There are lots of different types of chickens in Europe, from Red Chickens to chickens with no feathers at all!

Since the middle of the 1860s Bearded Hens have been bred out of breeds of country hens in the Appenzell Forecountry. Out of this came a powerful hen which with its relatively small rosecomb and throat and ear lobes. Protected by its beard, offered little surface area for the cold to attack. The breed occurred in two colors, in black and partridge.

Anconas were originally known as Black Leghorns because of their color, which is black with evenly white-tipped feathers.