Discover 7 Awesome Fluffy Chicken Breeds

Is there anything cuter than an awesome, fluffy chicken? If you keep chickens, like chickens, or just want to enjoy some pics and facts about these adorably fluffy birds, you’ll love our list of 7 chicken breeds known for their super soft plumage. Taking care of extra fluffy chickens requires many of the same steps as care for any other breed, although you should be mindful of their tolerance of extreme temperatures. Some heavily feathered chickens do better in colder weather while others can be sensitive to cooler temperatures. If they have a different feather structure, such as Silkies, they might also need to have lower roosts and coops with lower stoops that they can easily get over.

#1 Silkie Chicken

These are some of the fluffiest chickens out there and it’s mainly due to the structure of their feathers. Instead of having stiff feathers, they have soft, fluffy feathers. This is because they don’t have barbicels. Most other chicken breeds have barbicels in each feather that help it maintain its shape. Because Silkies do not have this structure in their feathers, they are much softer and fluffier. This does mean that they can’t really fly, so make sure to put their roosts low down.

This breed also has extra feathery features. They have crest feathers on the top of their heads and feathers on their feet. Some Silkies have beard-like feathers on their faces as well. Silkies are on the small side of chicken breeds known as bantams. It is not unusual for them to top out around 4 pounds. Because of their smaller size, their feathers can appear extra fluffy.

#2 Orpington Chicken

These round, fluffy chickens were originally bred to lay eggs and be eaten. But with their adorable, fluffy appearance, Orpingtons quickly became even more popular as show birds. Originally, there were just a few colors bred. These included black, white, buff, blue, and splash. Even though there are more varieties available now, only these five are recognized in shows. Buff is the most popular and most common color. Even though they are a fun show chicken, they still do well laying and caring for eggs, too. Most hens lay between 3 and 5 eggs each week without any trouble. Their eggs are also large and brown in color.

One of the main characteristics of Orpingtons is that their bodies are large and low, with no or very few sharp angles. They have round bodies that look even rounder with the addition of their feathers. Because their legs tend to be short, the down from their bodies often covers most of their legs. This gives them an even fluffier appearance. There are full-size and bantam Orpingtons bred.

#3 Wyandotte Chicken

These chickens were bred in North America and have heritage from many other breeds of chickens with many color patterns. Wyandottes are known for their unique coloring. These chickens lay brown eggs and are popular as show birds. Their feathers are fairly close to their bodies but because they have large, full chests, they still give a fluffy, full-feathered appearance. There are nine color varieties recognized in the United States and as many as 30 recognized elsewhere. But the original breed was the silver-laced coloring. The feathers are silver with black or dark brown outlines on most of the body. The back is slightly fluffier and roosters have distinct tail feathers.

#4 Brahma Chicken

A lot of the fluffiest feathers on Brahma chickens are on their legs. These birds have long legs and smaller bodies, although they are still quite large. But the effect of their long, heavily feathered legs gives them a unique appearance. At one point, Brahma were the most popular chickens in the United States. There are only three officially recognized color varieties in the US: light, dark, and buff. They can get up to 10 or 12 pounds.

Brahmas are great in the winter and cold weather. They can tolerate cool temperatures, although you should still take steps to provide a safe and warm place for them to rest. They do lay more eggs in the winter than many other breeds. Brahma hens can lay up to 200 eggs each year. Their eggs are brown and medium-sized.

#5 Frizzle Chicken

The fluffy look of Frizzle chickens is due to their curly plumage. In some cases, they are recognized as their own breed while other classification systems identify the frizzle feathers as a specific gene expressed in other breeds. Some even have extra expression of the gene and are considered over-frizzled. These are also sometimes called Frazzle chickens. Their feathers can be extremely brittle and sometimes break or get damaged.

These chickens are bred primarily for showing, although they do lay and incubate eggs well. Depending on the organization judging the birds, they can be divided into color categories that include black, blue, buff, white, red, and others. In some cases, such as at shows in the United States, Frizzles are not recognized as a separate breed. Instead, these chickens are considered to express the specific frizzle feather gene.

Because genes are passed down through breeding, however, it is possible to breed chickens that have a higher likelihood of having the gene. They make great chickens to have around, not only for their adorable plumage but also for their maternal instincts. Some people notice that Frizzles are good brooders and will happily incubate eggs.

#6 Faverolle Chicken

These chickens have super fluffy faces, one of the most recognizable and adorable features on them. Their feathers are soft and downy, especially around their cheeks. This makes them look bearded, while the rest of the feathers on their small bodies give them a larger presence than they actually have. Don’t be fooled by their bulk, however. They tend to be very docile and gentle. Faverolle chickens also lay plenty of eggs, often up to 150 or more each year.

One issue that you need to watch for is freezing water on their faces, which can happen in cold temperatures. While the chickens themselves do well in hot or cold weather, letting food freeze on their feathers after they take a drink and eat can cause issues. If food gets on the wet feathers and freezes, other birds might try to peck it off. This can injure the Faverolle. Just ensuring that they don’t drench their faces when they drink can reduce this problem.

#7 Cochin Chicken

This is another breed that has fluffy feathers on their feet. It can be downy and almost look like they are wearing feathered boots. They tend to be on the larger side, especially when seen with their fluff. There are bantam Cochin chickens as well, which are smaller overall. They still have the characteristic fluffy feathers, shanks, and feet. Cochin chickens tend to be calm and peaceful, rarely causing issues in the coop with other chickens.

They lay eggs but not as many as some other breeds. Female Cochins can get broody, meaning that they lay and incubate their eggs. They’ll need plenty of space, especially the full-size Cochins. Make sure to get a larger coop with plenty of roosting areas. You should also make space available for them to explore. Fortunately, they are able to tolerate cooler temperatures because their fluff keeps them warm.

Summary of Fluffy Chicken Breeds

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