The Croad Langshan was imported into this country from north China by a Major Croad in 1870 and the Croad Langshan Club was formed in 1904. They are dual-purpose birds, slightly smaller than the Brahma and the Cochin. The breed is similar to the Black Cochin and when first introduced, it was actually classed as a Black Cochin and supporters of the breed spent the next 35 years proving that it was a separate breed. They are a heavy breed yet possess grace and they have a definite U-shaped appearance from the side because the tail is at the same level as the head. The beak tends to have a lighter tip and the eyes are brown. The comb, wattles and earlobes are all bright red and the legs are slate grey and feathered. The male has very long tail sickles and a well spread tail. The breast is deep and the legs short so they make excellent table birds while the hens possess a deep abdomen and produce a good number of eggs. Brown shelled eggs were a rarity in England until the Croad Langshan was introduced, as it was the first Asiatic breed in this country to produce them. There is a bantam version.
They are strong, intelligent and active birds and chicks mature fast. The hens are excellent sitters as they are large enough to cover a dozen eggs at a time and make wonderfully attentive mothers. They are heavy birds so don’t fly much but are able to get over low fences so boundaries need to be secure. Care also needs to be taken as their feathered legs and feet can get matted and dirty in wet conditions so a dry environment is preferred. They are docile, quiet and tolerant birds which are friendly and easily tamed and so are an excellent choice for families. They are also long-lived birds. Cockerels weigh around 9lbs while the females are 7lbs. The bantam version weighs 1lb 7oz for a hen and 1lb 11oz for a cockerel.
The original version has black feathers with green beetling but there is also a White and a Blue Langshans.
There are no breeds of this type currently available for sale
I have two black Croad Langshans, Inky and Suki, they are totally beautiful and huge, great to have around. Gentle, well mannered ladies with great dignity, and I think very intelligent as well. They actually make play onslaughts at the Pekins, who now totally ignore them - I think they do it for the fun of making the bantams squawk and run..
I have one hen. She is wonderful to look at with her black feathers that have a green sheen in the sun. When we first got her homever she did get picked on by the brahmas we keep her with but she soon worked out that going high is useful. Cant relay comment on eggs at the moment because shes still a young hen.
I had a croad hen called Mrs peck for years, she would follow me around when I was gardening and snatch and worms etc, dug up, she loved being picked up and stroked, and was a wonderful layer, They are friendly, good looking bu=irdds but will make a mess of your garden if loose. Get some!!
Such lovely friendly birds. If you handle them from day 1, they are your 'best mate' even the cockeral. I call mine they come runniing to me. So glad I was introduced to this breed!
I only have the one croad, a large black male, and have to say I'm very impressed with him. He does everything a cockerel should - crows (abeit a little tunelessly!), treads the girls, and alarm calls when necessary. A real gentleman, he is friendly and docile yet protective of his girls when strangers are around. Being so large he is tearing up all my garden grass, but it's a small price to pay for such a wonderful chicken. And those feathered feet, well, he can be excused!
E-mail: lynh@croadlangshan.org.uk
Website: www.croadlangshan.org.uk
Tel: 01428 602992
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