Chickens in the backyard are love. My mother loves her chickens. That she has grown up in the backyard. More than anything else. Even more than us her own children!
Chickens are very productive and economical along with the fun. They can give you perfect company. And can be great pets. But if you are looking for some chicken breeds that can look stunning in your backyard, then you are at the right click!
There are many ornamental fowls. But amongst the chickens, they are the most beautiful ones. They are known for their long pretty tails.
Guess the breed? Yes, you are right. If I am talking about the tail, then obviously it is Yokohama.
In this blog post, you will know about the characteristics, facts, and history of the Yokohama chickens. Moreover, you will find the best tips, on how you can grow this beautiful breed at your home that everyone will say… just wow!
| Place of Origin | Japan |
| Temperament | Docile, calm |
| Color | Red, White, Black |
| Comb type | Single |
| Size | Large |
| Weight | 6-7 lbs |
| Lifespan | 5-8 years |
| Hardiness | Hardy |
| Egg Production | Moderate |
Their History and origin
The origin of Yokohama chickens is in Japan. In the mid-nineteenth century, the usual long-tailed Japanese native Minohiki chickens were exported along with the goods from the port of Yokohama to Paris. As it was a sea voyage, only males were left. Later, they were named on the port of their export and brought to Germany.
The modern Yokohama is the result of selective cross-breeding. The president of the German Poultry Association, Hugo Do Rai cross breed these chickens with Malay, Phoenix, and Sumatra. And now we have the perfect long-tailed ornamental Yokohama chickens with supreme qualities.
In 1981, The American Poultry Association declared two standard breeds of Yokohama Chickens, red shoulder and white. These two are common Yokohama chicken breeds.
Who are their Ancestors?
Yokohama chickens closely resemble the phoenix chickens in appearance and traits. The only main difference between them is their color and comb.
The Yokohama chickens are white and red-shouldered with walnut or pea comb. While the phoenix has a silver or golden single comb. They have almost all same traits.
Both have the Onagadori bloodlines. So, they share their ancestors, Onagadori Chicken. Many studies show that Onagadori is their ancestors from which Minohiki chickens were descended. But some also say that Yokohama chickens were produced by crossing over Onagadori and Minihoki chickens.
Facts and Figures about Yokohamas
Yokohama chickens are fancy birds with stunning looks, but they are not much productive and meaty. Here are some of the facts:
How many Eggs they lay?
Yokohama chickens are poor egg layers. They typically lay 80 to 100 eggs per year. Normally one egg after 4 to 5 days. But my mother’s Yokohama hen sometimes lays an egg after a week.
Their eggs shells are tinted white. Usually small in size. The egg weighs from 30 to 40 grams. After laying 18 to 20 eggs, they become broody.
They are poor egg layers but being broody, they can make exceptional mothers. Once the eggs are hatched they will be perfect moms taking care of their young ones.
Yokohama chickens will disappoint those who want chickens only for eggs. So, if you are looking only for eggs, then Yokohama chickens are not right for you.
Beautiful Eye-catching color combination
Mostly Yokohama has whole white feathers with red shoulders and combs. The white feathers give them a unique charming look.
They have orange-red eyes and yellow beaks. Their legs are yellow and non-feathery. All these beautiful colors give them a royal appearance.
Average Weight
Yokohama chickens are not so meaty. So, they don’t have much weight. Generally, a Yokohama rooster weighs 4.5 lb. (2 kg). And a hen weighs 3.5 lb. (1.6 kg). It is much of the feathers and tail.
This breed also has a bantam version. A bantam Yokohama rooster weighs 26 oz. (740 g) and a hen weighs 22 oz. (625 g).
Its carcass is really small compared to its overall appearance. They have yellow meat that tastes great.
Length of Tail
Yokohama chickens are recognized for their long elegant beautiful tails. Their tail grows up to 4 ft per year.
Their saddle tails resemble a waterfall. They are extremely wealthy in feathers. Their long tails make them look bigger than their actual size.
Their elegant tails make them look majesty.
Life span
The life span of Yokohama chickens can be as long as twenty years or as short as one day. It all depends upon the environmental conditions and care taken.
On average, Yokohama chickens have a life span of 6 to 8 years. It is only an approximate value.
Generally, Males have a longer life span than females. My mother bought two hens and one rooster. After a lot of care, one hen died.
Unique Characteristics
Along with their unique appearance they also have unique characteristics. That makes them stand out. Here some of their characteristics are listed.
How friendly they are? Their Temperament
Yokohama chickens are really, really elegant and docile. They can be great pets. You can tame them by just establishing trust. You can feed them or spend time with them. They are very friendly. Once you are friends, they will show their love.
Yokohama chickens in my mother’s backyard are also friends to me. Whenever I am sad or feel lonely, I spent time with them. I feed them on my own hands. They give good company.
They often sit on my mother’s shoulders or arms to express their love. Now, I think they can understand our language and comes near when we call them. They are so friendly and kind to children. They often play with my toddler but never pinched him.
The hens are always calm and friendly. But roosters sometimes are a little bit aggressive and show anger.
Use as Show Birds
The beauty of Yokohama chickens is a pleasure to enjoy. Their beautiful long tails are really impressive and eye-catching.
Because of their stunning looks, they are considered among the top most beautiful and worth watching show birds.
My mother also has grown these Yokohama chickens mainly to decorate and enhance the beauty of her back garden. Her friends often ask her for tips on how she has raised her Yokohama, that they are giving just a majestic touch to the garden.
So, if you want your chicken flock to be noticed, add some Yokohama chickens to them.
Survival temperature
Yokohama Chickens can bear a wide range of temperatures. In severe winters mature Yokohama chickens can survive due to their fluffy feathers. But young ones need heaters in the winter.
They can easily adapt to live in the summer. Just make sure to keep them indoors.
Pro tips for growing Yokohama Chickens at Home
Yokohama chickens are an ornamental art. But Alas…! We are failed to conserve them.
According to The Livestock Conservancy, Yokohama chickens are considered the most critically endangered chicken species in the world. Less than 1000 members of Yokohama chickens are left in the world.
They are at risk of extinction. It is all due to predation and inappropriate breeding. Expert breeders should take steps to conserve the Yokohama Chickens. If you wanted to breed this specie, you should consult a complete breeding guide.
Yokohama chickens are quite expensive due to their low rate of reproduction and fewer population. If you are going to buy for your flock you have to dig into your pocket.
Here I am going to share my tips to grow Yokohama chickens. All these tips I have gathered after years of experience and experimentation. So, let’s start!
How many chickens you need to start the flock?
Firstly, the question comes how many Yokohama chickens should I buy? It is ok to buy one and enter it into the pre-established flock. But keeping one in the flock always risks its beautiful tail. Other chickens may step on its tale or it may feel lonely. So, I suggest buying in pairs and keeping it separate from the other flock to maintain its beauty.
How many roosters Should I buy?
I recommend buying only one rooster to fertilize eggs. Think again before buying another rooster. Because roosters are a little aggressive. Having one rooster will avoid fights and is important for safety measures. Asking the breeder about the calm one will be better.
How much space is needed?
You don’t need much larger space. They don’t like to roam. And are well in confinement. A space that an ordinary chicken need is ok but if you are going to keep them in a coop, it should be good in height.
How much care they require?
As they are ornamental, so they require great care. You should keep their feathers and surrounding tidy by cleaning regularly. You should keep their bedding dry. Because wet muddy surroundings will make their pure white feathers dirty.
What should I feed them?
You should feed the youngsters a protein-rich diet as they need a lot of proteins for growth. Yokohama chickens grow really slowly as their most of nutrition goes to their tail. I prefer to feed the young one on chicken starter crumbs and the egg-laying hens on layers pallets.
You can feed them in a plastic or metal feeder but my preference is a metal one as it lasts longer. In warmer areas mud roasted feeders are also used to feed and water.
How to maintain temperature for them?
They grew well in the summers. Just make sure that they have enough shelter for shadows in the dazzling sunlight of summer.
Yokohama chickens can survive in winter with a little care. Make sure to provide them with a heater in the coop and a waterer to provide water to them in winter.
I wear my chickens and my toddler’s old sweaters. In this way, they are kept warm. They look so cute in these sweaters.
How can I provide them comfort?
Place grit in their coop to help them keep warm. It will also help them in laying eggs and provide comfort. Be careful, to change the grit if it is dirty or wet. It can irritate your hen instead of comfort.
Summary
Yokohama chickens are so gorgeous to make your collection adorable. You can grow them in your backyards. I hope this blog post will help you a lot. If you still have any questions in your mind then don’t hesitate. Please ask freely in the comments section. I will try to answer as many as I can.
