Look for more information on our Auburn Java Chickens very soon!

Check out these pictures!!

 Here is the latest in Auburn Java news!  On May 17, 2009 all of the remaining Auburn Javas belonging to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago relocated to Behl Farm at Rochester, IL.  Over 60 Auburns were moved to Behl Farm.  Behl Farm shared these birds with Bill York , another Java breeder, near Quincy, IL.  Behl Farm will be continuing to breed Auburns from our original strain obtained from Bill York and the ones from MSI.  There is still much variation in the amounts of auburn color in these birds.  Some males are very red as can be seen in the above pictures while other males are predominately black with highlights of auburn throughout their bodies or in some cases limited to certain sections of their bodies.  The majority of the Auburn females are black with highlights of gold/yellow on their necks, breasts, wings and backs.  The amount of gold varies somewhat.  All Auburns should have willow shanks and toes with the bottoms of the feet being yellow.

Historical evidence indicates that the Auburn Javas were extinct by the 1870s, which probably explains some of the varying accounts of this variety.  Keep in mind that the first admissions to the Standard of Perfection was in 1874.   However the recessive trait for Auburn remained dormant in the Black Javas.  On Sept. 25, 2003 a female Java chick, "Mini-Wee", with an Auburn head and Black body hatched at MSI.  The Auburn color was expressed again in March of 2004 when a cockerel, "Mork", emerged with Auburn highlights in its wings and body.  Mini-Wee and Mork were mated to produce more Auburns.  In addition more Auburns continued to be hatched randomly from the Garfield Farm Black Javas. 

Several old poultry publications mention Auburn colored Javas.  However sometimes the color mentioned is red or brown, but I interpret that to be auburn or near auburn in color. 

  Mr. I.K. Felch's  article in the December 1891 "Poultry Monthly" states: "In 1852 the first heavy black fowls of an Asiatic type appeared in Massachusetts as Black Javas.  The females were black; some of the males were wholly black, others had mahogany-streaked necks with red mahogany round spots on the wing coverts."

In 1854 awards were presented to David Taggart for his White, Brown, and Black Javas as published in the "First Annual Report of Transactions of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society."

 In 1856, "The Poultry Book: A treatise on Breeding and General Management of Domestic Fowls" by John C. Bennett, M.D. has this to say about Javas:  "These, like all other pure Java fowls, are of a black or dark auburn color, with very large black legs, single comb and wattles.  They are good layers and their eggs are very large and well flavored.  Their gait is slow and majestic.  They are, in fact, amongst the most valuable fowls in this country, and are frequently described in the books as "Spanish Fowls" than which nothing is more erroneous.  They are as distinctly an original breed as the pure blood Malay, and possess about the same qualities as to excellence, but falling rather short as to beauty.  This, however, is a matter of taste, and so far as beauty is concerned.  Their plumage is decidedly rich."

At this point I would like to add a comment  made by Craig Russell in an issue of "The North American Java Club Newsletter".  "He (Dr. Bennett) is not the only person to mention dark auburn Javas.  The strain was never standardized but was used in the development of the Rhode Island Red.  Because of the part of the world they come from, Javas were often called Malays in the early days.  In fact, the Malays that some writers have reported being used in the production of the Jersey Blue were almost certainly Javas.  Whether or not Andalusians and local fowl were used in the original development of the Jersey Blue, they were so Java in type that they could easily have been, and sometimes were, called Blue Javas...."

In 1921 a Mr. McGrew published the following about American Fowls:  "The Rhode Island Red fowls originated in the farming districts of Rhode Island, near New Bedford, Little Compton, and Westport.  Fowls of many kinds were brought to that locality by captains of sailing ships and were freely distributed among the farms and mingled with the domestic poultry.  Many of these were Asiatic fowls strong in black-red plumage color; among them were Shanghais, which had almost red plumage; Great Malays, which had red plumage; and Javas, as they were called, which also had red plumage....  In the catalog of the Rhode Island Red Club of America it is stated that as early as 1860 there existed in and about New Bedford, Rhode Island, fowls called Red Java which had been brought by whaling ships from Java, and that they had red plumage and rose combs.  Both males and females were a dark red, difficult to describe; their shanks and toes were reddish yellow and of medium length.  From these fowls it is claimed that the present type of Rose-Comb Rhode Island Red fowls were descended."  Mr. McGrew has this to say in his section on Barred Plymouth Rocks:  "The two breeds most directly connected with the Barred Plymouth Rock were the Java and the Dominiques.  The Java, which is of Asiatic origin, had black or brownish-black plumage, a single comb, and no feathers on the shanks or toes...."

 I will continue to add info as it becomes available and time permits.  Tim Christakos (who made all this possible), Senior Exhibit Specialist at the MSI has much info that I will share as it becomes available.

2009 was a good year for my Auburns.  I have been watching them closely trying to analyze what I am seeing in regard to their color/pattern.  The hens especially have been a mystery to me from the beginning.  With the help of my birds and several books, I think I may have stumbled onto something.

Some of the females are a dull black (not the lustrous greenish black of the Black Javas), others are almost black with a little color (sort of gold) appearing on their necks while others have ample amounts of color on their necks, breast and backs.  And the exciting part for me is some display the classic Golden Spangled color/pattern.  (To see this check out the female Golden Spangled Hamburg and/or the Golden Spangled Appenzellar Spitzhauben.)  Two references tell me that “patchiness, that is, black or dark patches in the plumage, due to the uneven distribution or the variation in the size of the black spangle must be avoided.”  Another source says “it is more difficult to get properly shaped spangles in the female than the male.”  Perhaps this is why it took so long for this color to surface.  Therefore, from what I’ve seen these darker females may well be displaying the “patchiness” defect and hidden under all that dark color is a Golden Spangled bird.  Hopefully, my 2010 females will confirm this or at least get me a little closer to sorting out their color.

The male plumage has always seemed to be a little easier to define.  Yes, I know there were many variations from very dark to the very beautiful “golden necks.”  When I first saw the “golden necks”, I knew these were what I wanted to breed.  It would be difficult to improve on the color of these guys!  When I see the roosters walking across my yard, I can only compare them to a New England autumn!  The hackles and saddles are yellow and orange, the backs and wing bows are dark red, and the tails are lustrous greenish black.  The breast, body and fluff display the golden spangled color/pattern; thus, we see the Golden Spangled color/pattern in both sexes.  The Auburn male’s color is not the typical golden spangled as seen on the Hamburg and Appenzellar Spitzhauben, however, I find it much more impressive!

These observations may create as many questions as answers.  The few reports of the Auburns prior to 1870 led me to believe they would be somewhat darker, possibly more like the Buckeye or Rhode Island Red or even the New Hampshire.  Fortunately they are quite colorful and “not just another red chicken”.   Dictionaries define “auburn” as simply “reddish brown”.  The “golden” color of golden spangled birds could certainly be described as “reddish brown” even though it is officially referred to as “golden bay”.

The books I used to study the color information were:  Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius, Extraordinary Chickens by Stephen Green-Armytage (has a beautiful color illustration of a Golden Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben hen), Book of Bantams published by the American Bantam Association, Bantam Chickens by Fred P. Jeffrey and the American Standard of Perfection 2001 published by the American Poultry Association.

Keep in mind that “spangling” comes in several forms.  “Golden Spangled” and “Silver Spangled” are seen in the Hamburg and Appenzeller Spitzhauben.  “Spangled” is found in several breeds with the Spangled Old English Game and Speckled Sussex being examples.  The Sicilian Buttercup has elongated, diagonal spangles and the Redcap shows a type of spangling.  It is the “Golden Spangled” color/pattern that the Auburn Javas seem to be expressing.

The Auburns are still a work in progress and my 2009 Notes may be modified at any time.  Stay tuned!

The Auburns seem to show good Java type, however I would like to see them a little bigger and their eggs a little darker.  Their combs are good.