Feathered feet, five toes and beards- chicken breeds sure can have a lot of fascinating anatomy!
It can often be overwhelming to try and keep on top of all these extra ornaments and appendages- what do they do, how did they come about, where is it again?
If you’re having a little trouble distinguishing your chicken breed's crest from their muff, Backyard Chicken Coops is here to help- read on for everything you need to know about your feathered friends' funky features.
Crests
Crests are the extra feathering found on a chicken's head, and is often enhanced by an enlarged skull, found on some chicken breeds. This cranial distortion is formed by by a type of cerebral hemorrhage and is generally confined to breeds that have full crests. If a chicken has a crest, it is likely that they will not have a singular comb, and instead will have a more broad or circular shaped comb.
Breeds with crests: Houdan, Appenzeller Spitzhauben, Polish
Beards & Muffs
Beards and muffs are the additional feathers that are grouped on the head area of particular chicken breeds, and are caused by an incomplete dominant gene. The beard is found under the chin, while the muffs are found on the side of the face- generally you will not find one without the other. The beard and muff will be more prominent in some breeds, while in others it will be less detectable. Some exhibitors and fanciers selectively breed fowl to emphasise this feathery feature.
Breeds with beards and muffs: Faverolle, Russian Orloff, Houdan
Vulture Hocks
Vulture hocks are quite a rare appendage, only found in very few chicken breeds. They are straight and long downward-pointing feathers (they somewhat resemble flight feathers),that grow from the lower part of the thighs - where most chickens would have soft, downy feathers.
Breeds with vulture hocks: Sultan, Belgian d’Uccle
Feathered Feet & Legs
Feathered feet in chicken breeds is a trait that originated in Asia before selective breeding allowed this trait to evolve into other fowl. The extent of the shank and foot feathering will vary between breeds- some having their entire legs and feet covered, like the Booted Bantam. With extra feathering comes extra responsibility. Feathered feet will often pick up nasties such as mud or droppings so they may require regular cleaning. While those chicken breeds with feathered legs become more susceptible to scaly leg mite, so they should also be given a once over occasionally.
Breeds with feathered feet and legs: Booted Bantam, Cochin, French Faverolle
Five Toes
While most chicken breeds only have four toes, select few have a fifth toe- also known as a polydactyl. The polydactyl, while not serving an particular purpose, is an important feature of both Dorking and Silkie breeds, are a part of the breed standard criteria. If these breeds are born with 4 or 6 toes, it is a genetic fault.
Breeds with five toes: Dorking, Silkie, Sultan
Alongside cute quirks and the appearances of different breeds, you may also want to consider other traits when choosing the perfect flock for you! Becoming a chicken parent is the easy part. The hardest is deciding which breed is most suitable for you. It can be eggtremely confusing and difficult – so where should you begin?
Cluckily, our friends over at Chickenpedia have created an amazing Chicken Breeds Course. This extensive online course shares useful advice on choosing the right chickens for you as well as size & frequency of eggs laid. You’ll even learn about their individual personalities, and be able to use their family-friendly compatibility scale through this well-structured program. It really is a great way to find your perfect backyard buddies which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers! The courses are beginner-friendly and filled with vital information to help you raise a happy, healthy flock.
As chicken keepers, we want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends, but many of us struggle to handle chicken health or behavior issues, especially in the first few years of having a flock. Chickenpedia have a full range of comprehensive online courses that cover everything you didn’t know you need to know and then some more! From healthcare to raising baby chicks to feeding and behavior, that’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens.
As a member, you will get access to ALL their fantastic courses. So, no need to wing it, become a confident chicken keeper. Click here to check out Chickenpedia today!
No matter the breed, every chicken needs a place to call home, and Backyard Chicken Coops has the perfect coop for every flock - feathery feet and all!
