The Croad Langshan Chicken

Croad Langshan

Black Croad Langshan Cockerel


The Croad Langshan chicken 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 butthere is also a White and a Blue Langshans.

For more information visit the Croad Langshan Club

White Croad Langshan

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