The Pedrês Portuguesa is a Portuguese breed of domestic chicken. It is one of four Portuguese chicken breeds, the others being the Amarela, the Branca and the Preta Lusitânica.
History
The Pedrês Portuguesa is a traditional rural breed. It is distributed throughout continental Portugal but is most numerous in the north-western part of the country. Its area of origin is considered to consist of the former province of Minho and some concelhos of the neighbouring provinces of Douro Litoral and Trás-os-Montes.
In the early twenty-first century the breed was considered to be at risk, with a population of some breeding hens. By 2024 the total population had risen to an estimated birds, with a breeding stock of hens and cocks distributed over 316 farms. Its conservation status was listed as "not at risk".
Characteristics
The Pedrês Portuguesa is found in only one colour variant, the barred pattern of narrow dark grey bars on a white or light grey ground for which it is named. The comb is single, with five or six points; the face, comb and earlobes are all bright red. The shanks are unfeathered and are pale yellow in colour with dark slate markings; the beak is pale yellow, sometimes slate-coloured at the base. Body weights are in the range for cocks and for hens; ring sizes are and respectively.
The birds are active and hardy and show good resistance to disease and to adverse environmental conditions. They are well suited to the extensive or free-range management – either in the open or in a chicken-run – typical of small family-run farms.
Use
The Pedrês Portuguesa is a dual-purpose breed, raised for both meat and eggs. The feathers may be used to make flies for trout-fishing.
References APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 23 June 2020.
Breed data sheet: Pedrês Portuguesa / Portugal (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2024.
[s.n.] (2021). Catálogo Oficial de Raças Autóctones Portuguesas (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal; Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária. Archived 19 January 2024.
Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
Luís Telo da Gama, Nuno Carolino, Mário Simões Costa, Claudino Pereira de Matos (editors) (2004). Recursos genéticos animais em Portugal. Vale de Santarém: Relatório Nacional. 68; archived 26 March 2023. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 10 January 2017.
Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
Aves - Raça Pedrês Portuguesa (in Portuguese). Vale de Santarém: Sociedade Portuguesa de Recursos Genéticos Animais. Archived 10 August 2024.