View source for Cubalaya

{{Short description|Breed of chicken}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name          = Cubalaya
| image         = Kruppert Cubalaya cropped.JPG
| image_size    =
| alt           = 
| image_caption =
| status        = 
| altname       =
| country       = Cuba
| distribution  =
| standard      =
| use           = {{nobreak|Triple-purpose: eggs, meat, game}}
| nickname      =
| apa           = all other standard breeds<ref name=apa/>
| aba           = all other comb clean legged
| ee            = 
| pcgb          =
| maleweight    = Standard: 2.40 kg<ref name=acpa/><br>Bantam: 740 g<ref name=ekarius/>
| femaleweight  =Standard: 1.59 kg<ref name=acpa/><br>Bantam: 625 g<ref name=ekarius/>
| skincolor     =
| eggcolor      =
| comb          = pea
| note          = 
| type          = [[Chicken]]
| latin         = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}

The '''Cubalaya''' is a [[Cuba]]n [[List of chicken breeds|breed]] of domestic [[chicken]]. It is the only chicken breed with official recognition from the Asociación Nacional de Avicultura, the Cuban national poultry association. It derives from [[Sumatra (chicken)|Sumatra]] and [[Malay (chicken)|Malay]] birds brought to Cuba from the [[Philippine Islands|Philippines]],<ref name=acpa/> and was bred as a triple-purpose breed, for meat, eggs and [[cock-fighting]].<ref name=ekarius/>

== History ==

In the middle 19th century, the [[Spaniards]] brought to [[Havana, Cuba]], several varieties of [[Asia]]tic game fowl that originated in the [[Philippine Islands]].  The Cubans crossed the Asiatic breeds, and subsequently re-crossed them with birds of European origin.

These birds were then selectively bred for wide, extended tails and a curving beak, fierce eyes, and a courageous expression. In this manner the Cubalaya was created, independent from any scientific control.  In 1935, the Asociacion Nacional de Avicultura (the Cuban national poultry association) approved the breed. Their name was chosen in honor of the [[Republic of Cuba]], which had patronized and refined them.

The Cubalaya was first shown in the U.S. at the International Poultry Exhibition in 1939, and was recognized by the [[American Poultry Association]] in the same year; the bantam is recognized by the [[American Bantam Association]].

== Characteristics ==

Cubalayas are characterized by their stately carriage; pea comb; abundant, flowing hackle feathers and long, well-spread tail carried about 20 degrees below the horizontal.  They have a friendly, curious disposition, are very heat tolerant and make excellent foragers when allowed to range.<ref name=albc/> The hens lay small eggs and are good brooders.

The breed has been developed in standard and [[Bantam (chicken)|bantam]] size. Standard-sized cocks weigh on average {{nobreak|2.40 kg}} and hens {{nobreak|1.59 kg}};<ref name=acpa/> bantam cocks weigh about {{nobreak|740 g}} and hens about {{nobreak|625 g}}.<ref name=ekarius/>

Three colors were allowed by the original Cuban standard: black, black-breasted red and white; many others were bred in Cuba at the time.<ref name=caballe/> The same three colors are accepted by both the APA and the ABA.

{{commonscat|Cubalaya}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=acpa>[http://www.actaf.co.cu/revistas/Revista%20ACPA/2005/EDICION%20ESPECIAL/07%20LEGADO.pdf Un legado a las generaciones futuras: Apoyo a la conservación y uso de los Recursos Genéticos] (in Spanish). Asociación Cubana de Producción Animal: ''Revista ACPA'', special edition 2005. Accessed August 2014.</ref>

<ref name=albc>[http://albc-usa.org/cpl/cubalaya.html Cubalaya Chicken]. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Accessed August 2014.</ref>

<ref name=apa>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171104135004/http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/PDF%20Forms/APA%20Recognized%20Breeds%20and%20Varieties%20Sept2012.pdf APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012]. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.</ref>

<ref name=caballe>Carlos F. Caballe (July 1944). ''Las Cubalayas: A Genuine Cuban Breed''.  Originally published: ''Tribuna Avicola'', July 1944; translated Braulio Saenz, 1968, reprinted (2000) in [https://books.google.com/books?id=6l5MAAAAYAAJ ''Bulletin of the Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities''] '''5''': 7.</ref>

<ref name=ekarius>Carol Ekarius (2007). ''Storeys Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds''. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. {{ISBN|9781580176682}}. {{nobreak|p. 143–44.}}</ref>

}}

[[Category:Birds of Cuba]]
[[Category:Chicken breeds]]
[[Category:Chicken breeds originating in Cuba]]