Are you a chicken lover and looking to add some color and spice to your flock? There are so many beautiful exotic chickens you could add to the group of hens in your backyard. There are fluffy chickens and colorful chickens. There are small chickens and large chickens. There are chickens with spiky feathers and chickens with no feathers at all!
While there are a lot of exciting and exotic chickens out there, we’re going to focus on some unique breeds that can coexist with other chickens well. Let’s take a look at 8 exotic chicken breeds that would be a good addition to your flock.
If you need some guidance on raising backyard chickens, take a look at our guide for beginners.
Exotic Chickens: Silkies
The first exotic chicken breed we’re going to take a look at is Silkies. These little birds are known for their fluffy feathers lacking the barbs that most chicken breeds have. This gives them a downy and silky appearance.
For more information on raising silkies, check out this article.
| Origin | China |
| Appearance | Silky, Small boned, darker colored skin, a rounded crest of feathers on head, five toes instead of the usual four, varied feather colors |
| Temperament | Docile, gentle, calm, good with children, submissive |
| Egg Production | Relatively low, 100-120 eggs a year |
| Cost | $3-10 per chick, $15-50 per adult |
| Concerns | Vulnerable to environmental and health challenges, low egg production, broodiness |
Exotic Chickens: Frizzle Chickens
The frizzle chicken is another type of chicken that is named appropriately for its frizzled appearance. It is technically not a breed of chicken but rather a genetically programmed feather type. These exotic chickens are a good pick to add to your flock at home.
| Origin | Asia |
| Appearance | Feathers that are curled outward, patterned feathers and colors, rounded compact body |
| Temperament | Generally similar to their breed of chicken, calm and docile, compatible, inquisitive |
| Egg Production | Moderate, 150-200 eggs per year |
| Cost | $10-20 per chick, $20-50 per adult |
| Concerns | Feather health, vulnerable to bad weather, feather parasites, |
Exotic Chickens: Serama Chickens
The Serama chicken is the smallest breed of chicken in the world, generally under 18 oz. They have a very upright posture and are well-muscled. In Malaysia, their originating country, they are described as archangel chickens or warrior birds. For more information on these interesting birds, read this blog.
| Origin | Malaysia |
| Appearance | Friendly, engaging, tame, confident, gentle with other chickens, easily handled |
| Temperament | Friendly, engaging, tame,confident, gentle with other chickens, easily handled |
| Egg Production | Relatively low, 100-150 eggs a year |
| Cost | $5-20 per chick, $20-100 per adult |
| Concerns | Fragility, cold weather tolerance, limited egg production, special care, and attention |
Exotic Chickens: Sultan Chickens
Sultan chickens are a very unique and ornamental breed of chicken. The name is derived from the Turkish language and translates to Sarai Tuvak, meaning “fowls of the palace”. They were once favored by the rulers of Turkey.
| Origin | Turkey |
| Appearance | Abundant fluffy white feathers that cover their whole body, legs, and feet included, large upright crest, long droopy feathers that hang down near the tail, compact |
| Temperament | Abundant fluffy white feathers that cover their whole body, legs, and feet included, a large upright crest, long droopy feathers that hang down near the tail, compact |
| Egg Production | Low, 80 -100 eggs a year |
| Cost | $5-20 per chick, $30-75 per adult |
| Concerns | Vulnerable to predators, feather maintenance, heat intolerance, low egg production |
Exotic Chickens: Polish Chickens
This European breed of chicken is known for its remarkable crest of feathers. The hens will generally have a pom-pom hair-do which is neat and tidy, while the roosters will have a mop of feathers that can fall over their faces. Either way, the abundant fluff of feathers on the heads of these chickens can make their vision difficult.
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Appearance | Round and full crest, variety of feather colors, medium-sized body with round shape, v-shaped cone, and wattles, abundant plumage on the body |
| Temperament | Calm, curious, non-aggressive, social, friendly, |
| Egg Production | Moderate, 150-200 eggs a year |
| Cost | $5-20 per chick, $20-40 per bird |
| Concerns | Limited vision due to crest, feather maintenance, vulnerable to predators, crest damage or injuries, limited egg production |
Exotic Chickens: Australorp
Australorps are a heavy breed of chicken known for being friendly and good with children. They have black feathers with a greenish-purple sheen. They are medium-sized chickens with sturdy builds and well-set legs.
Check out this list of best egg-laying chickens for more chicken breeds that are known for their high egg production.
| Origin | Australia |
| Appearance | Sleek and glossy plumage, black coloring, muscular build, relatively long black legs |
| Temperament | Docile and gentle, easygoing, social, good with children, gentle roosters |
| Egg Production | High, 250-300 eggs a year |
| Cost | $3-10 per chick, $10-30 per adult |
| Concerns | Obesity and health issues, territorial rooster behavior at times, extra space |
Exotic Chickens: Easter Egger Chickens
Easter Egger chickens are technically not a specific breed of chicken, but instead, chickens that are a result of a brown-egg chicken being bred with a bird carrying the blue-egg gene. These chickens are known for laying colored “Easter eggs,” like any shade of blue egg, and sometimes pink or yellow.
If you are interested in this type of chicken or want to know more about colored eggs, check out this article.
| Origin | Araucanas |
| Appearance | Variety of plumage, medium-sized birds, varied feather types, feathered legs and crests, colored eggs, |
| Temperament | Docile, friendly, curious, social, non-aggressive, (The temperament of these birds can be influenced by a variety of factors, including their genetic background and individual socialization) |
| Egg Production | Moderate/High, about 200-250 eggs a year |
| Cost | $3-10 per chick, $10-30 per adult |
| Concerns | Variable egg color, varied genetics, potential feather maintenance |
Exotic Chickens: Cochin Chickens
Cochin chickens are large domesticated chickens that are known for the large plumage of feathers covering their feet and legs. They are gentle and docile and known to be good pets.
| Origin | China |
| Appearance | large, fluffy plumage and feathered feet, rounded and compact body |
| Temperament | Docile, tame, non-aggressive, relaxed |
| Egg Production | Moderate, 160-180 eggs a year |
| Cost | $5-15 per chick, $20-$50 per adult |
| Concerns | Size and space requirements, reduced mobility, feed consumption, |
Chicken Coops for Your Exotic Chickens
If you are considering getting some exotic chickens for your backyard or farm and are looking for a quality coop, look no further than The Hen House Collection. We offer a huge selection of prefab chicken coops, barn-style chicken coops, and more options for your chickens, made with the following standard features:
- Chicken Ramp
- Keyed entry door
- Roosting Bar
- Nesting Boxes
- Window with screen
And that’s only some of them!
We offer five different styles of coop and various sizes and features for each. Check out our chicken coops and find the perfect one for your exotic hens.
