Ostfriesische Möwe

The Ostfriesische Möwe is an old German breed of domestic chicken. It is a rare breed: in 2016 the recorded population in Germany consisted of 215 cocks and 979 hens, in the hands of 130 breeders. Its conservation status is gefährdet, "endangered".

History

The Möwe derives from the traditional rural chickens of north-western Germany and north-eastern Holland, in East Friesland and West Friesland respectively. It is closely related to the Westfälische Totleger and the Braekel.

Characteristics

It is kept in two colour varieties: silver-pencilled and gold-pencilled. Cocks weigh up to and hens up to Hens lay about 170 eggs per year, averaging in weight.