Chicken Breeds With Feathered Legs

From India, the domesticated chicken spread to the world by the 5th century BC. Today there are hundreds of chicken breeds, but just a flew of them are breeds of chickens with feathered legs, also known as chickens with boots. Let’s take a closer look at these extraordinary beautiful chickens with feathers on their legs.

List of Chicken Breeds With Feathered Legs

There are eight feather legged chicken breeds recognized by the American Poultry Associations and the American Bantam Association. These chickens with feathered legs are part of the group Feather Leg class (FL) in the above organizations.

  • Belgian d’Uccle
  • Booted Bantam
  • Brahma
  • Cochin
  • Faverolles 
  • Frizzle
  • Silkie
  • Sultan

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these stunning chickens with feathered legs separately.

1. Belgian d’Uccle

chickens with feathered legs

The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is a chicken with feathered legs developed in the begging of the last century in Belgium. It was named after the town of Uccle. The goal was to develop a breed that has both a beard and boots.

This is a true bantam breed with an average weight of around 26 oz (740 g) for roosters and 22 oz (620 g) for hens.

They make great show chickens, and as a true bantams it is worth noting that they do not have their large versions.

This chicken breed with feathered legs and vulture hocks comes in seven color varieties: black , golden neck, mille fleur, mottled, porcelain, self blue, and white.

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2. Booted Bantam

chickens with feathered legs

This bantam breed of chicken with feathers on their legs was developed in the Netherlands from bantams originating in Asia.

The average weigh of males usually is around 850 grams (30 ounces) and females 750 grams (27 ounces). However the US standards dictate a smaller ideal size of 740 grams (26 ounces) for roosters, and 625 (22 ounces) for hens.

The Booted Bantam comes in several color varieties, and it has a single comb, and has fully feathered legs with vulture hocks. The hens lay a small white-shell egg and readily brood.

3. Brahma

chicken with feathered feet

Brahma is probably one of the most famous chicken with feathers on their legs. While the chicken is not farmed as heavily nowadays, mostly because there are other breeds that are a lot more productive, it is still a breed that exists.

What we do know, however, is that the purpose of breeding the Brahma chicken was to create a bird that was able to produce a lot of meat, while at the same time requiring very little in the way of maintenance.

Read more about this chickens with feathered legs: Brahma chickens.

4. Cochin

chickens with feathered feet

This feather legged chicken breed originated in China, to be used as a meat chicken breed with ornamental purpose. They come as both standard and bantam.

The Cochin chicken breed comes in several color varieties , the following are only the recognized varieties by APA: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown Red, Buff, Columbian, Golden Laced, Mottled , Partridge, Red, Silver Laced and White.

One thing that is worth noting about this feather legged chicken breed is that it has great personality and extremely gentle temperament. It is one of the friendliest chicken breeds.

Its large variety is actually one of the largest chicken breeds in the world.

5. Faverolles – French chickens with feathers on their feet

chicken breeds with feathered legs

This feather legged chicken breed was developed back in the 19th century in France. The Faverolles chickens can be large or bantam and are kept as a dual purpose breed.

It is not uncommon to see them across poultry shows in the US as show chickens. They have medium-sized and deep compact bodies. The male usually weighs around 8 lbs while the female weighs 6.5 lbs.

The hens are good layers of eggs with around 160 light brown to pinkish eggs per year.

The Faverolles comes in a few color varieties, of which the original color, salmon, remains the most common. They are very popular backyard chicken breed.

Perhaps the ‘stand-out’ feature of the Faverolles chicken is the beard that they boast. This is going to be a slightly different color to the rest of their feathers, and it looks rather elegant.

Faverolles are one of the most aggressive chicken breeds, so they are not recommended for first-time chicken owners.

6. Frizzle

chicken breeds with feathered legs

The Fizzle is a chicken with frizzled feathers. It is worth noting that in Europe and Australia this is a recognized feather legged chicken breed, however in US the Fizzle is any breed of chicken with frizzled feathers, such as Polish Fizzle.

The Frizzle has a single comb type and is clean-legged–without feathers on the shanks. There are several recognized color varieties such as black, blue, buff, white, Columbian, red.

7. Silkie

chickens with feathered legs

The Silkie is very old breed of chickens with feathers on their legs. No one actually knows their origin but it is accepted that most likely it originated from China.

Their name ‘Silkie’ comes from their feathers which feel like silk and satin.

The Silkie comes in both sizes, standard and bantam. Even the standard one is relatively small chicken, males weigh around 2-3 lbs while the female around 1.5-2 lbs.

8. Sultan – Turkish chickens with feathers on their legs

chicken with feathered feet

The Sultan breed is very old ornamental breed with feathered legs originating in Turkey. These fully feathered chicks appear in three color varieties: Black, Blue, and White.

They are relatively small breed, since even the standard male weighs around 6 lb. (femals 4 lb.) while the bantam version is around 26 oz. (female is 22 oz.). Their hens lay large white eggs.

Info on chickens with feathered feet

  1. Belgian d’Uccle chicken:
    • The Belgian d’Uccle is a true bantam breed, meaning it is naturally small in size.
    • They are known for their gentle and docile temperament, making them great pets and ideal for families.
    • Belgian d’Uccles come in a variety of colors and patterns, including Mille Fleur, Porcelain, and more.
    • Their feathered legs and beard give them a distinct and charming appearance.
    • They are well-suited for smaller spaces due to their compact size.
  2. Booted Bantam chicken:
    • Booted Bantams are known for their feathered feet, which give them a unique and eye-catching look.
    • They have a distinctive “V” shape formed by the beak and crest on their head.
    • These bantams are friendly and social, making them great companions in backyard flocks.
    • They come in a variety of colors and patterns, adding to their visual appeal.
    • Booted Bantams are often recognized for their active and curious nature.
  3. Brahma chicken:
    • Brahmas are known for their massive size, with some individuals reaching impressive weights.
    • They have distinctive feathered legs and feet, which help them stay warm in colder climates.
    • This breed’s gentle and friendly demeanor makes it a favorite among both children and adults.
    • Brahmas are excellent layers of large brown eggs, contributing to their popularity.
    • They have a “pea comb” on their head, which is a unique characteristic.
  4. Cochin chicken:
    • Cochins are renowned for their fluffy plumage, which covers their body, including their legs and feet.
    • They have a sweet and maternal nature, often acting as broody hens and caring for chicks.
    • These chickens come in both standard and bantam sizes, providing versatility for different preferences.
    • Their soft and downy feathers make them an excellent choice for colder climates.
    • Cochins are available in various feather colors, including black, white, buff, and more.
  5. Faverolles chicken:
    • Faverolles are recognizable by their five toes and distinctive beard under their beak.
    • They are dual-purpose birds, valued for both egg production and meat quality.
    • The breed’s friendly and calm temperament makes them easy to handle and suitable for families.
    • Faverolles come in different feather patterns, such as salmon, cuckoo, and more.
    • They have a “muff” around their face, adding to their charming appearance.
  6. Frizzle chicken:
    • Frizzles have a unique feather structure that curls outward, giving them a distinctive and playful look.
    • They are known for their friendly and sociable nature, making them great additions to backyard flocks.
    • Frizzles can come in various colors and patterns, and their feathering is a result of a genetic trait.
    • Their unique appearance requires careful feather management to prevent damage.
    • Frizzles are known for their energetic and curious personalities.
  7. Silkie chicken:
    • Silkies are recognizable by their fluffy plumage, which feels like soft silk to the touch.
    • They have a unique genetic trait that results in black skin and bones.
    • Silkie chickens are known for their broody behavior and excellent maternal instincts.
    • Their gentle and calm nature makes them great pets, especially for families.
    • They come in a variety of colors, including white, black, blue, and more.
  8. Sultan chicken:
    • Sultans are known for their distinctive feather crest on their head, giving them a regal appearance.
    • They have a gentle and calm temperament, making them suitable for smaller and quieter flocks.
    • Sultans are recognized for their vulture hocks, where the feathers extend beyond their legs.
    • They lay small white eggs and are often kept for ornamental purposes.
    • The breed’s unique and distinctive appearance sets them apart from other breeds.

Chicken Feathered legs History

The development of feathered legs in chickens, also known as “feathering,” is a result of a genetic trait that has been selectively bred over time. Feathered legs are most commonly found in certain chicken breeds, such as Cochins, Brahmas, and Belgian d’Uccles, among others. This distinctive feature has been cultivated through a process of intentional breeding by poultry enthusiasts and breeders.

The genetic mutation responsible for feathered legs is known as “Fg” or “feathering gene.” This gene controls the growth and distribution of feathers on the legs and feet of the chicken. When a chicken inherits one copy of the Fg gene from either parent, it will have feathered legs. If it inherits two copies of the gene (one from each parent), the feathering is more pronounced.

The development of feathered legs in chickens can be attributed to both natural mutations and human intervention through selective breeding. Early domestication and breeding practices may have unintentionally favored chickens with this trait, leading to its prevalence in certain breeds. Over time, breeders noticed and appreciated the unique appearance of feathered legs, which eventually led to deliberate breeding for this characteristic.

Breeders selectively mated chickens with feathered legs to other chickens with the same trait, enhancing and refining the feature in subsequent generations. This intentional breeding process allowed for the preservation and enhancement of the feathered leg trait in specific breeds, resulting in chickens with distinctive and visually appealing leg plumage.

It’s important to note that feathered legs are a cosmetic trait and do not affect a chicken’s health or overall well-being. In fact, some believe that feathered legs can provide insulation against cold weather, making them well-suited for colder climates.

Chickens with feathered feet

Other Chicken Breeds With Feathered Legs

We have found more chicken breeds with feathers on their legs, however they are not standardized.

As said earlier, there are only 8 that are recognized by APA or in the case of the Frizzle chicken, recognized by some European countries.

It is amazing how much diversity there can be in the world and even on our own farms. The feathered leg breed of chicken has a lot to offer, from their elegant beauty to their egglaying abilities.

One thing you might not know about them though is that they are so diverse! There are hundreds of breeds out there, but only a few with feathers on their feet.

If you want to see more chickens like this one at your farm or backyard coop, look for some feathered-legged chicks today!

Read more:
Longtail chicken breeds
Best chickens for eggs
Best chickens for meat

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