
🎯 Usage
Dual Purpose
🥚 Couleur des œufs
Tinted
👑 Type de crête
Single
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl