If you are interested in raising rare breed chickens, you should closely consider the Phoenix. Granted, this breed of chicken really isn't very good for practical purposes, being really bred mostly for show. However, its outstanding beauty makes it worth the effort. The Phoenix's namesake is that wonderful and mythical creature of yore. The similarity is the breed's long and beautiful tail. It truly is difficult to believe that a chicken can be such a beautiful bird.
The Phoenix was first bred after World War Two in Germany. It was developed by crossing regular game birds and chickens with the famous Onagadori. The resulting Phoenix was bred to grow very long and attractive tails. Full grown rooster Phoenixes can have tails that easily measure between four and five feet in length.
However, their ancestors, the Onagadori, have been known to have tails of twenty feet and more! This is because of a combination of genes that are designed to keep the tail growing continuously without molting for a period of several years. Of course, it also requires a lot of effort on the breeder's part as well to protect those glorious tails. In fact, most roosters are confined to perches.
The APA (American Poultry Association) has admitted three different types of Phoenix. The very first to be admitted back in 1965 was the Silver Duckwing Standard. This type has shoulder hackles of a silvery white color. The next variety to be recognized by the APA was in 198 - the Golden Duckwing Standard. Like its name implies, the Golden's shoulder hackles are gold in color. And around 2003, the Black Breasted Red Standard was the last to be admitted.
A well bred Phoenix will look a bit like a pheasant. They should have only a single comb, slate colored legs, and white earlobes. The tails of the roosters should be carried horizontally, but the hens will normally carry their tail a bit higher. Their full curtained saddle feathers should almost touch the ground. The full grown roosters should weigh right around five pounds, and the hens should be about four pounds.
It's important to remember that these chickens are not meant for practical use. They don't have good egg production, and their occasional eggs are slightly white tinted and small. However, the plus is that hens are fairly regular at going broody. But mostly, these chickens are raised for exhibition only. The breed's status is currently threatened and they are recorded as a sustainable heritage chicken.
If Phoenixes sound like your type of chicken, then you should be warned that a small coop is really not practical for them. These birds are active and have great flight skills. They will do their best when they are given lots of room to roam around. This is especially important for the growth of their tails, as confinement in too small an area can cause major harm to their delicate tail feathers. However, a large coop that is covered and hosts a contained run would work will for them too.
Phoenixes do require more work than normal chickens, but their outstanding beauty really make them worth the work. A hobby of keeping rare breed chickens can be both interesting and fun. (And the added bonus of eggs is nice too!)
The Phoenix was first bred after World War Two in Germany. It was developed by crossing regular game birds and chickens with the famous Onagadori. The resulting Phoenix was bred to grow very long and attractive tails. Full grown rooster Phoenixes can have tails that easily measure between four and five feet in length.
However, their ancestors, the Onagadori, have been known to have tails of twenty feet and more! This is because of a combination of genes that are designed to keep the tail growing continuously without molting for a period of several years. Of course, it also requires a lot of effort on the breeder's part as well to protect those glorious tails. In fact, most roosters are confined to perches.
The APA (American Poultry Association) has admitted three different types of Phoenix. The very first to be admitted back in 1965 was the Silver Duckwing Standard. This type has shoulder hackles of a silvery white color. The next variety to be recognized by the APA was in 198 - the Golden Duckwing Standard. Like its name implies, the Golden's shoulder hackles are gold in color. And around 2003, the Black Breasted Red Standard was the last to be admitted.
A well bred Phoenix will look a bit like a pheasant. They should have only a single comb, slate colored legs, and white earlobes. The tails of the roosters should be carried horizontally, but the hens will normally carry their tail a bit higher. Their full curtained saddle feathers should almost touch the ground. The full grown roosters should weigh right around five pounds, and the hens should be about four pounds.
It's important to remember that these chickens are not meant for practical use. They don't have good egg production, and their occasional eggs are slightly white tinted and small. However, the plus is that hens are fairly regular at going broody. But mostly, these chickens are raised for exhibition only. The breed's status is currently threatened and they are recorded as a sustainable heritage chicken.
If Phoenixes sound like your type of chicken, then you should be warned that a small coop is really not practical for them. These birds are active and have great flight skills. They will do their best when they are given lots of room to roam around. This is especially important for the growth of their tails, as confinement in too small an area can cause major harm to their delicate tail feathers. However, a large coop that is covered and hosts a contained run would work will for them too.
Phoenixes do require more work than normal chickens, but their outstanding beauty really make them worth the work. A hobby of keeping rare breed chickens can be both interesting and fun. (And the added bonus of eggs is nice too!)
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