Most chickens have feathers. Some have more feathers than others, and some have excess feathers all over their legs and feet. Did you know that the domestic chicken that we have nowadays goes as far back as 2,000 B.C. ? It is descended from the Red Junglefowl found in Southeast Asia and some parts of South Asia .
however, we ’ ra interest in the chickens that sport the rather cute and dapper feathered feet. They come from all over the world and in a wide variety of colors and sizes .
so, here we present 10 breeds of chicken that have copious feathers, even on their feet, in alphabetic arrange :
1. belgian D ’ Uccles
These chickens are besides known as the Barbu D ’ Uccles and are from Belgium. They come in ampere many as 20 different color varieties in their native nation but are normally Mille Fleur ( which translates to “ million flowers ” as they are speckled and orange in color ). They have feathered legs and four toes, with only the extinct toe that is feathered .
They are considered an ornamental chicken as they are small in size, gorgeous, and their eggs are quite small. The belgian D ’ Uccles is a very expansive and affectionate dame with a sedate nature and will love to perch on your lick or shoulder .
2. Booted Bantam
The Booted Bantam is besides called the Sablepoot, or the Dutch Booted Bantam, as they are indeed Dutch. The Booted Bantam is actually identical similar to the belgian D ’ Uccles in appearance but are by and large a small bigger and don ’ t have a “ beard ” of feathers like the D ’ Uccle. The Booted Bantam besides comes in about 20 color varieties ( including the Mille Fleur ) and have heavily feathered legs and feet .
These birds are sometimes referred to as the supermodel breed and are only used for exhibiting due to their little eggs and size. The Booted Bantam is a friendly, composure, and easygoing chicken that can make an excellent pet .
3. Brahma
The Brahma chicken breed is believed to have been developed in the United States from bird that originated in China and India. These are larger birds that lay medium to large-sized eggs and come in three color varieties – luminosity, black, and buff. Their feathers besides cover their legs and toes .
These are one of the largest breeds of chicken and are used for both kernel a good as their eggs. Brahmas are very docile and calm chickens that actually do best in northerly climates as they are able to handle the cold a lot better than early breeds .
4. Cochin
The Cochin hails from China and is a big chicken with a long ton of feathers that comes in about nine semblance varieties. They lay eggs that are big in size and are feathered from steer to toe .
These birds may be large but are identical docile and friendly – the males are rarely aggressive and can be tamed quite easily. They besides do quite well in cold climates and would barely as well make themselves at base in the thousand or in your home .
5. Croad Langshan
A singular diagnose for a alone shuttlecock. The Croad Langshan originated in the Langshan zone of China but was imported into the U.K. in 1872 by major Croad for a poultry show. They can be blank but are largely seen in black with a gorgeous iridescent shininess of green. These are besides big birds that tend to be tall, but they have less feathering on their legs and feet than many of the chickens on this number .
They lay large eggs that are normally assorted shades of embrown but have occasionally been known to lay eggs that are plum in tinge. The Croad Langshan is a calm air and gentle bird that can make a great favored .
6. Faverolles
This breed of chicken hails from the little greenwich village of Faverolles in France in the 1860s. today, these chickens are rare and large in size and lay medium-sized eggs. They come in white, mahogany, and pink-orange colors and sport beards and muffs ( shorter feathers on the cheek and chin ) equally well as five feathered toes .
Faverolles are besides quite sedate and docile birds that can be quite shy and do well in cold weather. They are besides curious birds that enjoy a decent cuddle, but they have been listed as ‘ threatened ’ by the Livestock Conservancy .
7. french Marans
The Marans ( pronounce ‘ muh-ran ’ ) chickens originated in Marans, France, in the late 1800s. They come in a big variety of colors but are normally seen in black copper and cuckoo ( which is similar to barred coloration ). The french Marans are the only engender that has feathered feet and legs ( english Marans do not have feathers on their legs and feet ) .
The Marans are celebrated for laying very benighted brown eggs, and they have a variety of temperaments. Some might be very friendly and docile, while others could be skittish and nervous. In general, they are friendly and might follow you about, but they tend to not want to be touched or handled.
8. Pekin
Another chicken that hails from China, but specifically Peking ( known as Beijing nowadays ), during the Qing Dynasty, these are small birds that are feathered from point to toe. They come in about 12 varieties of color, and they lay minor eggs .
The Pekin is a very easy and docile bird and can make fantastic pets for the family, but Pekin Bantam cocks might become more aggressive as they mature due to their protective natures. however, if you ’ rhenium looking for a hen to hug, then the Pekin is an adorable, pint-size chicken just right for you .
9. Silkie
Another breed of chicken that originated in China erstwhile before the thirteenth century, these birds were named after their satiny feathers. These beautiful small birds may have been written about by Marco Polo, who wrote in 1298, they “ have hair like cats, are blacken, and lay the best of eggs. ” They come in lots of colors but are normally seen in egg white and have five feathered toes and black or dark blue hide .
Silkies aren ’ thymine good egg layers but are big at hatching eggs from early birds. They are very sugared, friendly, and docile chickens that are primarily ornamental birds that make lovely and attention-getting pets .
10. Sultan
last, we have the Sultan chicken, which comes from Turkey ( where it ’ sulfur called Serai Taook, which broadly translates to ‘ Sultan ’ s Fowl ’ ) and was basically a living decoration in the gardens of Sultans. They come in several colors but are normally white and have muffs and beards and big crests of feathers on their heads. Their five toes and legs are besides feathered .
Sultans are small and docile chickens that do not fend for themselves very well ( they are prone to browbeat, being pecked by other breeds, and easily fall victim to predators ). They are loving and gratifying birds but will need some TLC as they don ’ thyroxine do well in cold or wet weather .
Problems with Feathered Feet
There are some problems with feathered feet if they aren ’ thyroxine well taken worry of. These concerns can include :
Issues with mud: Obviously, when you are sporting all of those gorgeous feathers on your feet, you’re going to have trouble with mud. If the coop is muddy, your poor chicken will pick up the mud (and poop with it) and drag it into the nest and on the eggs if she’s broody.
Mites: The feathered legs of chickens are more susceptible to scaly leg mites than chickens without feathery legs. The feathers not only make it easier for the mites to find a way in, but they also make it more of a challenge to treat.
Picking: Picking occurs when other “regular” chickens that don’t have the fancy feathered legs start to pick out the feathers of the chickens that do. Obviously, this isn’t a problem if you don’t have other chickens around, but if you do, you will need to keep an eye on this behavior.
Frostbite: While the feathers can provide extra warmth in the colder seasons, they can also cause problems if it gets slushy. Mud and slush can potentially become embedded and frozen into the feathers, which could lead to frostbite.
While these are all issues that need to be watched for, a little extra time and care on your side should prevent these problems from occurring. Of course, if you suspect that your chicken is suffering from any of these circumstances, you should always consult your vet .
decision
These 10 breeds of chickens all have one thing in common, which is feathered feet. Most of these chickens are dulcet and docile birds that are used primarily as ornamental pets. And it makes sense given how beautiful they all are ! If you ’ re considering bringing one of these breeds home plate with you, be certain to do your homework, but they will make singular additions to your family.
Read more: Tips, Tricks & Recipes for Quail Eggs
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Featured Image Credit : Pixabay
