Black Frizzle

Black Frizzle Cochin is truly a unique bird! Unlike all other chickens, the feathers on the frizzle curve outward and forward giving it the appearance of having walked through a wind storm backwards. These come in red, black, and white colors and show the other characteristics of the cochin.   Frizzles are the best birds to have as pets. They have a great personality. They are also very fun to look at and feel. Frizzles feathers are so soft. A full frizzled bird should have all feathers frizzling out except a few on the wing feathers. To get the right texture and right amount of frizzling, They should be bred as follows- Frizzled to a non frizzled. The hatch rate is 50 50. You will get some chicks that frizzle and some that don't.Cochins are popular due to their sweet personality and fantastic mothering qualities. They do go broody! They are a Chinese breed known the world over for being friendly little balls of fluff and feathers (who don't lay particularly well, it's true -- expect only about 3 eggs a week); they became "famous" when Queen Victoria of England received some as a gift and fell in love with them. In fact, Cochins are a favorite of the current Duchess of Devonshire who has written several books on her chickens.

These cochins are not your "garden" variety cochin, though! They are bantam, frizzled black cochins. The frizzling characteristic does not breed true, so a small percentage of birds will be smooth feathered. When they are frizzled, however, they have the look of a bird whose feathers have been primped by a curling iron, or blown half off by a strong wind! Something about them reminds one of an inside out umbrella, or the first perm you ever got (and cried about). Although you would never have guessed, that perm looks perfectly charming on your chicken! Frizzled cochins are a good choice if you are concerned about your birds flying over fences, since their unusual feathers make flying any distance difficult. Even better, frizzle cochins are adorable, fat bodied, eye-catching fowl with a quirky look that won't fail to get the attention--and maybe incite the jealousy--of your neighbors. Like Silkies, Frizzles are favorites of children and all others who are young at heart.

Origin

Class: Asiatic

Type: Large Fowl & Bantam

Size: Very Heavy (8+ lbs)

Rarity: Common

Purpose: Ornamental

Cochins came originally from China but underwent considerable development in the U.S. and now are found and admired in many parts of the world.

Egg Facts

Egg Laying: Fair (2/wk)
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Medium

Fancy Features

Comb Type: Single Comb & Frizzle

Crested: No

Feathered Legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard Life

Hardy In Winter: Yes

Especially Docile: Yes
Setter/Broody: Yes

Personality: peaceful, friendly, easily handled

NB: The frizzle feathering of these unique birds does not show as baby chicks. Because the frizzle trait does not breed true, approximately one fourth of your baby frizzle chicks will develop normal feathering and the others will be frizzled.