Frizzle chicken is a dual purpose breed with the main characteristics of curled or frizzled plumage. It is truly a unique chicken breed.
Unlike most other chickens, the plumage of Frizzle chicken is curved outward and forward, giving it the appearance of having walked through a wind storm backwards.
The origin of Frizzle chicken is unknown. The frizzle gene is thought to have originated in Asia and it can be seen in many breeds, such as Polish and Pekin.
Since the eighteenth century, the Frizzle chicken has been reported from the Far East. This breed is the result of breeder selection for exhibition.
Frizzle chicken is recognized as a distinct breed in nine European countries and Australia. The European countries which recognize this breed are; United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
But the Frizzle chickens are not considered as a breed in the United States, and at the shows they are judged by the standards of the breed they belong to. Now the breed is popular as a dual purpose breed and also very popular for exhibition.
Frizzle chickens come in wide color variety and show some characteristics of the Cochin chicken. It is a heavy breed, the size of a Plymouth Rock chicken. There is also a bantam version of this chicken breed.
Frizzle Chicken Characteristics
Frizzle chicken is a erect breed with short, broad bodies and a rounded full breast. Each feather of Frizzle is moderately long and curls backwards towards the bird’s head. And each individual feather has a rather ragged appearance, and the neck has abundant frizzled feathers.
They have no feathers in their legs. They have long wings and large upright tails. Frizzle chicken comes in several different colors and three types of plumage.
The types of plumage are; frizzled, over frizzled and flat-coated. All color varieties have red colored eyes, a medium sized red colored single comb and red earlobes. They have bright red colored wattles. The leg color varies depending on the different color varieties of Frizzle chicken.
Usually the legs of Frizzles are darker in the darker feathered birds. Beak color also corresponds with the feather color. The black-red, black, blue, cuckoo or spangle varieties have white beaks. And the pyle, red, white, buff and Colombian varieties have yellow beaks.
Standard Frizzle roosters weight about 3.2-3.6 kg and hens about 2.25-2.7 kg. And the bantam cock weights about 0.68-0.79 kg and hens about 0.57-0.68 kg. Photo from Omlet.
Behavior/Temperament
Frizzle chicken is a very hardy poultry breed which grows quickly. It is a gentle breed and the hens are good layers. Hens lay medium sized tinted or white colored eggs, and they get broody frequently.
Frizzle chickens are classed as a heavy breed. And they are often considered to be exhibition bird, but they also make good table birds. They are great dual purpose breed and suitable for both meat and eggs production.
They are great foragers and perfectly well suited to free range conditions or outdoor pens. They can also bear confinement well. The Frizzle chicks when they are hatched appear to be normally feathered. But their wing feathers start to grow and turn outwards soon.
Frizzle chicken is a very friendly bred and can perform well in almost any climate. Review full breed profile of this chicken breed below.
| Breed Name | Frizzle |
| Other Name | None |
| Breed Purpose | Dual Purpose (Meat and Eggs) |
| Breed Temperament | Friendly, Easily Handled, Calm, Docile, Bears Confinement well |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Broodiness | Frequent |
| Comb | Single |
| Climate Tolerance | All Climates |
| Egg Color | White or Tinted |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Productivity | Medium |
| Feathered Legs | No |
| Rarity | Available |
| Varieties | Any recognized color |
| Country of Origin | Unknown. Thought to have originated in Asia |
