10 Fluffy Chicken Breeds

When thinking about chickens, the first picture most people will have is that of the normal feathered ones with red crests on their heads. Surprisingly, chickens are truly genetic marvels and come in a broad array of colors, stunning feather patterns, and sizes.

Some of the most outstanding are those with fluffy feathers. Fluffy chickens are not just cute, they can also produce many eggs, and some are excellent broilers.

Below are ten of the most common fluffy chicken breeds to add to your chicken run.

1. Silkie Chicken

These are among the cutest fluffy chicken breeds with different plumages like black, buff, blue, splash, white, and partridge. Silkie chickens are friendly, docile, and kind. Though positive, these attributes also make them prone to bullying from other breeds.

Silkies are excellent mothers and will happily nurture the chicks of other chicken breeds. The chickens make excellent pets, more so for young kids. They cannot fly, so modest fencing will easily contain them in your run.

Silkie hens are 8-14 inches in size and weigh 1.5 to 3 pounds, while the roosters are 8-14 inches with weights of 2-4 pounds. Though silkies are poor egg layers, they adapt well to cold and captivity. Unfortunately, silkies are vulnerable to many predators and are not the best for meat production as backyard birds. They are also not the best layers, producing around 100-120 eggs yearly.

2. Frizzle Chickens

Frizzle chickens are distinct fluffy breeds with frizzled or curled plumages. Their feathers curl outward instead of lying flat like those of other chickens. Nonetheless, the chicks’ feathers look normal when they hatch.

Though they look strange, Frizzles are charming, friendly, and lovable. They thrive in most conditions and are outstanding egg layers. Though often considered display birds, Frizzle chickens can serve as dual-purpose birds producing eggs and meat.

Frizzle hens weigh about six pounds, while roosters weigh eight pounds. The birds are available in brown, cuckoo, buff, black, and white. They can tolerate confinement well, making them suitable for urban areas. However, Frizzles are easily bullied by other chicken breeds and are prone to predation.

3. Cochin Bantam Chickens

The bantam Cochin resembles the standard Cochin but is smaller than the latter. This means the bantam Cochin is also more fluffy and cuter than the standard one. Cochin bantams are receptive to cuddling and are friendly.

You can also easily domesticate them and find that they feel more at home in your home than in the coop. These qualities make them excellent pets. Cochin bantams tolerate cold weather and confinement well.

Cochin bantam hens weigh nine pounds, while roosters weigh eleven pounds. The chickens are available in barred, back, blue brown, birchen, lemon blue, golden laced, Columbian, partridge, mottled buff Columbian, buff, brown-red, silver laced, white, and splash varieties.

Cochin bantams are poor egg layers producing only an egg weekly. However, they are exceptional brooders because of their fluff. If you have eggs that you want to incubate, you can give them to your Cochin bantam.

4. Pavlovskaya Chickens

These are among the most beguiling and rarest chicken breeds. Pavlovskaya chickens are natives of Russia famed for their feathered feet, rich history, and plummeted crests. One of the distinctive features of these chickens is the little feather sprays atop their round heads.

Pavlovskaya chickens are docile, easygoing, and get along well with humans. Though haughty and bossy at times, these chickens make excellent mothers.

Pavloskaya roosters weigh about four pounds, while the hens weigh 3-4 pounds. The birds are available in red, black-gold, fawn, silver, white, and speckled varieties. They are not routinely kept for egg or meat production because of their rarity and the ongoing efforts to conserve them. Nonetheless, Pavlovskaya chickens can lay 70-90 medium-sized eggs annually.

5. Pekin Bantam Chickens

The Pekin bantam is one of the tiniest chicken breeds. However, its many feathers make it look like an adorable walking ball in your coop. This chicken is docile and more than happy to get some tender loving care making it an ideal pet.

However, the roosters can be a bit aggressive. Pekin bantams are not prone to diseases and do not need much space, making them among the easiest to care for and ideal for beginners.

Pekin bantams stand at approximately 25 cm and only weigh around 600g. Since they are primarily ornamental birds, they are not the best layers. They only produce roughly a hundred eggs annually.

Nonetheless, they are regularly broody and good setters. As such, if you want to hatch your Pekin chick, this breed will not give you much problem. Moreover, Pekins are great mothers.

6. Orpington Chickens

Orpington chickens are common in shows because of their minimalist yet elegant feathers. The scant feathers and massive heights of Orpingtons make the chickens look larger than they are. Thick feathers make them tolerant to cold weather. Orpingtons have u-shaped accents, curved outlines, and short rears. They are docile and gentle, not prone to diseases, and friendly with kids.

Orpington hens weigh eight pounds, while roosters weigh ten pounds. The birds are available in white, black, spangled, lavender, cuckoo, and blue varieties. As dual-purpose breeds, Orpingtons lay 3-5 eggs weekly.

Unfortunately, the chickens are prone to bullying from other breeds, do not tolerate heat well, and require a lot of space and food. These qualities make them unsuitable for beginners.

7. Polish Chickens

Though called Polish chickens, these birds are not originally from Poland. The name alludes to the huge fluffy crown on their heads that resembles the caps once worn by Polish soldiers. Polish chickens are calm and gentle, making them good pets.

They are also curious birds that sometimes succumb to their curiosity. A few strains become tense and flighty because their head feathers sometimes impede their vision.

Polish hens weigh 4-5 pounds, while roosters weigh about six pounds. The chickens are primarily kept for their looks and are not your best choices for meat and egg production. They are available in white, silver, golden, buff-laced, and black. Unfortunately, Polish chickens are not the best for urban areas because they can be quite noisy, particularly when angry.

8. Orloff Chickens

The Orloff chicken is a Russian breed named after Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov, a Russian count who promoted it worldwide. The breed is now among the critically endangered animals in the Livestock Conservatories because of its dwindling numbers.

Orloff chickens are friendly and calm birds that love free-ranging but handle confinement well. They are quiet and non-aggressive but often do not go broody.

Orloff chickens weigh 6-9 pounds. They have a lot of plumage to protect them from cold weather. Their small walnut-shaped combs resist frostbite better compared to other breeds. These characteristics make Orloffs among the best in cold climates from where they originate.

Unfortunately, the chickens can significantly suffer in warm temperatures. The hens lay about a hundred eggs annually and are renowned for their exceptional meat quality.

9. Faverolle Chickens

Faverolles are known as the barnyard comedians because they are talkative, sweet, goofy, curious, and enthusiastic. The chickens originated from Faverolle, a French village. Faverolles have beards and large muffs covering their large faces.

Their bodies are entirely fluffy, with their legs also covered with feathers. The chickens come in several colors, but salmon-colored faverolles are the most common. They love being around people and thrive around kids.

Faverolle cocks weigh about eight pounds, while the hens weigh six pounds. The birds produce 180-200 medium-sized eggs annually. Their quiet natures make them ideal for urban environments. The feathered legs and beards of faverolles are prone to lice, so you should regularly check them to ensure they are not infested.

10. Ameraucana Chickens

Ameraucana chickens are renowned for their stunning blue eggs. Though some people say they are nervous and flighty birds, most poultry keepers vouch for their friendly natures. They can be handled and hugged, making them ideal for children to raise.

However, some roosters can be aggressive. Most Ameraucanas have muffs and beards standing on end to give them a fluffed appearance. Their tails standing upright at around 45 degrees make them look robust.

Ameraucana hens weigh around 5.5 pounds, while roosters weigh about 6.5 pounds. They are available in black, white, silver duck wing, golden duck wing, and red. They lay 3-4 4ggs weekly and make good free-range chickens because they are highly alert to predators and will warn others of danger.

Conclusion

Watching your flock foraging around the coop is adorable, but few things beat the look of a cute, funny, fluffy chicken. If you want one for your flock, the above list has given you several to choose from in all colors and temperaments. Some are almost extinct so owning them allows you to play a role in their conservation.

You can source your chickens from breeders, farms, or hatcheries. When choosing your source, focus on more than just the prices. Be careful to buy chickens from a reputable source so that you get a disease-free bird and are sure you are not contributing to illegal breeding practices.

avatar James
Hey, I'm James, a hardworking homesteader for more than 30 years. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from tending my flock. I've raised chickens and ducks for eggs and meat for many years. I also have experience with other poultry too. Learn more

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