The Phoenix chicken is a stunning looking chicken that is sure to grab the attention of anybody that feasts their eyes upon it. In order to distinguish it from the Yokohama chicken, the Phoenix chicken was named after the beautiful mythological bird Phoenix.
We want to discuss this breed of chicken in a bit of depth on this page. Who knows, it may end up being the perfect breed for you. Therefore at the end of this article you can find reputable hatcheries where you can find Phoenix chickens for sale and breeders.
Facts at a Glance
| Eggs | 80 per year |
| Egg Shell Color | Cream or Tinted |
| Skin Color | Yellow |
| Temperament | Docile |
| Recognized Variety | Silver and Golden |
| Use | Show/Ornamental + Feathers |
| Comb Type | Single |
| Weight | Male Standard: 5.5 lb. (2.5 kg) Male Bantam: 26 oz. (740 g) Female Standard: 4 lb. (1.8kg) Female Bantam: 24 oz. (680 g) |
| Country of origin | Japan / Germany |
| Foraging | Good |
| Admitted to APA | 1965 |
| Status | Threatened |
Where Do They Come From?
The Phoenix chicken has its roots in Germany. However, it is actually based upon a Japanese breed of bird.
Now, people in Europe absolutely loved the Japanese ornamental chickens. The problem is that it wasn’t a brilliant breed to have in Europe.
This is because it didn’t deal with the colder, more unpredictable climate all that well.
Even the smallest of changes in circumstances can kill it, or at least stop it from producing the trademarked long tail feathers that it is well-known for.
This resulted in German breeders deciding to take the Japanese Onagadori chicken in the late 1800s and turn it into something that would thrive in Europe.
They managed that. Nowadays, you are more likely to find the Phoenix chicken around Europe and the United States than the other Japanese longtail chicken breeds.
In the Unites States the Silver variety was admitted to the APA in 1963, while the Golden Phoenix chicken in 1983. This is one of a few gold chicken breeds in APA.
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The Look of the Phoenix
As you may well know, the Onagadori chicken is famous for having tail feathers that simply do not molt. This means that they can end up incredibly long.
This is why they are highly prized as an ornamental chicken. Sadly, the Phoenix chicken does molt the tail feathers. Don’t get us wrong. Those tail feathers do grow pretty long, but they disappear at least once per year.
Their long tail can reach 35 inch but sometimes more. But, in order to grow such a long tail feathers, the they needs a high-protein diet.
This isn’t a particularly large bird, growing to a maximum of 5.5lbs. There is also a bantam version of them available, which is just a fraction of the size.
The Phoenixes have bright red single comb and wattles, while the earlobes are pure white. The Golden Phoenix chicken has standard golden plumage while the Silver variety has silver plumage.
As a Show Chicken Breed
The main purpose of the Phoenix chicken is for use as a show chicken. This seems to be limited to Europe and the United States. In Japan, the Onagadori chicken is still the preferred chicken for shows.
Shows can be quite competitive, with the majority of the judging focusing on the tail feathers of the bird.
However, because the tail feathers molt quite regularly, you may find that chicken shows for the Phoenix chicken are limited to certain times of the year.
If you are not planning on taking it to chicken shows, then you can also raise this breed in the comfort of your own home as an ornamental chicken.
However, you should probably be aware that this is not a chicken that is easy to raise in the slightest. Do not purchase this chicken if you are new to chicken ownership. Your chickens will die rather quickly.
The Phoenix Chicken Eggs and Egg-Laying
It is difficult to predict exactly how many eggs a Phoenix hen will lay. Some people claim that their hens lay as few as 60 eggs, and others claim that their Phoenix hens are producing as many as 180 eggs per year.
It is fair to say that the Phoenix chicken is likely to be somewhat temperamental when it comes to egg-laying.
This means that even the smallest change in their circumstances can have a massive impact on the number of eggs that they end up laying.
This means that it is not really a breed that you will be able to rely on if you are looking for an egg chicken. You never know when it is going to lay the next egg!
That being said, this chicken is a broody chicken. So, if you are using the eggs for breeding, then you will be pleased to know that the hens will be more than happy to raise the offspring themselves.
In fact, the Phoenix hen is so good at this, that many people end up raising them just to raise the eggs of other chickens.
The Phoenix Chicken as a Meat Chicken
The Phoenix chicken is not really a viable meat chicken breed. It is strictly an ornamental chicken.
Obviously, you could eat the Phoenix chicken if you wanted. At the end of the day, it is still a chicken and, therefore, is edible.
If you are looking for a pure meat chicken, then look elsewhere.
The only time this chicken is ever really eaten is if it either fails to live up to show standards, or it has reached the end of its natural service life.
Raising the Phoenix Chicken
While this chicken breed is a bit hardier than the breeds that it was developed from, it is still sensitive to changing temperatures.
This means that you shouldn’t really be raising it in an area where it gets drastically cold.
The Phoenix chicken prefers warmer climates and, if it doesn’t get it, it can become seriously sick.
This breed also doesn’t do that well in captivity. It needs a lot of space to roam about in.
Now, this is great and all, but you have to realize that the main reason people love this breed is due to the beautiful feathers that they boast.
When the chicken is casually walking around, the feathers end up getting ruined. As a result, a lot of people keep their Phoenix chickens cooped up, and it simply isn’t good for their health.
You must provide them with a good perches and tight, dry, well-bedded accommodation to maintain feather quality.
Phoenixes are docile, but sometimes they can have aggressive individuals. They seems to be fine towards humans, but when it comes to other chickens, the Phoenix chicken is going to be more than happy to start a fight in order to ensure that it controls that territory.
Phoenix Chicken for Sale and Breeders
If you are lucky enough to live near a local hatchery where you can find Phoenix chicken for sale, then it’s great. Just make sure that you purchase from a reputable Phoenix chicken breeders.
Otherwise, you may consider the following reputable hatcheries , where you can find Phoenix Chicken for sale:
The general cost per chick ranges from $4-$7 for males and $3.50-$8 for females. Straight run chicks usually range less.
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