The Ostfriesische Möwe (German pronunciation: [ˈɔstˌfʁiːzɪʃə ˈmøːvə], lit. 'East Frisian Gull') is an old German breed of domestic chicken. It is a rare breed: in 2016 the recorded population in Germany consisted of 215 cocks and 979 hens, in the hands of 130 breeders.[1]: 132 Its conservation status is gefährdet, "endangered".[1]: 132
History
The Möwe derives from the traditional rural chickens of north-western Germany and north-eastern Holland, in East Friesland and West Friesland respectively. It is closely related to the Westfälische Totleger and the Braekel.
Characteristics
It is kept in two colour varieties: silver-pencilled and gold-pencilled. Cocks weigh up to 3 kg and hens up to 2.5 kg. Hens lay about 170 eggs per year, averaging 55 g in weight.[1]: 132
References
- ^ a b c Einheimische Nutztierrassen in Deutschland und Rote Liste gefährdeter Nutztierrassen 2017 (in German). Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Accessed September 2018.