Frieslands

Friesland fowls are one of the oldest of the Dutch breeds. Dutch authorities have claimed that both the penciled Hamburgs, and in later years the Belgian Silver Campine, arose from the old Friesland fowl of Holland.

 The Friesland is bred in several varieties, to wit: Silver Penciled, Golden Penciled, Yellow Penciled, White, Black and Cuckoo. It has a grayish white skin, slatey -blue shanks an white ear lobes. The females lay a white shelled egg an are non-sitters.

 The majority of the Friesland fowls have single combs, but they have existed in Holland for a long time, two rose comb varieties of the breed, known as Hollanders; and it was these silver and golden rose combs that were incorporated into the Hamburg breed.

 The Frieslands were the original Dutch "every day layers," an appellation that has since been applied to Hamburgs, Campines and Lakenvelders. Unquestionably all of these breeds trace back to the old Friesland foundation. Breeds derived from the Friesland root are very quick to feather and mature early. Because of this strong growth impulse and precocity, the chicks should be given vitamin rich feed, such as green stuff, and bread soaked with whole milk; and it is important that they should be kept free of head and body lice. 

The Friesland is a good layer, but the eggs are inclined to run small; the birds are easily scared by strangers but are tame with those who tend them; in size, the cocks run to about 5 1/2 lbs. and the hens to 4 1/2 lbs. 

The yellow penciled variety is produced by crossing the Silver and Golden Penciled or White on Golden Penciled. This cross produces a soft buff ground color in the female; and in the male the black of the tail is affected by the cross, and the black of the Golden Penciled becomes white in the Yellow Penciled. The ground color also comes of a lighter hue. 

Reprinted from: All Breeds of Poultry, Origin: History: Description, Mating and Characteristics, by Frank L. Platt. Published by AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL, Chicago, Illinois.

Added April 2, 1997