Top 19 Exotic Chicken Breeds (To Raise in Backyard)

The exotic chicken breeds are birds which are imported from other countries. They are imported from other countries because they are rare and have a special quality.

The most common reason for introducing exotic chickens was the limited performance of the indigenous chicken, such as small number of eggs and poultry meat production. So, keep reading which are the best exotic chicken breeds. 

19 Exotic Chicken Breeds (List With Pictures)

Here are some of the rare and exotic chicken breeds popularly raised around the world:

1. White Faced Black Spanish

This is a exotic chicken breed of chicken native to Spain, also called Cara Blanca or Española Cara Blanca. The White Faced Black Spanish is a large, heavy-bodied chicken.

They have glossy black plumage that makes them one of the most attractive chicken breeds. They have a white face, a large red comb, and wattles. Likewise, they also have beady eyes, large white earlobes, white skin color, and red legs.

The laying ability of these birds is not that much good, although it can be improved with consistent feeding. They produce about 180 white eggs a year. 

They are of an active nature and eat a lot. The lifespan is about 10–15 years. The average weight of mature roosters is about 8 lbs and mature hens about 6 lbs.

2. Cochin Chicken

The Cochin chicken is a breed of chicken originating from China. The term “Cochin” is derived from the Portuguese word for “Breast”, which refers to the large, round breast characteristic of this breed. It is raised primarily for the purpose of exhibition.

It is a poor layer, with an average production of 150-180 brown eggs per year. Likewise, it is also a good meat producer and should not be consumed very frequently.

The Cochin has fair all-around disease resistance and is a hardy bird. It is also known for its friendly, even-tempered nature. They are found in Buff, Partridge, White, Black, Silver Laced, Golden Laced, Blue, Brown, and Barred recognized varieties.

A Cochin rooster can weigh 11 pounds and a hen can weigh 8.5 pounds. The Cochin has an average lifespan of 5–8 years. Cochin’s are one of the most popular exotic chicken breeds which are now raised in many countries.

3. Appenzeller Spitzhauben

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben is an ornamental native breed of chicken from Switzerland. They are considered more of an exotic breed due to their rarity in the United States. 

Appenzeller Spitzhauben are found in Black, Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled standardized UK. Barred, Black-Mottled, Blue, & Chamois Spangled color varieties.

This exotic chicken breed have bright red V-shaped comb, covered with wings and their wings, distinguishing them from other Swiss breeds.

The annual egg production is around 150-180 white eggs. They are fairly active, with a good appetite, and have a lifespan of 5–8 years. A mature rooster can weigh 4.5 pounds, while a mature hen can weigh 3.5 pounds.

4. Phoenix Chickens

Phoenix chickens are an ornamental breed of chicken from Germany. They are named for their very unusual coat pattern, with distinct black, white, and blue tones. 

The head is mainly red, with a resplendent bright red comb. Chicken feet also have this same pattern in blue and silver bare metal. Their impressive long tail feathers make an excellent ornamental show.

This breed of chicken lays white eggs, with an average of 250–280 eggs annually. They are active, not friendly, hardy birds and can live up to 6–8 years. The average rooster weight is 5.5 lbs., while the average hen weighs 4 lbs.

5. Lakenvelder Chicken

Lakenvelder chickens are a rare ornamental German chicken breed. They are small birds with light, smooth plumage. They have a V-shaped comb, a high stature, and a hooked beak. 

Their legs are yellow in color with slate shanks and toes. They are capable of laying white eggs, with an average of 150-200 small eggs per year. 

Lakenvelders are moderately active and have moderate all-around disease resistance. They have a fairly short lifespan, at 6–8 years.

The average weight of a mature rooster is 5 lbs., while a mature hen is 4 lbs. Lakenvelders are found in white with black hackles and tails.

6. Ayam Cemani

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The Ayam Cemani is a breed of chicken originating from Indonesia. They are one of the top exotic chicken breeds. Because of their unique obsidian black color, they are thought to be one of the most valuable ornamental chickens in the world.

This breed is considered a “mellow” chicken because they have a tendency to be aggressive toward other chickens in the flock. They are also known to have an ideal temperament and a friendly nature.

Ayam Cemanis are poor layers as they produce about 80-100 white eggs per year. These blackies are active birds with good all-around disease resistance.

Their lifespan is around 6–8 years. The average rooster weight is 5.5 lbs., while the hen weighs 4.5 lbs.

7. Brahma Chicken

The Brahma is a dual-purpose chicken originating from the United States. They are large birds with bulky feathers and shaggy necks. They have yellow legs, a comb, wattles, and earlobes. Their feathers can be blackish-red to deep red in color.

These birds are considered very gentle by nature and are good with children. They are known to be very good layers and have a somewhat large egg-laying ability, with an average production of around 200 brown eggs per year. 

They tend to be active birds and have a medium lifespan of 5–8 years. The average weight of a mature rooster is 12 lbs. The average weight of a mature hen is 9.5 lbs.

8. Houdan Chicken

The Houdan is one of the best and rare exotic chicken breeds. They are white bantam chicken with an oily black head and beak.

Houdan chicken are a very rare breed that is commonly found in France. Houdans are extremely active birds, having long legs and a high perch.

They are average layers, with an annual production of 180-230 white eggs. They are known to be very hardy and have a moderately long lifespan of 7–8 years. 

The average weight of the rooster is 8 lbs. and the hen is 6.5 lbs. The temperament of this breed is also considered mild and friendly.

9. La Fleche Chicken

La Fleche is a rare and exotic French bantam chicken. They are fairly large birds with short legs and long curve tails. La Fleches have red combs, wattles, and earlobes.

They are known to be very friendly and good with children. La Fleche hens lay white eggs, with an average production of about 180 eggs per year. 

They are active birds with good all-around disease resistance. The average lifespan is about 6–8 years. The average rooster weighs 8–9 lbs., while the hen weighs 7-8 lbs.

10. The Naked Neck (Turken Chickens)

The Naked Neck is one of the best rare and exotic chicken breeds from Transylvania, Romania. This breed has an interesting naked neck design that resembles a turtle shell. 

They are relatively large chickens with short legs and long tails. They have red combs, wattles, and earlobes.

Naked-neck chickens are mainly valued for their appearance. They are calm and friendly birds with a poor egg-laying ability of around 100 eggs a year. 

Their lifespan is about 2–3 years. The average weight of the rooster is 8.5 lbs., while the hen weighs 6.6 lbs.

11. Russian Orloff Chicken

The Russian Orloff is a breed of chicken originating from Russia. They are rounded chickens with long legs and long tails. Their feathers are black and blue in color, with one comb and two wattles.

They are very friendly birds with soft coos. Russian Orloffs are average egg layers, with a production of about 100 light-brown small eggs per year. 

They have a long lifespan of about 8–10 years. The average rooster weighs 8.5 lbs., while the average hen weighs 6.5 lbs.

12. Polish Chicken

The Polish is a breed of chicken originating from Poland. They are one of the popular exotic chickens with extremely crested heads. 

They are mainly used for exhibition purposes but have a fair laying ability with an average of about 150-200 white or cream color eggs per year. Polish chickens are known to be very friendly and calm.

They are active birds with a long lifespan of 7–8 years. The average rooster weighs 6 lbs., while the average hen weighs 4.5 lbs. Polish chickens are found in bearded, non-bearded and frizzle varieties.

13. Sicilian Buttercup

Sicilian Buttercup chickens come from the Island of Sicily. They are known to have an expressive face with a single comb. 

Buttercups have burnt orange to cream-colored feathers in the hackle and saddle area. They tend to have black or brown legs and feet. They are very beautiful, colorful birds.

This breed is known to be active and friendly, but skittish. They are good layers, with a production of around 180 white eggs per year. They have a long lifespan of 5–8 years. 

The average weight of a mature rooster is 6.5 lbs., while the hen weighs 5.5 lbs.

14. The Sultan

A breed of chicken originating from Turkey, the Sultan is a small, beautiful bird with a cute plumage. They are active birds with an ideal temperament, friendly nature, and a nice voice. 

They have a single comb, large red wattles, and earlobes. Their feathers are white, with puffy crests and quite long tails.

The Sultan is a calm bird with a friendly disposition, but they are known to be extremely shy by nature. They are known to be poor layers, producing an average of only 50 small white eggs per year. 

They are active birds with a long lifespan of 6–8 years. The average rooster weighs 6 lbs., while the hen weighs 4 lbs.

15. Silkie Chicken

Silkie chickens are a kind of chicken originally from China. They are unique in appearance, with silk-like plumage. They are popularly known as Silkie bantams.

The legs, toes, and faces of these birds are completely covered in soft feathers. They have an ideal temperament, being quiet but also active. 

Silkies are good layers, with an average annual production of 160 tiny cream eggs. They have a long lifespan of nine years. The average rooster weighs 2-3 lbs., while the hen weighs 1-2 lbs.

16. Marans Chicken

The Marans are a breed of bantam chicken originating from France. They have an ideal temperament and are very intelligent. They have a single comb, red earlobes, meaty shanks, and very soft legs.

Their unusual name is due to the fact that they were originally a rare cross of French and Indian chickens called Orpington. They are calm and very friendly birds, laying around 150 dark brown eggs per year. 

They are active birds with a long lifespan of 7 years. The average weight of the mature rooster is 8.5 lbs., while the hen weighs 5.5 lbs.

17. Serama Chicken

The Serama is an exotic chicken from Malaysia. They are known for their beautiful plumage and their ability to fly.

Seramas are considered to be a rare breed, commonly found in zoos, breeding farms, and local markets. These best exotic chickens have a sturdy muscular body.

They are active birds with an ideal temperament. Serama hens are good layers, with an average production of between 200 and 250 medium-white or dark brown eggs per year. 

They have a short lifespan of 7 years, but can live to be 10 years old. The average weight of the rooster is 0.55–1.1 lbs, while the hen weighs 1.5 lbs.

18. Plymouth Rock chicken

The Plymouth Rock chicken originated in the New England states. They have an ideal, calming and friendly temperament. 

Plymouth Rocks are thought to be descended from the Rhode Island Red due to their coat color and earlobe shape.

They are beautiful, brown chickens with a single comb, large red wattles, and earlobes. Besides its friendly temperament, the Plymouth Rock is a good layer.

They are active birds, with a production of around 200–300 large brown eggs per year. They have a long lifespan of 8–10 years. The average weight of a mature rooster is 9.5 lbs., while the hen weighs 7.5 lbs.

19. Sebright Chicken

The Sebright is an old breed of chicken from England. They are brown or black birds with extremely crested heads and big bright red wattles. They are very beautiful, but also extremely rare in the world.

Their feathers are nearly all-white except for the back and neck, which are slate blue. The legs, feet, and tail of a Sebright chicken are completely covered in soft down.

They have an ideal temperament and their coat is very soft. They are poor layers, with an average annual production of 50 small white eggs per year.

Sebrights have a long lifespan of 8–12 years. They are very small, weighing between 1 and 2 lbs.

Are exotic chickens good for me?

Breeds of these chickens are definitely worth their price. They cost much more and are sometimes hard to find, but they are so much worth it. Below are some reasons why exotic chickens are good for you:

 1. They’re colorful.

Usually, a colored chicken with a single comb is worth its price because it’s more than just a chicken; it’s an ornament.

They are very elegant and fascinating to look at. You can just sit and stare at your exotic chicken for hours, just because of its beautiful feathers or elegant face.

 2. They lay colorful eggs.

Colorful eggs are very much worth their price as well, because they look so beautiful. They are a great decorative item for your home, especially if you have children. They can be a lot of fun to play with as well.

3. They’re fun to watch/play with.

Just like any other pet, exotic chickens make good pets as well. They are very sweet and funny, but sometimes aggressive or skittish. You can also play with your exotic bird by teaching them tricks, racing them, or even flying them.

4. They have different personalities.

The more exotic the chicken is, the more different its personality will be. Some are fearless, others are shy. They can be very friendly and social or aggressive and aggressive.

5. They’re intelligent animals.

Many exotic chickens have very high intelligence, being able to understand what you are saying, although they can’t speak. So, they’re not just an ornament, they can also be your friend when you’re alone.

Owning exotic chickens can be a very interesting and fun hobby. It can also be a good money saver because you can use some of their feathers to make beautiful art or even sell them. They’re a great addition to your home, bringing color and joy into your life.

What are the uses of ornamental chicken breeds?

There are countless uses for ornamental chickens. They are not only an expensive pet that can bring joy into your life, but also a great decoration.

1. They have been used by many cultures in the past to worship their gods and as a symbol of power.

The Egyptians had many ornamental chicken breeds and their eggs were traded all over the world. The Chinese worshiped the chicken as a symbol of good fortune and power.

It’s also believed that the Romans worshiped the chicken as a symbol of luck. They also used it in their ceremonies.

2. They’re a great decoration item.

Besides being beautiful, ornamental chickens can also bring joy into your home. They are very interesting and charming, being able to make people smile even when they’re alone.

3. They’re a good source of food.

Chickens are pretty unique in the fact that they eat almost anything. They will normally eat fruit, grass, as well as bugs. They can also be used as a food source for other creatures.

4. They’re good for the environment.

Chickens are great animals to have as they help to keep the environment clean. They produce a lot of manure every day, which can be used by farmers or gardeners as fertilizer.

They are also very easy to take care of since they don’t require a lot of space.

5. They can be used in the entertainment field.

Chickens have been used for many years as entertainment for children. They are very good at making children laugh and enjoy them. They are also known to be the most popular pets for kids.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a chicken owner or not, owning a beautiful bird is certainly worth it. They can bring a lot of joy into your life as well as into the lives of other people. 

You will love having an exotic chicken in your home and watching it grow from a chick to a beautiful adult bird. They can be very interesting, charming, or even protective. 

Many breeds of chickens are out there, and picking the right one for you might take a couple of days. But, if you love them and want to experience their special presence, then it’s worth it.