Varieties: Black Breasted Red.
Standard Weights: Cock-9 pounds; hen-7 pounds; cockerel-7 pounds; pullet-5 pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: Strictly an ornamental fowl.
Origin: A very old breed coming from Asia, they have changed little in modern times.
Characteristics: Malays are very tall and appear bold and perhaps cruel due to their projecting eyebrows. They are closely feathered with short feathers and carry their bodies inclined upward with tail low or drooping. They are rugged and have a reputation for vigor and long life. They require exercise to maintain muscle tone and hardness of feather. Most hens will go broody but are not a good choice because their long legs don't fit easily in a nest.
Content:
Dr. Joe Berry, Extension Poultry Specialist, Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University
Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Updated November 18, 1996