The animal kingdom has some rather interesting-looking specimens, and that includes chickens. Some people “collect” oddball chickens, just to have or to show off to other chicken lovers at poultry shows.
Swipe through to see some crazy-looking chickens.
These strange-looking birds have an abundant crest that flops over each side of the crown of their head. They also have a small, v-shaped comb on their head, if you can find it beneath all the feathers. Some Polish chickens have a beard (long feathers beneath the beak), and others do not.
Photography: Pinterest/TheHappyChickenCoop
The black silver-laced English Orpington chicken displays quite a special coat of feathers. There are several colors of Orpington chickens, but the black silver laced is probably the most spectacular. Although the chocolate-laced Orpington might be a contender. Orpington chickens are known as “gentle giants.”
Photography: ebay/lindseysfluffs
This bantam (small) chicken was first bred in the town of Uccle on the outskirts of Brussels, in central Belgium. This breed has a full beard and crazy feathered legs. If you like this one, there are an additional 28 color varieties.
Photography: Pinterest/Sweetsouthernblue
This fluffy breed is called “silkie” because its plumage is soft and smooth like silk or satin. Silkie chickens have black skin and bones and blue earlobes, and you have to wonder how they can see with all those feathers in the way. Most chickens have four toes on each foot, but silkies have five. You can find silkies in a variety of colors including white, black, blue and lavender.
Photography: Pinterest/Christine McDougall Trench
This bantam chicken has stunning laced plumage in gold and black or silver and black. Their skin is blue and their combs—on a good specimen—are mulberry colored. This bird’s main purpose in life is to be decorative, though they can be good companions if they’re socialized as chicks.
Photography: Pinterest/ChickenJournal.Com
These ornamental birds originated in Turkey. They have large, puffy crests, beards, long tails and feathery legs and feet. If you’d like to add sultans to your chicken collection, you’ll find them in black, blue, and white.
Photography: Pinterest/Omlet
Frizzles sport a fluffy feathered ‘do on their head, and their bodies are pretty fluffy, too, with feathers that curl up rather than laying flat. True to their goofy appearance, frizzles are typically friendly chickens.
Photography: Pinterest/zChicken Scratch The Foundry