The German lines of New Hampshire chickens have a fascinating history. At the turn of the 20th century, poultry raisers in New Hampshire had begun focusing their efforts on creating a true dual-purpose breed. Recognizing the value and quality of many
The German lines of New Hampshire chickens have a fascinating history. At the turn of the 20th century, poultry raisers in New Hampshire had begun focusing their efforts on creating a true dual-purpose breed. Recognizing the value and quality of many Rhode Island Reds, they also felt there was a lack of focus on true production. To that end, they began to select specific strains of Rhode Island Reds (“RIR”) for early feathering, egg production, rapid maturity, and good conformation of meat. While many RIR growers were looking for dark mahogany coloring, the New Hampshire strains were lighter in color, with less of the traditional “brick shape” and more toward a triangular appearance. Mother Earth News has a nice article on the breed.
During WWII, red meat shortages in the US gave the poultry industry a big boost. At a time when poultry was focused more on eggs, suddenly households around the country were cooking and barbecuing chicken instead of beef. As the war wound down, the poultry industry could see the writing on the wall. The result? The “Chicken of Tomorrow” contests of the late 19