Breed: Bergische Kräher
Species: Chicken
Colour: Basis color is black with reddish, auburn markings.
Weight: males: 3-3,5kg, female: 2,5 kg
Country: Germany
Description: Big, portly chicken with a good meat attachment. Premature, special crow call. The body should be strong and erect, but also longstretched and slender. Basis color is black with reddish, auburn markings. Distribution: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bergisches Land, DüsseldorfIn 28 herd ca. 250 animals. Development is constant. In 2005 there were 73 male and 251 female registred breeding animals. Recording is done by the special association for the Bergisch Chickenbreeds.
History: The breed was probably imported during the Crusades from Southeastern Europe respectively the Orient into the Bergisch Area. In Bosnia, Turkey, China and Japan longcrowing chicken breeds are known for centuries. According to an ancient legend the Count of Berg has in 1190 brought with him long-crowing roosters, because the crow has warned him and his people about great dangers. The Cistercian monks in the vicinity of the castle of the family of the count have then distributed the breed throughout the countryside.
Specials: Crow of the rooster The crow of the roosters is five times as long as that of other breeds. During the crowing they walk forward and lowering their head at the end almost to the ground. These unusual crowing characteristics were in the course of time selectively consolidated and strengthened through annual crow competitions.
Uses: Egg, Meat, Hobby
Performance: Good meat attachment. Egg laying: 1. year 150, 2. year 120 whitecolored eggs. No brooding drive.