About
The Pavlovskaya hen is Russia’s most ancient chicken breed. Its origins are lost in the murky depths of history, but by the time Russians began to take stock of their native chicken breeds in the late 1800s Pavlovskaya hens were already virtually extinct. Many centuries ago this breed emerged in the town of Pavlovo, a small enclave of peasants and craftsmen about 200 miles east of Moscow. The town was known for a number of unique agricultural specialties including the breeding of fighting geese, canaries, and the cultivation of lemons. Some poultry historians believe that the Pavlovskaya hens are the foundational breed that gave rise to more recently developed crested breeds like the Polish, Barthuhners, and Brabanters.
Pavlovskaya hens are known to be extremely cold hardy and have unique feathering on their feet that is similar to the feathering on wild grouse. A Russian myth describes the origin of this exotic breed as an illicit tryst between a chicken and grouse. Despite their hardiness the breed all but perished in the Soviet era. At one time in the early 1990s the total global population of authentic Pavlovskaya was reduced to two roosters, and one was infertile. By breeding the fertile rooster with somewhat similar hens, and then back-breeding to the father, the breed was reestablished.
Today very few of these remarkable birds remain in their native Russia, and they are virtually unknown outside that country. Nevertheless, in what was our most challenging import project, Greenfire Farms located a small breeding group and brought them to the United States. Pavlovskaya lay relatively few eggs. Typically we hatch fewer than a few hundred Pavlovskaya chicks each year. If you order these chicks please be prepared to wait several months to receive your chicks. But, given their outlandish good looks and pleasant personalities, we think you will find they are worth the wait.
Breed Availability
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Jun 09, 2026
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Jun 16, 2026
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Jun 23, 2026
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Jun 30, 2026
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Jul 07, 2026
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Jul 14, 2026
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Jul 21, 2026
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Jul 28, 2026
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Pavlovskaya
More Details
About
The Pavlovskaya hen is Russia’s most ancient chicken breed. Its origins are lost in the murky depths of history, but by the time Russians began to take stock of their native chicken breeds in the late 1800s Pavlovskaya hens were already virtually extinct. Many centuries ago this breed emerged in the town of Pavlovo, a small enclave of peasants and craftsmen about 200 miles east of Moscow. The town was known for a number of unique agricultural specialties including the breeding of fighting geese, canaries, and the cultivation of lemons. Some poultry historians believe that the Pavlovskaya hens are the foundational breed that gave rise to more recently developed crested breeds like the Polish, Barthuhners, and Brabanters.
Pavlovskaya hens are known to be extremely cold hardy and have unique feathering on their feet that is similar to the feathering on wild grouse. A Russian myth describes the origin of this exotic breed as an illicit tryst between a chicken and grouse. Despite their hardiness the breed all but perished in the Soviet era. At one time in the early 1990s the total global population of authentic Pavlovskaya was reduced to two roosters, and one was infertile. By breeding the fertile rooster with somewhat similar hens, and then back-breeding to the father, the breed was reestablished.
Today very few of these remarkable birds remain in their native Russia, and they are virtually unknown outside that country. Nevertheless, in what was our most challenging import project, Greenfire Farms located a small breeding group and brought them to the United States. Pavlovskaya lay relatively few eggs. Typically we hatch fewer than a few hundred Pavlovskaya chicks each year. If you order these chicks please be prepared to wait several months to receive your chicks. But, given their outlandish good looks and pleasant personalities, we think you will find they are worth the wait.
Breed Availability
|
Jun 09, 2026
|
Jun 16, 2026
|
Jun 23, 2026
|
Jun 30, 2026
|
Jul 07, 2026
|
Jul 14, 2026
|
Jul 21, 2026
|
Jul 28, 2026
|
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