In 2022 Magyar Posta is starting a new series called Indigenous Hungarian Poultry Breeds, which, based on the plans, is intended to present a different poultry breed annually over a number of years. In 2022, the white Transylvanian naked neck chicken, the speckled Transylvanian naked neck chicken and the black Transylvanian naked neck chicken appear on the stamps. The strip of three stamps designed by the graphic artist Ágnes Berta were produced by ANY Security Printing Company. The new issue is available from Filaposta, philately specialist services, certain post offices and www.posta.hu.
The Transylvanian naked neck chicken breeds were still considered to be first-class farm poultry in the first half of the 20th century. They are extremely hardy, strong and resilient. These breeds are fast growing and feather out quickly. The hens are good egg layers in the right environment. Their eggs are usually brown or cream in colour, but white ones are also common. In some regions these breeds were thought to be excellent winter layers.
These chickens are characterised by having no feathers on their neck and part of the breast and belly. There are also only few feathers on the head. The shape of the body resembles that of the Hungarian chicken, but it is larger, longer and ovoid, with a round breast like that of wild birds. The wings are longer and more pointed. All three breeds are characterised by a red face, comb, head (especially the back of the head) and wattles which are brighter in the rooster and a slightly paler shade in the laying hen, except for the back of the head, which is always deeper red. The white and speckled Transylvanian naked neck chickens have pure white beaks and feet, while those of the black breed are dark grey. Source: HU-BA VILLAGE PROGRAMME
The stamps in the strip show a male and a female of the indigenous chicken breeds (Gallus gallus domesticus): the white Transylvanian naked neck chicken, the speckled Transylvanian naked neck chicken and the black Transylvanian naked neck chicken. The accompanying first day cover depicts a poultry yard and the postmark shows a stylised drawing of a rooster and a laying hen.
