Welcome to the Derbyshire Redcap Club Website

The Derbyshire Redcap is perhaps one of our oldest dual-purpose utility

breeds, and historically it was popular with farmers in Derbyshire and

Yorkshire, where it was highly thought of, especially for its laying quality.

Always recognised as a barnyard fowl,Derbyshire Redcaps are classed

as a light breed and are at their best on free range where they can forage

for most of their food. Never bred intensively or commercially, the hens are

 non-sitters producing large numbers of good-sized white eggs. The hen can

produce 150 - 200 white eggs a year, and the meat is white and has a flavour similar to game birds.

The Redcap is noted for its wonderful colouring; the plumage of the hen being a rich, deep, nut brown, with body feathers ending in a half-moon spangle. The plumage of the cockerel varies from a deep chestnut red to a black-red, the neck and hackles being a dark orange, matching in colour when the head is turned to the tail. Tails are black, beaks horn-coloured, face, lobes and wattles red, legs and feet slate coloured. Of course, the magnificent rose comb is their main feature; recommended sizes are stated in the standard, it should also be firm, have a short outstanding leader, the top covered with fine points, no hollows and carried level on the head, not overhanging the eyes. White earlobes are forbidden!