Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner
This breed is EXTREMELY rare in the united states. Only being introduced in 2014 (to my knowedge). The Niederrheinerhuhn, as it is known in its country of origin, Germany, meets the discerning taste of a pedigree poultry breeder who wants a unique, dual purpose, bird.
The breed was based on the North Holland Blue Broiler chicken using various other heavy and light breeds.
Over the years, the appearance of the Niederrheiner adapted in shape and color. The result is an over-medium sized, yet very agile, broad, and moderately tall, ruddy hen with a full, well-rounded shape.
The first color was the blue sparrowed partridge (called blue crele in the U.S.). The predominant color in the United States is called yellow sparrowhawk in Germany, and here we call it lemon cuckoo. Crele is also beginning to be created here. Several other colors are also accepted in the country of origin. All of them being cuckoo (barred) varieties.
This breed has suffered from the only serious breeders, since it has been in the USA, have been hatcheries. Thus, proper attention has not been paid to maintaining correct type as it has been developed in Germany. My goal is to improve it to the quality of the German standard and see it appreciated for its uniqueness and its qualities as a dual purpose bird.
The birds shown above, and at the top of the page, are my main breeding flock of lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners. I will keep a small flock working towards crele as well.
Eggs and grow outs are currently available.