Category: Chicken Breeds

The Ornamental Flock: 6 Breeds with Extraordinary Flair

If you are looking to add some flair to your flock, several ornamental and exotic breeds offer striking aesthetics while still being accessible through major hatcheries. Silkies are perhaps the most recognizable, famous for their fur like plumage, black skin, and five toes; they are modest layers of about 100 small, cream colored eggs per year. For a touch of elegance, the Silver Laced Polish features a dramatic crest of feathers and a V-shaped comb. These “fancy-feathered” birds produce approximately 150 medium sized white eggs annually, though their crests may require occasional trimming to help them see.
The Egyptian Fayoumi is an ancient, active breed known for its upright tail and silver and black penciled patterns. They are exceptionally hardy and provide roughly 150 small, off-white or tinted eggs each year. If you prefer a breed with a more “prehistoric” look, the Modern Game bird stands tall on long, elegant legs with tight, sleek feathers. While primarily kept for exhibition rather than utility, they lay about 50 to 80 small, tinted eggs per season.
For those who appreciate unique feather structures, the Frizzle has feathers that curl outward rather than laying flat, giving them a windswept appearance. Depending on the base breed, they typically lay 120 to 180 medium sized eggs in shades of light brown or white. Finally, the Phoenix chicken is a beautiful Japanese ornamental breed famous for its exceptionally long tail feathers. They are graceful birds that produce roughly 100 small, cream or tinted eggs per year.

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The Essential Difference Between Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers

The Ameraucana and the Easter Egger are both popular choices for backyard poultry keepers, but they are often confused. Although both are known for laying colorful eggs, they are distinct types of birds with very different traits.

The Ameraucana: The Purebred Standard

Ameraucana
Easter Egger

The Ameraucana is a distinct, recognized breed that must adhere to strict American Poultry Association (APA) guidelines to earn its title. These birds are unmistakable with muffs and beards, paired with a distinct pea comb. To be considered a true Ameraucana, a bird must have slate blue or black legs, a U-shaped body, and a tail set at a 45-degree angle. They are also limited to eight recognized color varieties, and they are strictly blue egg layers. Because the pigment, called oocyanin, permeates the entire shell.
Now here’s the scoop on the Easter Egger, which you may be surprised to learn, isn’t a specific breed at all, but a hybrid! These birds are typically the result of crossing a blue egg layer with another breed, such as a Rhode Island Red or Marans. Because they’re crossbreeds, their appearance can be wildly unpredictable, while some may inherit the beard and muffs of their parents, others may not. Unlike the slate legs of the Ameraucana, you’ll often see Easter Eggers with green or willow colored legs. However, what is interesting about Easter Eggers, is the egg colors they may produce. While an individual hen will lay the same color egg her entire life, a flock of Easter Eggers can produce many different colors, including aqua, sage green, olive, tan, or even rose. This variety occurs because of the tinted factor, when a brown pigment is layered over a blue shell during production, the result ends up being a nice little surprise!

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The Buckeye, Breed Profile

The Buckeye was bred to be a functional “utility” bird, meaning it excels at both egg production and meat quality.
While the bird is primarily a deep, lustrous red, it has a few distinct color traits that set it apart:
Black accents: Black feathers in the tail.
The Buckeye was developed out of the Plymouth Rock, Cochin, and Red Game fowl to give the Buckeye its heavy, broad build and tight feathering.

Color: A unique, rich Mahogany Red (darker than a Rhode Island Red)
Comb Type: Pea Comb (small and flat, making them highly resistant to frostbite)
Body Shape: Slanted back with a powerful, stout build.
Weight: Roosters: 9 lbs; Hens: ~6.5 lbs.
Legs & Skin: Yellow legs and yellow skin.

Foraging : They are incredibly active and prefer to find their own snacks (bugs and greens) rather than sitting at a feeder all day.
Disposition: Generally calm and friendly toward humans, though they are very “busy” birds.
Cold Weather: Thanks to that tiny pea comb and thick feathers, they handle freezing winters better than almost any other breed.
Egg Laying: They are steady producers, typically laying 4 medium light brown eggs per week.

Conservation Status: They are currently listed as a “Watch” breed by the Livestock Conservancy, meaning they are relatively rare and benefit greatly from dedicated backyard keepers.

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