What Are Frizzle Chickens? The Fluffy Feather Dusters of the Chicken World

Have you ever spotted a chicken that looks like it just stuck its beak in an electrical socket? That’s probably a Frizzle chicken! These adorable birds with their curly, windswept feathers are turning heads in backyard flocks everywhere. When I first saw one at a local farm show, I literally couldn’t stop smiling – they’re just that cute!

In this article, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know about these funky feathered friends – from their unique appearance to their care requirements and whether they might be right for your flock.

What Exactly Is a Frizzle Chicken?

Frizzle chickens aren’t your ordinary backyard birds. The term “frizzle” actually refers to their unique feather type rather than a specific breed in many countries, including the United States.

The defining characteristic of a frizzle chicken is their curled or “frizzled” feathers that point outward and upward instead of lying flat against their body like normal chicken feathers. This gives them that distinctive windblown, fluffy appearance that makes them look like walking feather dusters!

The interesting thing is that in some countries like Australia, UK, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, and Germany, Frizzles are actually classified as a distinct breed. But in the US and other places, “frizzle” simply describes a type of plumage that can appear in various chicken breeds.

The Science Behind the Frizz

So what causes those adorably curly feathers? It’s all about genetics! The frizzle feature is caused by an incomplete dominant gene

When a chicken has one copy of this gene (heterozygous), it develops the classic frizzled appearance we love. The shaft of each feather actually twists and curls outward, creating that windblown look.

Research suggests that the frizzled trait comes from a mutation within a keratin gene called KRT75. Specifically, there’s a deletion that removes part of exon 5 and intron 5, which causes a 69 base pair deletion in the KRT75 gene. Don’t worry if that sounds like gibberish – the important thing is that this genetic quirk results in those awesome curly feathers!

Frizzles, Sizzles, and Frazzles – Oh My!

When diving into the world of frizzle chickens you’ll likely come across three distinctive terms

Frizzles

These are chickens with one copy of the frizzle gene, giving them that classic curled feather look. The feathers curl outward and upward from the body, creating a charming windblown appearance.

Sizzles

When you cross a Silkie chicken (known for their fluffy, hair-like feathers) with a Frizzle, you get what’s affectionately called a “Sizzle”! These birds have both the silkie feathering (lacking barbicels that help feathers keep their shape) AND the frizzled curling. The result is a super fluffy, extra curly bird that looks absolutely magical.

Frazzles

Here’s where things get tricky. A frazzle is what happens when two frizzle chickens are bred together, and the offspring inherits two copies of the frizzle gene (homozygous). These poor birds often have extremely brittle feathers that break easily, can have patchy feathering, or in some cases, near-total baldness. They may also develop heart problems and other health issues.

This is why responsible breeders never breed frizzle to frizzle. Instead, they breed a frizzle chicken with a normal-feathered bird, which produces about 50% frizzled chicks and 50% normal chicks.

Common Frizzle Breeds

While any chicken breed can potentially carry the frizzle gene, it’s most commonly seen in:

• Cochins
• Polish
• Plymouth Rocks
• Japanese Bantams
• Serama

Bantam varieties (miniature chickens) seem particularly popular as frizzles, with Cochin bantams being especially prized in exhibitions.

Frizzle Breed Standards

In countries where Frizzles are recognized as a distinct breed, they have specific standards:

• Weight: Standard males weigh about 3.2-3.6 kg (7-8 lbs), while females weigh 2.25-2.7 kg (5-6 lbs). Bantam varieties are much smaller.
• Appearance: They should have a short, strong beak that’s yellow or horn-colored, bright red eyes, and medium-sized red ear lobes and wattles.
• Body shape: Full-breasted with short, broad, erect bodies. Tails should be significant and wings long.
• Comb: Single and upright.
• Legs and feet: Clean legs (no feathering) with yellow feet. Four toes to each foot.
• Colors: Frizzles come in multiple colors including buff, black, black-red, brown-red, blue, Columbian, cuckoo, duckwing, Pyle, red, spangled, and white.

Temperament and Personality

One of the best things about Frizzle chickens is their wonderful temperament! They’re generally:

• Sweet and friendly
• Gentle and docile
• Quiet and calm
• Great with handling
• Good with children

Many Frizzle owners report that these birds often become lap chickens, happily settling in for some cuddle time. They have a reputation for being perpetually happy and content birds. Several owners I’ve talked to say their Frizzles follow them around the garden like puppies!

I remember visiting a friend’s farm where her Frizzle bantam would actually wait at the back door each morning to be let in for breakfast scraps – talk about personality!

Egg Production

If you’re looking for a champion egg-layer, Frizzles might not be your first choice. They’re considered fair to poor layers, producing around:

• 120-150 eggs per year
• 2-3 eggs per week
• Small to medium sized eggs
• Cream or tinted colored shells

However, they do occasionally go broody and make excellent mothers. Their chicks may be a bit slower to feather out than regular chicks, so they might need a bit more time in the brooder.

Special Care Requirements

Because of their unique feathering, Frizzle chickens do have some special care requirements:

Housing Adjustments

• Lower perches: Since they can’t fly well, perches should be set lower to the ground.
• Predator protection: Free-ranging areas should be well-protected as they can’t easily escape from predators.

Weather Considerations

• Cold protection: Their curly feathers don’t insulate as well as normal feathers, so they need extra protection in cold weather.
• Rain and moisture: They should be kept dry as their feathers don’t repel water efficiently.
• Heat considerations: They may also struggle in extreme heat.

Grooming

• Vision issues: Sometimes the head feathering can block their vision, so occasional gentle trimming might be needed.
• Drying assistance: If they get wet, they may need help drying off.

Flock Integration

• Bullying concerns: They can be targets for pecking by more aggressive breeds, so watching for bullying is important.
• Compatibility: They do best with other gentle breeds like Polish or Cochins.

Is a Frizzle Chicken Right for You?

Frizzles can be a wonderful addition to your flock if:

• You want a visually striking, conversation-starting bird
• You prefer friendly, gentle chickens that tolerate handling well
• You’re prepared to provide some extra care during extreme weather
• You have a gentle flock or are willing to monitor for bullying
• You value personality and looks over egg production

They might not be ideal if:

• You live in an area with extreme climate conditions
• You can’t provide extra shelter from rain and snow
• You’re primarily interested in high egg production
• You have very aggressive breeds in your existing flock

Where to Find Frizzle Chickens

Finding Frizzle chickens can sometimes be challenging as they’re not as common as standard breeds. Some places to look include:

• Specialty poultry breeders
• Poultry shows and exhibitions
• Farm supply stores occasionally (like Tractor Supply)
• Hatcheries that specialize in unusual breeds
• Local chicken enthusiast groups

Breeding Frizzles: Important Considerations

If you’re thinking about breeding Frizzles, there are some important guidelines to follow:

1. Never breed Frizzle to Frizzle – this can produce unhealthy “frazzle” chicks with serious feathering problems and health issues.

2. The proper breeding pattern is:

   • Frizzle × Normal = 50% frizzle + 50% normal
   • This avoids producing frazzles while maintaining the frizzle trait

3. Expect mixed results – even with proper breeding, you’ll get a mix of frizzled and normal-feathered offspring.

4. Consider the frizzle modifier gene – this can cause your frizzle chicks to look relatively normal, which can be disappointing if you’re specifically breeding for the frizzled appearance.

Frizzle chickens are truly some of the most charming, distinctive birds you can add to your backyard flock. With their curly, windblown feathers and friendly personalities, they’re guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone who sees them. They might require a bit more TLC than your average chicken, but most owners find their delightful personalities more than make up for the extra effort.

Whether you’re an experienced chicken keeper looking to add some variety to your flock or a beginner charmed by their unique appearance, Frizzles can bring joy, character, and a touch of whimsy to your backyard.

Have you ever kept Frizzle chickens? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

A Frizzle chicken has feathers that curl outwards due to a specific genetic mutation, making their plumage appear disheveled and unique. This frizzling is a feather type, not a breed in itself, although “Frizzle” is sometimes recognized as a breed in some countries. The mutation affects the keratin gene, causing the barbules in the feathers to fail to properly interlock, resulting in the characteristic curled effect.

Frizzle chickens are not rare, as frizzling is a genetic trait (a “gene“) that can appear in many different breeds, but is not a breed itself. However, a pure Frizzle chicken, meaning a fully developed Frizzle in a specific recognized breed, can be considered a rare or specialty bird in some countries, particularly large fowl versions which are currently being revived by enthusiasts. The trait is caused by a single gene that makes feathers curl outward instead of lying flat, giving the birds a unique, fluffy look.