View source for Biology:Bergische Kräher

{{Short description|Breed of chicken}}
{{use list-defined references|date=September 2015}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name          = Bergische Kräher
| image         = Bergkraaier.jpg
| image_size    =
| alt           = 
| image_caption =
| status        =  {{ubl|FAO (2007): endangered{{r|barb|page=51}}|[[Organization:Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen|GEH]]: I, extremely endangered}}
| altname       =
| country       = Germany
| distribution  =
| standard      =
| use           = 
| nickname      =
| apa           = 
| aba           = 
| ee            = yes{{r|ee}}
| pcgb          = rare long crowers{{r|pcgb}}
| maleweight    = 3–3.5 kg{{r|bdrg}}
| femaleweight  = 2–2.5 kg{{r|bdrg}}
| skincolour     = 
| eggcolour      = white
| comb          = single
| note          = 
| type          = [[Biology:Chicken|Chicken]]
| latin         = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}

[[File:KraaierMetMelodie.ogg|thumb|A typical crow]]
The '''{{Lang|de|Bergische Kräher|italic=no}}'''{{efn|name=a}} is a German breed of domestic [[Biology:Chicken|chicken]] from the Bergisches Land, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany.{{r|bdrg|dad}} It is named for its unusually long crow, up to five times as long as that of other breeds, and belongs to the group of long-crowing chicken breeds, which are found from south-east Europe to the [[Place:Far East|Far East]].{{r|geh}}

== History ==

[[File:Bergischerkraeher2.jpg|thumb|Cock bird]]
[[File:KrielKraaiers.jpg|thumb|Bantam cock and hens]]
The Bergische Kräher has been bred in the Bergisches Land for hundreds of years, and there are various myths about its origins.{{r|geh4}} It was probably brought there from south-east Europe or the [[Place:Middle East|Middle East]] at the time of the [[Religion:Crusades|Crusades]], and may have been spread through the area by Cistercian monks.{{r|geh}} It is closely related to the [[Biology:Bergische Schlotterkamm|Bergische Schlotterkamm]]{{r|six|page=14|ed|page2=134}}. Crowing contests were held for the birds, and they were selectively bred for their crowing ability.{{r|geh}} A breed association, the Kräherzüchtervereinigung, was founded in 1884,{{r|six}} and the first breed standard dates from 1885.{{r|roberts|page=333}}

Today the Bergische Kräher is a rare breed. In 2001 it was an "endangered breed of the year" of the [[Organization:Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen|Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen]],{{r|geh3}} and is listed in category I: {{lang|de|extrem gefährdet}}, "extremely endangered", on the [[Organization:Rote Liste|Rote Liste]] of that organisation.{{r|geh2}} In 2009, 77 cocks and 337 hens were recorded;{{r|rote}} in 2013 the total population was 329.{{r|dad}}

== Characteristics ==

Only one [[List of chicken colours|plumage colouring]] is recognised, gold-laced black.{{r|ee|roberts|page2=333}} Hen birds are black with some gold markings on the wings and breast; cocks have gold neck-hackles and maroon markings on the wings. The black colour variety is extinct, black-silver coloured birds are extremely rare.{{r|six}} Like the Bergische Schlotterkamm, the Bergische Kräher shows typical broad lacing ("{{lang|de|Dobbelung}}") of the breast feathers.{{r|geh4}} Cocks weigh {{nobreak|3–3.5 kg}} and hens {{nobreak|2–2.5 kg.}} The [[Biology:Comb (anatomy)|comb]] is single, the earlobes are white, and the legs are slate-blue.{{r|geh4|roberts|page2=333}}

== Use ==

The Bergische Kräher is a dual-purpose breed, with good meat qualities. Hens lay about 130 white [[Biology:Egg|egg]]s per year, with an average weight of {{nobreak|56 g}};{{r|bdrg}} they have little tendency to [[Biology:Broodiness|broodiness]].{{r|geh}}

Cock crowing contests with Bergische Krähers have been a sport in the Bergische Land for centuries.{{r|wieden}} Since 1923, the breed society has organised annual crowing contests on [[Religion:Feast of the Ascension|Ascension Thursday]]{{r|six}}. In these – unlike in most traditional cock crowing contests in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium – the crow is judged for its length and beauty, rather than for its frequency.{{r|nie}}

<gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left; font-size:93%">
Wilhelma Haushuhn 2.jpg|Hen
Dobbelung bij haan.jpg|The typical broad lacing (''Dobbelung'') of the breast feathers
Tab47 Hühner (Geflügel-Album, Jean Bungartz, 1885).jpg|Historical Illustration, Jean Bungartz, 1885
</gallery>

== Notes ==

{{notelist|refs=

{{efn|name=a|{{IPA-de|ˈbɛʁɡɪʃə ˈkʁɛːɐ|pron}}; translatable as "crower of the Bergisches Land"}}

}}

== References ==

{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Accessed January 2017.</ref>

<ref name=bdrg>[http://www.bdrg.de/mediaarchiv/grab_pic.php?id=105194 Rassetafeln: Bergische Kräher] (in German). Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed August 2014.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=0b1613ebf16355cf65f6a05b9a65fe25,reportsreport8a_50005213 Breed data sheet: Bergische Kräher/Germany]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2014.</ref>

<ref name=ed>Edward Brown (1906). [https://archive.org/stream/racesofdomesticp00brow#page/134/mode/1up/search/bergische ''Races of Domestic Poultry'']. London: Edward Arnold.</ref>

<ref name=ee>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616062803/http://www.entente-ee.com/deutsch/sparten/gefluegel/dateien/2013/Verzeichnis%20R%20F%2028042013.xls Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013)]. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.</ref>

<ref name=geh>[http://www.g-e-h.de/geh/jupgrade/rassebeschreibungen/55-gefluegelhuhn/145-bergischer-kraeher Bergische Kräher] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Accessed January 2017.</ref>

<ref name=geh2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010618/http://www.g-e-h.de/geh/jupgrade/die-rote-liste/rote-liste2 Gemeinsame Liste alter und einheimischer Geflügelrassen in Deutschland der GEH und des BDRG] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Archived 2 February 2017.</ref>

<ref name=geh3>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161123054304/http://www.g-e-h.de/geh/jupgrade/gefaehrdete-nutztierrasse-des-jahres Die gefährdete Nutztierrasse des Jahres 2001] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Archived 23 November 2016.</ref>

<ref name=geh4>[http://www.g-e-h.de/geh-gefl/kraeher.htm Schwerpunkt - Geflügel: Bergische Kräher] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Accessed August 2014.</ref>

<ref name=nie>Stefaan De Groote (27 June 2011). [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blsde_20110627_002 Hanenzettingen opgenomen in Vlaamse inventaris immaterieel erfgoed] (in Dutch, "Cock crowing contest recognised as Flemish national heritage"). ''Het Nieuwsblad''. Accessed October 2015.</ref>

<ref name=pcgb>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143235/http://www.poultryclub.org/img/Breed%20Classification.pdf Breed Classification]. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.</ref>

<ref name=roberts>Victoria Roberts (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=nAfyUHY42u0C ''British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain'']. Oxford: Blackwell. {{ISBN|9781405156424}}.</ref>

<ref name=rote>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140201164622/http://www.genres.de/fileadmin/SITE_GENRES/downloads/publikationen/rote_liste_web.pdf Rote Liste: Einheimische Nutztierrassen in Deutschland 2013] (in German). Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Archived 1 February 2014.</ref>

<ref name=six>Armin Six (2015). [http://www.g-e-h.de/anzeigen/veranstaltungen/2015/Okt/Bergische%20Kraeher%20-%20Huehnerrasse%20mit%20Vergangenheit.pdf  Bergische Kräher] (in German). Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. Accessed May 2019.</ref>

<ref name=wieden>Friedrich Wieden (1949). Die Geschichte der Bergischen Kräher. ''Deutscher Geflügelhof'' '''43'''. Oldenburg.</ref>

}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergische Kraher}}
[[Category:Animal breeds on the GEH Red List]]

{{Sourceattribution|Bergische Kräher}}