Sumatran Chicken
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Gallus gallus domesticus
Habitat: Sumatran chickens are a chicken breed native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Diet: Like other chicken species, Sumatran chickens are omnivores, seeking out insects, vegetation, and any scraps of food that they can peck at.
Size: 2 to 2.5 feet tall / 1.5 to 2 foot wingspan
Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Not Evaluated – a category used to include any of the nearly 1.9 million species described by science but not yet assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.).
Our Sumatran Chicken:
Poe (Female) – Born March 19, 2012
Did You Know?!
- Sumatran chickens are originally from the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo (all of which are part of Indonesia).
- Sumatran chicken feathers are iridescent – or change colors in the light – and sometimes appear to have a green or bluish tint to them.
- Sumatran chickens have a personality closer to that of a wild game bird than a domestic chicken.
- Sumatran chickens are an ornamental species, mostly likely domesticated for their plumage and for cock fighting. They are not good for laying eggs, as they only tend to lay one egg at time and less than 100 in a year.
- Sumatran chickens were first introduced to the United States and Europe in 1847 as a game cock. However, today the breed is raised primarily for exhibition.
- Sumatran chickens are active and alert and are especially good at launching themselves vertically to escape dangers.