Golden Sebright

The Sebright is a breed of chicken named after its developer, Sir John Saunders Sebright. The Sebright is one of the oldest recorded British 'true' bantam (meaning it is a miniature bird with no corresponding large fowl to which it is related), created in the 19th century through a selective breeding program designed to produce an ornamental breed. Golden Sebright bantams are well-known for their beautiful black outlining around each feather (their lacing). They have a special comb called a rosecomb. They are very small banta ms and have a sweet nature, but may be somewhat skittish. They are excellent flyers. Their voice or cry is somewhat higher-pitched. Because they are smaller in size and very gentle, they should be kept with their own breed, not with larger chickens or other bantams of a more aggressive nature (like game bantams), or their beautiful lacing is lost from frayed edges on the feathers from fighting. They lay a small white egg. They came from a very reputable Master breeder.

Golden Sebrights were developed in 1801 by Sir John Saunders Sebright. They with the silver sebrights are the only chickens to ever be named after a person. They are hard to hatch and are small birds, even for a bantam. They can be flighty at times but are sweet gentle natured birds. They are very beautiful birds mainly because each feather is a gold color with black lacing(the silver sebrights have white feathers with black lacing). They also have a rose comb which is a special comb (see pictures of the chicken). They lay a small white egg and do not lay much. They are for pets and showing. They have been accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection as well as the American Bantam Association Standard of Perfection.

Sebrights are one of the most stunning breeds of chickens you can keep. The feathers of the Golden variety have a tawny base, with each one delicately laced in ebony, like the scales of a dragon. Even more interesting is the fact that both males and females have the same plumage--males are "henny feathered"--meaning they do not have the pointy hackle and saddle feathers that distinguish roosters of other breeds.

Characteristics
In accordance with the intentions of their creator, the Sebright is an ornamental bantam, and is commonly seen in competitive poultry shows. As a true bantam, all Sebrights are very small in stature; males weigh an average 625 grams and females 570 grams. Their short backs, proportionally large breasts, and downward–pointing wings combine to create an angular, jaunty look. All Sebrights have plumage that is laced around the edges evenly with black, on a base of either dark gold or whitish silver. Sebrights have unfeathered legs with slate–blue skin, and their beaks are ideally a dark horn color. Sebright roosters carry a rose comb covered with fine points, and a small spike that sweeps back from the head (called a leader). Combs, earlobes and wattles were originally a purplish color, but today are often bright red. Some breeders consider hen feathering to have an adverse effect on the fertility of male Sebrights, and may use roosters that don't carry the trait for breeding purposes, despite their automatic disqualification in shows. They are kind birds but the male Sebright may get protective around hens and may turn on its own owners like all roosters may do. And due to their light, flighty nature it might be best to keep them contained to a smaller, fenced off area. Sebrights often will live happily living amongst other breeds as well. Sebrights are not prolific egglayers and hens are only expected to produce 60-80 creamy-white eggs each season.

Husbandry
Sebrights are neither prolific egg layers, nor outstanding meat birds. They can prove to be particularly difficult to raise, especially for beginners. Hens rarely go broody and chicks usually have high mortality rates. Adults are generally hardy birds, but are especially susceptible to Marek's disease. In temperament, Sebrights are friendly and actively social birds. Males are not known to be aggressive, but Sebrights in general, like most small chickens, are somewhat skittish birds. Due to their small size and relatively large wings, they are one of a minority of chicken breeds that retains a strong flying ability. Thus, most keepers keep Sebrights in confinement rather than allowing them to free range. Due to their genetic make-up, males may on occasion be born infertile, further complicating breeding.

Origins / History:

Class: All Other Breeds

Type: Bantam

Size: Bantam

Rarity: Common
Purpose: Ornamental
Recognized Varieties: Silver, Golden

Egg Facts:
Egg Laying: Poor (1/wk)
Egg Color: Cream or Tinted
Egg Size: Tiny (bantam)

Fancy Features:
Comb Type: Rose Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard Life:
Hardy In Winter: No
Setter/Broody: No
Personality: Cocky but not aggressive