Exotic chickens can make good pets, and supply eggs.
Exotic chickens make good pets if hatched yourself or bought as hatchlings a day or two old. They will bond with their owners, and will follow them around and come when called, like dogs or cats. Plus, these living yard ornaments have the added advantage of providing free, fresh eggs. For those seeking an unusual pet, there are many different breeds of exotic, showy chickens available. Eggs and chicks can be ordered online, from specialty catalogs published by exotic bird hatcheries, or found in the spring at farm supply stores.
Fancy Breed Types
Fancy breed chickens have special distinguishing features that set them apart from ordinary chickens. One way to categorize them is by feather type. Bearded breeds have fluffy tufts of feathers under their beaks. Crested breeds such as the Polish types wear a unique top hat of feathers. Muffed breeds have fluffy cheek feathers. Feather-footed breeds such as Cochins have soft, feathery leggings. Some chickens are extra soft and silky, such as the popular Silkie breeds.
Exotic Breed Features
Exotic chickens can be grouped by other notable features. Extreme size may set them apart. They can be giant Malays, Jersey Giants or Brahmas, or they can be tiny Seramas or Bantams. The Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks have colorful iridescent and patterned plumage. Many Japanese breeds have exceptionally long and colorful tail feathers. Dual-use exotic chickens are notable for their eggs: Ameraucana "Easter Egg" chickens lay colorful green, blue and brown eggs, while Marans lay dark brown eggs.
Exotic Chicken Care
Keep baby chicks in a box with wood shavings. Change the shavings frequently. They must have a heat lamp to keep them warm for the first month. If they cluster away from the light, it's too warm and should be raised; if they cluster under it, move it down. Start them off with chick feed and switch to layer feed after two months. Use a round chicken feeder with holes and a water dish that screws into a glass jar, otherwise they'll make a big mess.
When your chickens grow feathers, it's time to move them outdoors into a coop or as free rangers. Free range chickens should still be fed, but not as often as confined ones.
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