Heritage Poultry Breeds Made with Xara Partridge Chantecler Chickens Hawk Hill has added Partridge Chantecler chickens to our heritage breed family.  Starting in 2012, we will be hatching eggs to supply small flocks and, when municipalities finally come on side with urban farming,  to supply urban, backyard flocks. The Partridge Chantecler is actually unrelated to the original chantecler that was developed in Oka Quebec.  “The partridge chantecler was developed by Dr. J. E. Wilkinson around the same time. He crossed the Partridge Wyandotte, Partridge Cochin, Dark Cornish, and the Rose Comb Brown Leghorn, to create another distinct breed of Canadian chicken. But when this bird was submitted for inclusion to the American Poultry Association in 1935, it was erroneously placed with the Chantecler chicken and called the ‘Partridge Chantecler (it was thought to be a variety, not a separate breed). This, sadly, ended up causing the demise of another distinct breed of Canadian chicken, and also caused confusion as to what is truly a Chantecler.” From Chantecler Chicken.com  The proper name for the partridge chantecler should be the “Albertan” The Albertan was developed to withstand the Canadian winters both in the type of plumage and the type of comb.  They are a dual purpose breed that lay a respectable number of eggs and provide a decent carcass at the end of its productive life.  The partridge plumage mades this breed less vulnerable to predators in free-range conditions than the white Chantecler. There plumage is stunning with black edged feathers in the hens and irredescent liver chestnut capes and green/black tail feathers on the roosters.  Both hens and roosters have dark yellow legs. It is nice to have a flock of layers at Hawk Hill.