Gotlands

A row of Gotlands females
Photo courtesy of the Svenska Lanthönsklubben

This breed is from the Swedish island of Gotland, hence its name. They are good foragers and very wary of predators.

Young hens are excellent layers, but as they get older they are prone to broodiness. The broodies are very good mothers.

Gotlands hens are usually brown, patterned like a Red Jungle Fowl, but other colors do occur. They weigh from 7 to 8.5 pounds (3 to 3.5 kilos).