So what were the first true chicken breeds? While domestication predates formal breeding, certain chickens developed into distinct types centuries ago due to geography, human preference, and selective traits. These early breeds often reflected the needs and environments of the people who raised them, whether for eggs, meat, spiritual significance, or status.

Let’s explore the earliest known chicken breeds and their legacies in today’s poultry world.

What Makes a “Breed” of Chicken?

Before diving in, it’s important to clarify what we mean by a “breed.” Domestication likely began 7,000 to 9,000 years ago, but distinct breeds—chickens with consistent traits passed from generation to generation—developed much later.

A breed typically has:

• Consistent appearance (feathers, comb, color, body shape)

• Predictable behavior or purpose (egg laying, meat production, fighting, ornamental)

• A documented history or origin in a specific region

Some of the breeds discussed below were formally recognized centuries ago, while others evolved naturally over time in isolated or culturally significant regions.

1. Malay

Origin: Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent
Purpose: Originally bred for fighting; later for ornamental purposes

The Malay is among the oldest recognized chicken breeds in existence. Standing tall and muscular with a game bird’s stance, this breed is believed to descend directly from early jungle fowl domesticated in India and Southeast Asia.

Ancient traders and seafarers helped spread the Malay across Asia and eventually into Europe, where it was introduced as early as the 1830s. Its upright posture, hard feathers, and aggressive temperament made it a favored bird in cockfighting circles long before such contests were outlawed.

Today, the Malay is prized mostly as an exhibition bird. It played a major role in developing modern game breeds and influenced large-bodied chickens like the Cornish.

2. Asil (or Aseel)

Origin: India and Pakistan
Purpose: Cockfighting and later ornamental use

The Asil is another ancient game breed, thought to date back over 2,000 years. Known for its powerful build, intense stare, and tightly muscled body, the Asil was bred primarily for fighting in the Indian subcontinent. The name “Asil” means “pure” in Arabic, reflecting the breed’s esteemed status.

This breed is slow to mature but incredibly strong and intelligent. Unlike most chickens, Asils often bond with humans and can be surprisingly affectionate.

Asils have influenced many other breeds, especially in the development of European and American gamefowl. They’re also thought to have contributed genetically to some modern broiler lines due to their dense musculature.

3. Sumatra

Origin: Indonesia (Sumatra Island)
Purpose: Originally cockfighting; now ornamental

The Sumatra is another example of a breed that began as a fighting bird and transitioned into ornamental circles. With long, flowing feathers and a lustrous green-black sheen, the Sumatra is striking in appearance and known for its grace and wildness.

It was first introduced to the West in the mid-1800s, and its exotic look quickly caught the attention of poultry fanciers. Despite its beauty, the Sumatra retains a lot of its feral instincts and can be flighty, preferring free-range life over confinement.

Its lean frame and long tail reflect its ancient roots as a wild bird domesticated for prestige rather than productivity.

4. Dorking

Origin: Britain, possibly introduced by Romans
Purpose: Dual-purpose—meat and eggs

The Dorking is one of the oldest European chicken breeds and a likely descendant of Roman-era chickens brought to Britain over 2,000 years ago. It is unique for having five toes, rather than the usual four—a trait shared with few other breeds.

The Dorking was highly valued for its tender meat and white skin, which made it especially desirable in early British markets. It was a mainstay of English farms well into the 19th century.

With a calm temperament and excellent table qualities, the Dorking is a classic heritage breed and a living link to the chickens of antiquity.

5. Langshan

Origin: China
Purpose: Dual-purpose; especially valued for eggs

The Langshan originated in the Langshan region near the Yangtze River in China and was brought to the West in the 1870s. Though not quite as old as the others listed here, it descends from even earlier Chinese poultry lines and carries ancient genetics.

This breed became popular in England and America as a productive layer with an upright stance, clean (or lightly feathered) legs, and gentle behavior. It laid large brown eggs, making it a favorite before modern commercial layer breeds took over.

Langshans played a role in developing many modern dual-purpose and utility breeds, including the Orpington and Black Australorp.

6. Silkie

Origin: China and Southeast Asia
Purpose: Ornamental and brooding

The Silkie is one of the most distinctive early chicken breeds, known for its soft, fluffy plumage that resembles fur more than feathers. Historical references to “furry chickens” date back over 700 years, with accounts from Marco Polo’s travels through Asia describing chickens with hair-like feathers.

Silkies are also known for their black skin and bones, turquoise earlobes, and calm demeanor. Though not particularly productive in terms of eggs or meat, they were highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and spiritual practices.

Silkies made their way to Europe by the 1600s and quickly became popular as ornamental birds. Their excellent brooding instincts made them useful for hatching eggs from other breeds as well.

Ancient Influence, Modern Legacy

Many of today’s most popular breeds—including Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Plymouth Rocks—trace their genetics to these early breeds. The Malay, Asil, and Sumatra gave rise to countless game and exhibition birds. The Dorking and Langshan laid the groundwork for utility breeds. And the Silkie continues to win hearts around the world as a beloved pet and broody hen.

Studying these early chicken breeds isn’t just an exercise in history. It’s a way of preserving biodiversity, understanding how humans shaped animals over millennia, and reconnecting with the roots of today’s backyard flocks.

Whether you raise ancient breeds or modern hybrids, every chicken in your coop carries the legacy of birds first domesticated thousands of years ago.