Withstands cold weather and wind
Like most original native breeds, it is very hardy. It can withstand cold weather and wind very well, which was essential in the climate of Öland. It is Sweden’s second largest native breed of chicken, with hens weighing around 2 kilograms and roosters weighing around 3 kilograms. The hens make good mothers, and their innate and efficient care for their young results in high survival rates for chicks and young birds. They are also good at avoiding birds of prey and are easy to socialise.
It tends not to be hard to distinguish between the individuals, as they all have unique colour markings.
Conservation work
There have been chickens in Sweden since around 100 BC, and the Öland chicken is considered to be our oldest unchanged native breed. However, it quickly declined in number when chicken farming was modernised on Öland, and in 1992 the last six individuals – a cock and five hens – were found on Kåtorp farm on Öland. Since then, the Swedish Association for Local Poultry’s breeding work has resulted in some 40 gene banks with around 500 individual Öland chickens.
