Frizzle chicken
The Frizzle is a breed defined by curled, outward-turning feathers. It is a distinct breed in the UK, much of Europe and Australia.
The Frizzle is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Heavy class. Its origin is given as Asia (gene); breed developed in Europe.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Buff, Black, Black-Red, Brown-Red, Blue, Columbian, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Pile, Red, Spangled, White. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.6 kg, hen about 2.7 kg, bantam cock about 680–790 g and bantam hen about 570–680 g.
Expect about 160 eggs a year, with tinted/white shells. It is mainly kept for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Soft Feather Heavy
- Origin
- Asia (gene); breed developed in Europe
- Kept for
- Exhibition or ornamental
History
Its origin is unknown. The frizzle gene probably arose in Asia, and frizzled fowl have been reported from the Far East since the 1700s. Nineteenth-century texts also mention India, Egypt and South Africa. The Frizzle Society of Great Britain formed in 1978. In the US frizzling is not a breed and birds are judged by their underlying breed.
Appearance
The frizzle gene is incompletely dominant, so not every bird is frizzled.
Recognised colours
Buff, Black, Black-Red, Brown-Red, Blue, Columbian, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Pile, Red, Spangled, White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.6 kg
- Hen
- 2.7 kg
- Bantam cock
- 680–790 g
- Bantam hen
- 570–680 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- about 160
- Egg colour
- Tinted/white
Temperament
Not recorded yet.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Don't keep pairing heavily frizzled birds: feather quality worsens within a couple of generations, and thinner follicles cause bald patches. Keep some smooth-feathered pullets for breeding.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Frizzle Society of Great Britain, breed-specific · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
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