Frizzle chickens

 

A Frizzle is a type of chicken with feathers that curl outwards, rather than lying flat as in most chickens. While many consider the Frizzle to be an entirely separate breed, it is not. Chickens from all breeds may have a frizzled appearance. It is a variety within breeds, some with clean legs and others with feathering on the legs.Genetically, the frizzled gene is a dominant trait. As a result of its unusual look, Frizzles are primarily exhibition birds, and are included in the Standard of Perfection.

Frizzle Chickens Background & Appearance.

The Frizzle is thought to have originated in Southern Asia around 300 years ago, but the history is a little sketchy as some Frizzles were documented to have been kept in Europe in the 17th century.

This breed of chicken is generally regarded as an exhibition breed, the bantam variety being much more popular than the larger type. In fact the larger bird was virtually extinct, until a group of breeders set up an intensive program to promote them, they are still considered rare today.

One look at a Frizzle Chicken and you’ll understand how it got it’s name, the strange feathering curls towards the head and is even and as tight as posible. Frizzles are full breasted and have short erect bodies. Large tails and long wings complete the picture.

Frizzles come in a range of colours, the commonest being white, black,blue, buff and silver-grey. Less common colours being columbian, black-red, duckwing, cuckoo, spangle, brown-red, pile and spangle.

Beak colour is denoted by the plumage colour, with some white and some yellow. The curly feathers also get a category either frizzled, over-frizzled or flat-coated.

Caring For Frizzle Chickens.

Frizzles are hardy birds, which develop quickly and can be left to free roam, but if you want to keep them in a run, then ensure you have a top on it or they may escape.

If you live in a particularly wet area, and get a lot of rain, then your frizzles should be kept indoors, as their feather formation doesn’t tolerate  particularly wet weather. You should also make sure your drinkers don’t allow the birds feathers to become wet, as the wet curly feathers become a magnet for dirt and shavings etc.

A great breed for keeping pet chickens, but if you have toddlers, don’t let them run around the pen or your chooks will become nervous.

If you are considering breeding Frizzle Chickens,  then introduce new strains to your girls, as breeding from the same strain year upon year will result in birds with weak and sparse feathers.

Newly hatched chicks appear to be normal feathered when they hatch, but don’t worry, the feathers soon start to grow and curl outwards.

Frizzle Chickens, Egg Laying & Broodiness.

It is worth mentioning at this point, that a lot of breeders and chicken fanciers, don’t recognise frizzles as a breed, (except in the UK where it is a show breed) but a feather type. Therefore a lot of crossbred frizzle strains abound. So dependant on where you get your birds, egg laying and egg colouration can differ quite a lot.

Generally true bred Frizzles lay quite well and produce a cream or tinted medium egg. If your ‘frizzles’ are cross bred with Cochins or Australorps for instance, then the egg laying/colour could follow those breeds. It’s best to check with the breeder you get your chicks or eggs from as to the exact strain.