This is Rachel. If you haven’t already made her acquaintance, she’s something of a hen starlet on my Facebook page where she is featured daily in all her fluffy cuteness. Rachel is a bantam frizzled Cochin. Cochin is her breed, bantam describes her miniature size and frizzle describes her unusual feathers. Genetics cause frizzled feathers to grow out and curl away from the body instead of growing flat and smooth following the body contour. Frizzle is not a breed, it is a genetically programmed feather type.
Cochin is her breed, bantam describes her miniature size and frizzle describes her unusual feathers.FACTS ABOUT FRIZZLED CHICKENS:
- Frizzles are most commonly found in the following breeds: Polish, Cochin, Plymouth Rock, Japanese and Silkies (Silkie frizzles are referred to as Sizzles)
- Frizzled feathers curl out and away from the skin instead of laying flat against it.
- Frizzles cannot fly and may find it difficult to roost if the roosts are positioned too high above the floor.
Frizzled feathers provide less protection from the cold than smooth feathers as it is difficult to trap warm air against their bodies with backwards-facing feathers. Frizzled genes are dominant. A smooth-feathered bird bred to a frizzled bird will result in 25% of the chicks possessing frizzled feathers.
Bantam Cochin Frizzles Monica, Rachel & Phoebe at 6 weeks old.Breeding a frizzled bird to another frizzled bird is undesirable due to the chance that the mating may produce “curlies,” an over-frizzled bird with feathers that are weak, brittle and break easily. (think: chicken with a really bad perm)
White bantam Cochin chicks Female with frizzled feathers on left. Male on right.
Wow. Super informative. I love reading your articles. I feel so much smarter now. None of my chicks are in the "likely breed list" so I probably won't have any frizzles. At what age do you know they are a Frizzle?
Becoming a new chicken mom the end of this month – sure could use some treats to spoil them rotten!
lol I never thought I would ever say this, a chicken being cute………… but your right, Rachel is so cute and I want a "Rachel" someday.
I love reading your blog! It makes me laugh and has taught me a lot about how to care for my girls. Thank you so much for everything you do. I am hoping to get a few chicks this Spring so your prize pack would come in very handy!
I love the frizzles! And the prizes :) thanks for all you do.