2. 1st Canadian breed of chicken 1999 Quebec government officially designated the Chanteclair - provincial heritage animal Breed to withstand harsh Canadian climate Egg and meat production French ‘chanter’ – to sing, and ‘clair’ – bright Brother Wilfred Chatelain & Cistercian Abbey in Oka, Quebec Passed the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1921 – declared a breed
3. Country – Canada Region – Quebec Current Canadian population size is 1000 – 1500 World population – 1750-2250 Canadian population mostly based in Quebec – going extinct due to commercial production Many small farmers keep heritage breeding Also clubs like Salt Spring Poultry Club, Rare Breeds Canada Livestock Committee interested in expanding population
4. How it came to be? Dark Cornish male x White leghorn female Rhode Island Red male x White Wyandotte female Above products were then mated Product from previous is crossed with White Plymouth Rock male
5. Breed can be found in 2 colours: white and partridge Yellow flesh and legs No wattles and small cushion comb – allows it to withstand the cold Canadian winters without frostbite vulnerability Layer of brown eggs, lays more eggs through winter than any other American heritage breed – good strain is lay up to210 eggs per bird in 1 year’s lay and eggs should weigh 58-60 g Males: 3.4-3.9 kg, females: 2.5-3kg Broad well-fleshed breast Known to be calm, gentle, personable Status: Critical, Rare
6. Bibliography Canada’s first poultry breed: Quebec’s official chicken built to beat the climate. Heritage Livestock. Quebec heritage News. May-June 2006. Vol. 3 No. 9. Pioneer Farming & Food. p. 21 Amy Geddes. Cooing for the Chantecler: a Canadian original – Poultry club gets support for saving chicken. Heritage Chicken Breed Chanteclair Chicken - www.slowfood.com, Feb. 12, 2010.
