Mandatory Expansion Standard for All 31 Existing Chicken Breed Articles
The Poultry Authority master file confirms that 31 breed guides exist, but the stored file does not expose the individual titles or full article bodies. Manus must read the actual breed file before editing it. Do not guess the breed or publish one generic template under multiple breed names.
Required word-depth range
- Major breed cornerstone: 3,500–6,000 useful words - Standard breed profile: 2,500–4,000 useful words - Rare or poorly documented breed: publish only what can be verified; do not pad to reach a number - Breed comparison: 1,800–3,500 words - Short answer support page: 800–1,500 words when the answer is genuinely narrow
Word count is not a ranking guarantee. Unique usefulness is the standard.
Required unique data fields
Every breed page should include verified entries for:
- official breed name - alternate names - country or region of development - recognized or unrecognized status - standard, bantam, or both - primary historical purpose - current common uses - male and female size ranges - comb type - skin, shank, and earlobe characteristics - recognized colors or varieties - expected egg shell color - realistic laying range with a source and caveat - broodiness tendency - temperament range - flight ability - foraging ability - confinement tolerance - cold tolerance - heat tolerance - noise tendency - predator awareness - child and beginner suitability - flock compatibility - special housing needs - feathered-foot, crest, beard, frizzle, silkied-feather, rumpless, or other trait risks - common management vulnerabilities - conservation or rarity status when relevant - exhibition considerations - lifespan as a carefully qualified range - sourcing and breeder questions
Mandatory article structure
1. H1 with breed name and clear value proposition 2. Quick breed verdict 3. Breed facts table 4. History and development 5. Appearance and recognized varieties 6. Standard versus bantam differences 7. Temperament and handling 8. Egg production and laying pattern 9. Broodiness and mothering 10. Climate tolerance 11. Housing and space implications 12. Feeding and body-condition management 14. Molting and seasonal management 15. Rooster behavior and flock ratios 16. Compatibility with children, pets, and mixed flocks 17. Free range versus confinement 18. Is this breed right for a beginner? 19. Cost and sourcing 20. Ethical breeder checklist 21. Breed-specific emergency considerations 22. Pros and cons 23. Comparison with three relevant breeds 24. Frequently asked questions 25. Sources and editorial notes 26. Related articles and NPA next action
Content that must be breed-specific
The following sections cannot be duplicated between breeds:
- opening paragraph - quick verdict - temperament analysis - climate analysis - housing modifications - egg expectations - comparisons - pros and cons - FAQs - image captions and alt text - internal-link selection
Breed-page trust rules
- Do not state that every member of a breed behaves the same way. - Distinguish breed tendency from individual behavior. - Do not guarantee egg counts. - Avoid invented lifespan, weight, or production figures. - Explain differences between hatchery lines, breeder lines, utility lines, and exhibition lines when relevant. - Do not misuse American Poultry Association recognition. - Do not claim a variety is officially recognized without verification. - Identify potentially controversial traits or welfare concerns neutrally and accurately. - Do not present color-sexing, auto-sexing, feather sexing, or vent sexing as interchangeable.
Required breed-support pages
Each breed should connect to supporting intent pages such as:
- `[Breed] temperament` - `[Breed] egg production` - `[Breed] rooster behavior` - `[Breed] chicks` - `[Breed] colors and varieties` - `[Breed] size and weight` - `[Breed] heat tolerance` - `[Breed] cold tolerance` - `[Breed] lifespan` - `[Breed] versus [related breed]` - `Is [Breed] good for beginners?` - `Is [Breed] good with children?` - `Can [Breed] chickens free range?`
Create a support page only when it can provide distinct value beyond the main breed guide. Otherwise use a section and anchored link.
Breed comparison tool data
Every breed record should populate a structured database rather than hardcoded page copy. Recommended fields:
- breed ID - slug - name - aliases - origin - size class - weight range - egg color - annual laying range - broodiness score - temperament score - cold score - heat score - confinement score - foraging score - flight score - noise score - beginner score - child score - primary use - comb type - feathered legs - crest - beard or muffs - conservation status - recognition notes - last reviewed date - citations
Initial expansion priority
Prioritize the breeds most commonly searched and the breeds already mentioned in NPA materials:
- Rhode Island Red - Leghorn - Silkie - Orpington - Plymouth Rock - Sussex - Brahma - Cochin - Polish - Sebright - Ayam Cemani - Australorp - Easter Egger - Ameraucana - Marans - Wyandotte - Delaware - New Hampshire - Jersey Giant - ISA Brown or commercial hybrid education page
Commercial hybrids must not be described as standardized heritage breeds.
Acceptance test for each breed page
A breed page fails if:
- the introduction could apply to any breed - the page lacks verified breed-specific facts - three or more sections substantially duplicate another breed page - the article uses fake author or reviewer credentials - the egg number is presented as a guarantee - the page has no meaningful internal links - images are mislabeled - structured data contradicts visible content - the page is not mobile readable - the page contains broken or placeholder links