Description and characteristics of the 22 best breeds of ornamental chickens

Today there are many breeds of ornamental chickens. They differ in size, plumage color, productivity, and character. This helps farmers choose the best option based on personal preferences. To achieve success in raising birds, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the conditions under which they are kept. Such birds need a properly equipped poultry house, a balanced diet, and disease prevention.

Features and varieties

Decorative breeds are characterized by the following features:

1. Color. Such birds are distinguished by colored feathers or an original solid color.
2. Dimensions. Decorative chickens are very different from others in size. Thus, there are tiny breeds weighing less than 1 kilogram or huge birds that are close in weight to broilers.
3. Feather shape. She can be unusual. Thus, Chinese crested chickens are distinguished by feathers that resemble down.
4. Additional details. Decorative birds often have a crest, crest, and cuffs. They are decorated with a long tail.

Popular breeds of ornamental chickens

Today there are many breeds of such chickens, each of which has its own characteristics..

Chinese silk

The birds are characterized by lush plumage. It includes fine feathers with a silky texture. There are especially many feathers on the head, legs and tail.

Curly breed

The feathers of this Asian breed curl upward, giving the birds a ruffled appearance. The hens' backs quickly become bald.

Pavlovsk chickens

In appearance, chickens are similar to pheasants. They come in silver-black or gold. They are decorated with unusual crests and feathering on their legs.

Faverolles

These chickens are characterized by rapid maturation and high productivity. A distinctive feature of birds is considered to be a lush beard, forming a massive collar.

Dutch white-crested

These chickens are distinguished by the presence of a white crest. In combination with feathers of a different color, an original pattern similar to a butterfly is formed on the forehead.

Araucanas

This variety is characterized by a lot of fluff on the face, reminiscent of a mustache and beard. Chickens may not have a tail.At the same time, they give unusual blue eggs.

Phoenix

This is an unusual Chinese breed. Cockerels are distinguished by a beautiful narrow tail that grows quickly. The colors of birds vary - golden, white, silver.

Ayam Tsemani

A characteristic feature of the breed is its unusual black color. The skin, face, eyes and even bones are painted in it.

Bantamka

This is one of the most popular categories of decorative breeds. Cockerels weigh no more than 1 kilogram, and chickens weigh only 650 grams.

The appearance varies greatly depending on the breed.

Seabright

This is a dwarf breed, which is characterized by original plumage. At the same time, the birds are energetic and easy to care for.

Shabo

Chickens come in different shades. But the most popular are white or yellow birds with dark feathers on the tail.

Spanish whitefaces

As the name suggests, a characteristic feature of chickens is their unusual white face. The birds are large. Roosters weigh 3.5 kilograms, and females - 3.

Black bearded

Such birds combine an original appearance and high parameters of meat-egg productivity. The distinctive features of the breed are movable earrings, a voluminous beard, and a large head.

Ukrainian forelocks

A distinctive feature of the breed is the presence of a feather crest on the head. At the same time, the color of the feathers can be different - light Colombian or classic black. Fawn varieties are also found.

Paduan

The characteristic features of the birds are a lush crest and a thick beard. The color of feathers varies - there are yellow-orange, golden, black, silver and even blue chickens.

Cochin

This Chinese breed has become the basis for the breeding of many species of birds that are highly productive.These birds are characterized by thick feathers of different shades.

Wyandotte

This breed was developed in America. It is distinguished by its variegated feather color and small size. However, the low weight is compensated by its excellent appearance and excellent taste.

La Freche

These French chickens are characterized by blue-black plumage. A distinctive feature of the breed is its horned comb, which resembles the letter “V”.

Brahma

These chickens were named after the Brahmaputra River. This Indian breed is characterized by varied plumage. They come in white or silver.

Millefleur

This breed is characterized by a variegated color. Depending on the subspecies, it can be orange-black, light brown or bluish-golden.

Russian crested chickens

These chickens are characterized by a standard exterior. The decoration of birds is a crest of feathers, which completely or partially hides the comb.

Pavlovskaya

This is an exotic breed that is distinguished by beautiful feathers. They come in silver or gold.

Pros and cons of ornamental chickens

Decorative bird breeds have many advantages:

• they eat little, which helps save on feed;
• they are small in size, which makes it possible to keep them in small chicken coops;
• They have a calm disposition.

However, birds also have disadvantages:

• there is no pronounced maternal instinct;
• are characterized by poor tolerance to frost.

Decorative chickens have fewer disadvantages than advantages. Such breeds are popular among farmers because they are distinguished by their good character, high productivity and unpretentiousness.

Subtleties of maintenance and care

To raise ornamental chickens, it is worth providing them with suitable living conditions:

1. High quality food. Such birds need a more varied diet than ordinary laying hens.It is important that they get plenty of vitamins. Birds should be given vegetables daily - carrots, cabbage, beets. It is definitely recommended to use mineral supplements. As a rule, it is worth grinding gravel, chalk, and shells. Thanks to a balanced diet, birds will be able to maintain a decorative appearance.
2. Climatic conditions. The difficulties of breeding ornamental breeds lie in the fact that they can hardly tolerate frost. When keeping a heated chicken coop, it is worth considering its size. In small rooms, birds lose their decorative properties.
3. Equipped perches. Most ornamental birds cannot fly. That's why they require low perches.
4. Localization of the chicken coop. It is best to place the room on an elevated place. This will help avoid high humidity, which provokes diseases. Ventilation will help improve the microclimate in the room.
5. Illumination. In summer, half of the walking area should be in the sun, half in the shade. Thanks to this, the birds will be able to hide from the scorching sun. This will protect them from overheating.
6. Conditions for keeping chickens. They should be isolated from adult chickens and roosters. The exception is the hen.

Breeding rules

When breeding ornamental birds, you should focus on the characteristics of the breed. Some chickens tolerate cold well, while others get sick in high humidity conditions. The suitable temperature for birds is considered to be +22-25 degrees.

It is recommended to keep chickens and chickens separately. At the same time, it is important to maintain perfect cleanliness in the room. It is best to make a wooden floor and place materials on top that can be easily swept away. It is worth protecting the chicken coop from animals - rats, cats, foxes.

To ensure healthy offspring, it is recommended to feed laying hens properly. Their diet should contain many foods high in vitamins - vegetables, grains, yeast, sprouted grains.

Possible problems

When growing ornamental breeds, some difficulties are possible. Most of these birds do not tolerate cold well. Therefore, they should be provided with comfortable conditions. It is important to use natural products for feeding.

In birds, the color and structure of feathers often deteriorate. Enough free space will help avoid this..

Decorative chickens are very popular among farmers. To achieve success in their cultivation, it is worth creating comfortable living conditions for the birds and proper nutrition.